Staying Home Alone: Is Your Child Ready for Self-Care?

Deciding when a child is capable of staying home alone is a difficult one for any parent. At some point in time, most children will need to stay alone before or after school, during the summer break or while a parent runs an errand. Communicating and working with a child can help him prepare for being alone and thrive while parents are away.

How do I determine if my child is able to stay at home alone?

Several factors should be considered before a child stays home alone:

• Does your child express a desire to stay alone?
• Can your child make good decisions, show responsibility over tasks you have given in the past, and communicate well with you?
• Is the area you live in safe?
• Are there other adults in the area that would be available to assist your child if needed?
• Are there younger children in the house the child would be responsible for?

There is not a magical age at which children are ready to be home alone. Every child is different. Not every child is able to handle the responsibility of staying alone the same.

Your child could be 13, yet she may not make decisions well. She may not feel comfortable staying home alone all summer watching her younger sister. Finding alternative child care arrangements while working with your child to develop her decision-making skills will eventually help her succeed at staying home alone. On the other hand, a 10 year old who is comfortable being alone, lives in a safe area, and has proven herself to be responsible, may be ready to stay at home by herself while her parents run some errands.

Check with your local Family Support Division for their recommended minimum age guidelines for children staying home alone in your community. Then work with your child to determine if she is ready to stay home without parental supervision.

What skills should my child have before staying home alone?

Answer the following questions to see if your child can succeed while home alone. You may have others to add to the list.

1. Does your child know what to do if someone knocks at the door? Children should know what to do if a stranger is at the door as well as what to do should someone come to the house looking for help or trying to deliver a package or attempting to repair something on your home (checking gas lines, etc.).
2. Does your child know how to answer the phone without giving away personal information or mentioning that no adults are home? Does your child know what to do if he receives a prank phone call?
3. Does your child know who to call if there is an emergency or fire?
4. Is your child able to make a snack or entertain himself when bored?

Don’t simply ask your child if she is able to do something – have her show you. For example, practice calling your child to see what her phone skills are like or have her show you where she would go in case of severe weather.

Role playing with your children can teach valuable skills and can help you evaluate where your child needs some improvement. Some example role plays are: