Summer brings more opportunities for children to be home alone -- and more stress and worry for parents who wonder if they should leave their older children on their own. How do you know if your child can be trusted solo?
No hard-and-fast rule mandates the age at which every child is mature enough to spend time alone. Experts agree that children should be left unaccompanied only if they have reached a level of maturity that allows them to handle difficult situations calmly. And mostly strongly advise that a child under the age of 10 not be left alone.
Though no law exists in Texas that says how old a child must be in order to be left home without an adult, Dr. Desiree Evans, a pediatrician with Texas Children's Pediatrics Associates, advises parents to think about how a child will respond to illness, fire, weather or any other type of emergency or unexpected event.
“Parents should carefully consider the emotional maturity and capability of a child before leaving him or her home alone,” Evans said. “Being left without adult supervision can be an adventure for some kids; for others, it can be frightening and unsettling.”
Evans suggests these safety precautions If you're considering trusting your child alone.
- Don't make a child responsible for food preparation. Stock food that can be heated in the microwave or eaten cold from the refrigerator.
- Make a safety plan and rehearse it with your child.
- Practice dialing 911 with your children and go over what type of information they would need to give. Tell them not to hang up until they are told to.
- Try a gradual approach to see if a child is ready for the responsibility of being alone.
- Have a neighbor or relative check in regularly, or have your children check in with that person.
- Post emergency numbers and contact information for a neighbor near the telephone.
Teach your children to:
- Use caller ID and never tell a caller they are home alone. Instead, they should say they will take a message because their parents can’t come to the phone.
- Never open the door for anyone, especially a stranger or solicitor. Don't open the blinds to peek out.
- Stay in the house. Don't play in the yard or walk in the neighborhood.
- Avoid having other children over while you are gone.
Evans also recommends the American Red Cross’ one-hour class, “Safe on my Own,” for children in kindergarten through fourth grade.
