Leaving your child home alone is a controversial topic, with opinions on it being very different. As our children get older, big decisions such as these must be made but come with many aspects to consider beforehand. One of these is when to give out children the independence of staying home alone. It can be a difficult decision as it depends on maturity and there is no set age of when a child will reach an adequate level of it. The idea is to be sensible and not leave a 7-year-old at home just because they seem mature enough. Work around the legal age that children can be left home alone and see how that goes. Are you looking for some advice on if your child is ready to be left home alone? Here are some tips from an independent boarding college in Berkshire on what you need to know.
Consider how long you’ll be away for. Some parents may need to leave their children for an entire day for work whereas others may just need 15 minutes to go to the doctors. Consider when you’ll be away and what time of day it is. Analyse any hazards such as fire, electrics and activities that need supervision. If you can trust your child around things like this, then you’re already halfway there.
Set ground rules. The main thing you need to remember is leaving a child alone means they essentially are free to do whatever they want. The thought of freedom will lead to them doing things that could be a risk to health and property. Ensure you know what they’ll be up to whilst you’re away and that they don’t touch or use anything dangerous. Remind them not to open doors to any strangers and give them a list of numbers incase of an emergency.
Are they capable of taking care of themself? One way to be able to answer this question is by challenging them to simple activities to see how well they can execute them. If they can safely and maturely get on , this may be a sign that they are ready.
If in doubt, call a babysitter. The legal age of a babysitter is 16 so ensure the person you trust your child to is old and mature enough to take care of your child. Calling in on trusted neighbours is also a way to go.
So now, you may have a clearer idea on if your child is ready to stay home alone. If you feel they are, ease them into it by starting with short amounts of time before gradually extending it. If you feel you or your child aren’t ready, just wait a little longer. There’s no rush as each family is different.
*Collaborative Post