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Knowing whether or not your child is old enough to stay at home without your supervision is a tough call, especially as the laws around it are so vague. Wouldn’t it be so much easier if there was a rule that said, “Children can only be left at home alone if they are 13 years old or above”? Instead, there is some ambiguous advice from the NSPCC that says:
- Children under 12 are unlikely mature enough to be left at home for long periods of time
- Children under 16 cannot be home alone overnight
- Babies and toddlers should never be left alone
So, it’s left up to parents to decide whether or not their child can handle it. Don’t worry about what other parents are doing, as you know your child better than anyone and only you can decide if the time is right. Here are some tips from a prep school in Herefordshire.
Start by talking to your child about how they feel about being left at home alone. If they are uncomfortable about it then it’s probably not a good idea. Ask them what is concerning them and see if you can figure out a way to put their mind at ease. For instance, perhaps they are worried about how they will prepare their own food. Do they know how to use the microwave properly and if not, now might be a good idea to teach them. Alternatively, you could promise to prepare them their meals in advance so that they don’t have to use any of the kitchen appliances.
It’s worth practising leaving your child at home for short periods of time at first, like if you need to take the dog for a walk or nip to the shop for some milk. These trial runs will help them become more familiar with the experience of being unsupervised, preparing them for longer periods of alone time. Talk to them about cyber safety and make sure they know not to share with anyone online that they are unsupervised.
Leave your child with several emergency contact numbers and call them several times throughout the day to check that they’re ok – especially if this is new to them. You could even ask a friend or neighbour to call in and check on them, if possible.
