There are milestones that every parent and child will face, but one of the biggest ones is when a child stays home alone. There will come a moment in time when mom realizes that her child is old enough to stay home by themselves for a bit. This could be for just an hour while they run to the store, or it could be all day when mom is at work.
Legally, there are only two states that have a legal age where children can be left at home alone. According to FindLaw, Maryland and Illinois are the only two states that have a minimum age required by law to stay home alone. Maryland is 8 and Illinois is 14. However, every other state has general guidelines that are followed.
The age each parent decides to leave their child alone will vary, and that is because age does not always equal maturity. Some children mature quicker than others, and they may be ready to stay home alone before some of their peers, but others need a bit more time.
Regardless of when mom decides to leave her child at home, there are safety tips that she should put in place to make sure that they are safe, and that they know what they should (or shouldn’t) be doing.
Practice
The best way to make sure your children are safe at home is to practice letting them be alone. According to KidsHealth, this means leaving them alone for short increments at a time. Start with 30 minutes, and see how they handle it. Even if you do not have anywhere to go, take a walk or run to the nearest coffee shop, but this can help give them some practice.
It can also give you peace of mind that they can handle it. You can do this for a while, increasing the time you are gone, until you are completely confident in your child. Remember that your child may be nervous as well, so this is a great way to get them comfortable as well.
The Basic List
When you are ready to leave your child, you should make sure that there is a basic list of all contact information that they may need. According to Red Cross, it is always wise to have a list of emergency contacts, and this should include 911, parents' cell phones, work numbers, or any other contacts they can call.
Keep this in a safe place, and don’t move it. This way your child knows exactly where to go and find it. It is also wise to make sure that you go over how to call emergency services and make sure they know their address and other information. It is also good to make sure they understand what an emergency is, and what can be handled when mom gets home.
Child Proof
Even though your child is not a toddler anymore, you are going to want to treat the home like they are. This means making sure all dangerous objects are out of reach. This could mean knives, tools, and cleaning products. Older children may be mature, but they still lack impulse control, and they can make some bad decisions, especially if they are bored. If you know that these are locked away, it will give you peace of mind while you are out that there are no accidents.
Ground Rules
It is always important to have some basic ground rules when you are leaving your child alone. The most obvious (and important) ones are going to be that they never leave the home, they keep the door locked, and they do not answer the door for anyone they do not know. Have them make sure they look through to see who is at the door, and if they don’t know the person, the door stays closed.
Keep Them Busy
When you know you have to go out and leave your child alone, make sure they have something to do. According to Scholastic, children who have nothing to do are more likely to get into trouble, and this is something that can be seen as developmentally appropriate. Make sure they have a task to do, this could be homework, a new craft, or even letting them play video games or watch a movie while you are gone.
It is normal to be a bit concerned about leaving your child at home, but this will pass as you get more experience. As you see your child handle the responsibility of being home alone, you will gain more confidence in them, and this will teach them how to be more independent as well.
Sources: FindLaw, KidsHealth, Red Cross, Scholastic