Post important phone numbers — yours and those of friends, family members, the doctor, police, and fire department — that your child might need in an emergency. Childproof your home. No matter how well your child follows rules, secure anything that could be a health or safety risk. Lock them up and put them in a place where kids can't get to them, such as:. Don't forget that pets can be great company for kids who are home alone.
Many kids feel safer with a pet around — even a small one, like a hamster, can make them feel like they have a companion. So cover your bases and relax. With the right preparation and some practice, you and your child will get comfortable with home-alone days in no time!
Reviewed by: Steven Dowshen, MD. Larger text size Large text size Regular text size. Things to Consider It's obvious that a 5-year-old can't go it alone, but that most year-olds can. Here are a few questions to think about: Does your child show signs of responsibility with things like homework, household chores, and following directions? How does your child handle unexpected situations? Does your child stay calm when things don't go as planned? Does your child understand and follow rules?
Can your child understand and follow safety measures? Does your child use good judgment? Does your child know basic first-aid? Does your child follow your instructions about staying away from strangers?
Handling the Unexpected You can feel more confident about your absence if your child learns some basic skills that might come in handy during an emergency. Consider rules about: having a friend or friends over while you're not there rooms of the house that are off limits, especially with friends TV time and types of shows Internet and computer rules kitchen and cooking you might want to make the oven and utensils like sharp knives off limits not opening the door for strangers answering the phone getting along with siblings not telling anyone he or she is alone Stock up.
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Remind them before you leave that they should never give any personal information away online or meet someone in person without discussing this with you or a trusted adult first. Read more of our advice on Net Aware and sign up to our newsletter for helpful tips about keeping your children safe online delivered straight to your inbox each week.
From accidental fires to burglaries, you need to feel comfortable your child knows what to do in an emergency. Come up with a safety plan for different scenarios. Talk to your child about their concerns about being left alone and come up with plans for what to do if something like that happens.
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. Make sure that any potentially dangerous things like tools, knives and prescription medicines are safely out of harm's way before you go out. If they have allergies, be careful that there's nothing in the house that could trigger a reaction.
If you have pets, think about whether it's safe to leave your child home with them unsupervised. Being left alone is an opportunity for your child to experiment with things like alcohol or drugs however unlikely it might seem — so it's a good idea to have a conversation about safety and what to do in an emergency. For more details on how to make your home safer, RoSPA provide information and advice for parents on preventing accidents and safety in the home.
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, then build this up over time.
As you build up to leaving your child alone for longer stretches, keep checking in and making sure they're comfortable. Being left home alone for an hour is very different to being alone for a whole afternoon or overnight. Download our Home Alone guide.
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. You should also think carefully about leaving your child alone with an older brother or sister.
Sometimes it might be better to arrange for someone to stay with your child instead of leaving them home alone.
This doesn't have to be an extra cost - family and friends that you know and trust may be able to help. If your children are younger, nurseries look after children up to school age. You can find a nursery school place on GOV. UK if you live in England or Wales, mygov. Choosing the right kind of childcare depends on your child's age and what they're comfortable with.
It can also depend on when you need it, for how long and how regularly. You should check you're happy with these before using them. Ask a few questions before you hire someone to check they're qualified and will be a good fit for both you and your child.
If you aren't sure what to ask, try going through our checklist. The decision about who to leave your child with comes down to you and your best judgement. There are no legal restrictions on what age a babysitter or caregiver must be to be left in charge of a child, but there are laws about employing children. If you are leaving your child home alone with a babysitter under 16, make sure that they are comfortable with what to do in case of emergency, and are mature enough to take action if needed.
Finding the right babysitter or childminder for a child with complex needs depends on your child and their specific requirements. As special needs vary so widely from child to child, there's no one place to find the right childminder or babysitter for your family.
If you have a child with disabilities, your local council has a duty to provide help and support. This includes short break services , holiday play schemes, care at home and financial help. UK provides more detail on what's available. You should make sure that any carer or childminder has the right training, qualifications, and experience to look after your child safely.
Look for someone with experience caring for someone with the same or similar needs, who communicates well with your child and who they're comfortable with. It is also helpful to consider a trial period, so that you can be sure that both you and your child are happy with their care.
Contact numbers Leave them with all your contact numbers, emergency service numbers, and specialist support numbers if required. Medical information Write down their allergies and any medical information about your child, and where medication is stored in case of emergency.
Thanks to Blakemore Retail for their support to help us reach more parents with our guidance around letting children stay home or go out alone. Do you work or volunteer with children and families in the UK? Visit NSPCC Learning to download our Home alone guide, which contains advice and tips you can share with parents and carers to help them decide if their child is ready to be left alone. Whatever you do, you'll help us make the world safer for children.
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