Some might jump at the chance whilst other kids need some reassurance and support before staying home alone
Becoming independent is a crucial aspect of maturing. With work, appointments, and various family obligations, there may come a time when every parent has to leave their child at home alone, so it’s wise to have a strategy ready.
Parents may be curious about the appropriate age for their child to stay home alone. However, there isn’t a universal answer. Each child is unique, so encourage their independence at a comfortable pace for them, and regularly check in to ensure they feel secure.
As the six-week holiday approaches, some kids might start asking if it’s time they didn’t need a babysitter and could handle being left home alone. Mums and dads might already have plans in mind for childcare over the summer—be that family, friends, or holiday clubs—but some might be approaching the age where they can be left on their own.
Older kids might think they’re ready for the major milestone, and some kids might be just as anxious as their parents about this idea. Legally, it can be a bit of a grey area when it comes to the ‘home alone’ chat, but authorities have issued guidance.
What does the law say about leaving children unsupervised?
According to GOV.UK, the law doesn’t specify any specific age for leaving a child at home alone. However, it does stress that parents and carers could be prosecuted if they leave a child unsupervised “in a manner likely to cause unnecessary suffering or injury to health.”
The website adds: “Use your judgement on how mature your child is before you decide to leave them alone, for example at home or in a car.” It goes on to refer to some general guidance by the NSPCC, which claims:
- Children under 12 are rarely mature enough to be left alone for a long period of time
- Children under 16 should not be left alone overnight
- Babies, toddlers and very young children should never be left alone
The NSPCC suggests that, as your child gets older, you talk to them about how they feel about being left home alone. Some might jump at the chance for more independence, but others might be worried or anxious about the thought.
During these conversations, try to work out what parts of being home alone worry them. Talk about anything that’s bothering them and discuss a solution. The NSPCC adds: “Understanding why they don’t feel comfortable will give you an idea of how to help—or why they might not be ready to be left alone.”
The children’s charity also says: “If your child has an older sibling or step-sibling, you might feel more comfortable leaving them home together, especially if one child is older. There’s no legal age a child can babysit – but if you leave your children with someone who’s under 16 you’re still responsible for their wellbeing.”
The choice of when a child can be left alone is up to the parent or guardian, depending on the child’s maturity and their capability to handle emergencies. There are lots of helpful tips online to help with the transition to being left home alone. Work through these with your child before any time they plan to spend at home alone.
Set some ground rules:
Would they know what to do if the phone rang or someone came to the door? Do they know how and when to contact you if they need to? Are your children allowed to have friends over while you are gone? Agree some rules together to make sure you’re both comfortable.
Practice for an emergency:
However unlikely, it’s safest to prepare for anything to go wrong whilst you’re out. From accidental fires to burglaries, you need to feel comfortable that your child knows what to do in an emergency.
Check in with them:
Give your child a call every so often. If it’s the first time they’ve been left alone, try to check in regularly. Even if your child is older and has been left home alone before, you should still check in once every few hours, particularly if you’re out late.
Build up slowly:
Depending on the child, being left home alone can be a big change to get used to. It’s better to leave them for a short time at first, no more than 20 minutes (like a quick trip to the shops), then build this up over time.
Be clear on what time you’ll be back:
Make sure they’re clear about what time you’ll be getting back and how you’ll let them know if your plans change. You should leave all the numbers that you can be contacted on, as well as the numbers of family members, neighbours or friends in case they can’t reach you or need some help straight away.