A report by the Mapfre Foundation and the Spanish Association of Primary Care Pediatrics entitled “Accidents of the Spanish child population”, indicates that 9.1 percent of children under 12 years of age stay home alone at some point and these, 5 percent are less than four years old. Even babies less than one year old are left home alone.
As parents we ask ourselves when is the right time, from what age can we leave children alone at home?
Children left alone: what the law says
From a legal point of view, there is no law that establishes the minimum age at which a minor can stay at home without supervision.
However, the family can be sanctioned and social services could even act if they consider that the child is at risk due to neglect . It could lead to penalties or even jail time or loss of custody in the most serious cases.
How do you know if you are ready to be alone?
That said, there is no specific age after which children can be left home alone because each child has his or her own level of maturity regardless of age, although experts suggest they are at least ten years old .
There are children who are prepared at that age and others who are not, therefore it is the parents who must assess what is the appropriate age to leave their children alone at home, something that usually happens for the first time between 10 and 13 years .
My ten-year-old daughter is more prepared to be left alone than her twelve-year-old sister. In fact, they have only been alone once for 15 minutes and it has been the youngest who has handled it best.
Some questions to take into account to know if the child is ready :
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How do you handle unforeseen situations? Imagine that something happens at home like something breaks or someone rings the doorbell just as we go out. The child must be prepared to manage situations out of the ordinary with maturity and autonomy.
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It’s responsible? Responsibility comes hand in hand with maturity. Is a child responsible enough? How does he behave at home when you are there?
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Have you been alone in your room for long periods of time? Children can feel unprotected when they are suddenly alone, so it is a good idea to be used to being alone in your room or in places where you are not with the rest of the family. Independence and autonomy is something that is being promoted little by little.
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Are you fearful? There are children who are afraid of being alone in their own house, in their room or on another floor, so it is convenient to get used to being alone until they are ready to leave them.
What to consider before leaving them alone
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Security : you have to explain some basic issues related to home security such as not lighting a fire, not playing on terraces or balconies, keeping doors closed, etc. Nor should they be left alone while showering or handling any electrical appliance.
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Do not scare them : it is important to let them know the dangers that may exist, but without scare them. Give him confidence and make him feel responsible.
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Start small : start with short periods of time so the child gets used to being alone. Ten or fifteen minutes when you go out on an errand, for example. Don’t leave a younger sibling in charge, at least initially, until you are sure they are prepared to responsibly care for them. Over time, seeing how you have felt and as you gain confidence, you can extend the time.
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Teach him how to deal with emergency situations . Leave the phone number of the neighbor, relatives, the police, emergencies, etc. at hand. Of course, leave your phone number handy as well. Explain how the alarm works, if you have one and everything you need to know about the operation of the house.
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If he has a mobile, you can talk or send him messages to know that everything is going well. Tell him where you are and what time you will return so that he can get used to it without feeling anxious.
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A good idea at first is to keep the child busy with something (doing homework, watching TV or playing in the classroom, for example). An activity that keeps you distracted and does not need to move around the house, especially if it is very large. They may fear having to go up and down stairs or walking too much distance alone.
In Babies and more | Would you leave your four-year-old at home alone? Can children stay home alone?
