Whether parents are working, out for an evening, or taking a sibling to the doctor, tweens may face the prospect of staying home alone. How will parents know when their tween is ready to be home alone? What rules should be established for the child’s safety? What should the child have with him/her when parents are away? There is much to consider before a child is left alone for the first time.
Is Child Ready to be Home Alone?
Children mature at varying rates. While some may seem very mature at a young age, others may take a little longer before they are ready to be home alone. Only a parent will know for sure when the time is right. Here are some questions to consider before leaving a child alone at home for the first time:
- How does child react when separated from caregiver or parent?
- Does child tackle difficult tasks on her own first before seeking assistance?
- Is child good at following rules?
- Does youngster get scared easily?
- Can child operate and answer a phone properly?
- Will tween be responsible for younger siblings? If so, does he get along well with them?
- Does child stay cool under stress or panic?
- Does child get bored easily or can she find many things to do?
- How daring is youngster? Does he think things through before acting?
Important Home Alone Safety Rules for Tweens
Every family will have different safety rules, but there is a core set of rules that should always be followed by a child who is home alone. These are the golden rules of home safety:
- Always keep the door locked and low windows shut and locked
- Never tell anyone that child will be home alone
- Do not let anyone enter the house
- Call parent or guardian when home
- Do not use the Internet when home alone
- Keep a key at all times
Phone Numbers to Provide Kids when Home Alone
Children who are home alone should always have or know where a list of important phone numbers is in case of an emergency. At the very least, a tween should have her parents’ work and cell phone numbers, fire and police phone numbers, and at least one or two phone numbers of trusted family members or neighbors to call in case parents are unavailable.
Checklist of Things to Have and Know when Staying Alone
An aspect that parents must define for tweens who are staying home alone is what the “home area” is. Will a tween be required to stay in the house, yard, or neighborhood? Explain this rule to the child ahead of time and make sure she stays in the safe zone when parents are not there.
Then, make sure that these important items are available to the kids when they are home alone:
- Emergency phone number list
- First aid kit
- Spare key to house (not hidden outdoors)
- Flashlight, radio, and batteries in case of a power outage
- Family’s schedule
- Small amount of emergency cash
- Plan for when parent will be home later than expected
Other things that should be handy to tweens are easy snacks, indoor games and activities for boredom, and instructions on how to care for a younger sibling, if there is one.
When tweens need to stay home alone it can be an opportunity to become more independent, but at first it can be scary for them and for parents as well. Be prepared for this inevitability by insuring that the kids are mentally ready to be alone. Then make sure to establish and review house safety rules and emergency plans before they are allowed to stay alone for the first time.
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