SUMMER holidays are just around the corner, it’s best to be prepared, including knowing how long kids can stay home alone.
It can be hard for parents who are working or have errands to run during the holidays to always find care for their children.
Even nipping to the shops quickly can tough with kids, but leaving them at home could lead to trouble for the parents.
So the question is – at what age can you legally leave children at home on their own in England?
Currently, there is no law to say what age when you can leave a child on their own, but it is a criminal offence to leave a child alone if it places them at risk.
You can be fined or sent to jail if caught.
This is because it is a crime to leave a child unsupervised “in a manner likely to cause unnecessary suffering or injury to health“.
The government recommends parents use their own judgement on how mature their child is before leaving them alone, whether it’s at home or in a car.
The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) gives a more comprehensive guide.
“Every child matures differently, so it would be almost impossible to have a ‘one size fits all’ law,” it says on its website.
The NSPCC recommends children under the age of 12 are rarely mature enough to be left alone for a long period of time.
Children under 16 years of age should not be left alone in a property overnight.
In addition, babies, toddlers and very young children should never be left alone.
The NPCC’s Helen Westerman went into greater detail and said parents needed to take into consideration a couple of critical factors.
This includes how they feel about their children playing outside unsupervised, and also how their child feels about it themselves.
WHAT TO CONSIDER
HELEN has said that parents should consider these six things if they are deciding to leave their child home alone.
1. Are they prepared to be left home alone? – Think about how your child would handle an emergency situation if they are home alone. Helen says: “Think about if they can deal with risks, will they behave responsibly, will they be safe?”
2. Undertake prudent measures – Think about the key steps that you would need to take to make sure your child has everything they need, like spare keys and access to food and a bathroom.
3. Never leave babies or toddlers on their own
4. Be in the know about their unsupervised outings – When your child is out on their own, make sure you know where they are going, who they are with, what they are doing and how far they’re travelling.
5. Share essential contact info – Helen says: “Make sure they know a trusted adult’s full name and address, and have two trusted adults’ phone numbers.”
6. Prepare your child – Make sure your child knows how to handle different situations. Helen advises: “Ask them what they’d do if they hurt themselves or if a stranger knocks on the door.”
“Lots of parents will be thinking about whether it’s safe to leave their children at home safely, and if they’re old enough to leave the house unsupervised,” she told the Liverpool Echo.
“As well as determining if a child is ready to be left alone, many parents will also find balancing work with the school break quite challenging, especially considering the rising child costs and the cost of living crisis, which is placing additional strain on families.”
Helen added: “As children get older, it’s common for them to want more freedom and learn to be independent.
“This is an important part of growing up, but we know there can be a lot to think about for parents.
“As every child is different, we recommend building up their independence at their pace and checking in with them to make sure they feel safe.”
