The Home Alone Checklist |
City Parent Special
Studies over the last few years indicate that more and more children are being left home alone. Research shows that about one in five children between the ages of 6 and 12 arrive home after school to an empty house. For working parents this situation is a must and while some kids aren't ready to be left alone until they're 11 or 12 years of age, others are mature enough to handle the responsibility as early as 9 or 10. Whatever the case may be in your home, the most important factor to keep in mind is your child's wellbeing. Here is a checklist for you and your family review before you leave you child home alone:
- Ensure that your child is comfortable with the idea of being at home on his/her own. If your child isn't ready for this responsibility don't force that child into it.
- Take your child's maturity level into account. You know what your child is capable of handling. Would he/she be able to handle an emergency situation if one were to arise? Would he/she know what to do and who to call for help?
- Ease your child into the situation gradually. Have your child stay home on his own for short periods of time to prepare him. As he becomes more adept, increase the amount of time that you stay away.
- Children should know their full name, address and phone number. In addition they must know how to get in touch with you at work. Also knowing the name and number of a neighbour can be helpful.
- All children should know how and when to call 911. Talk to your child about what a real emergency situation might be and when it's appropriate to call for help.
- Kids should be taught how to quickly and easily unlock the front door and how to secure it once they are inside. Often kids arrive home to find that they don't know how to get the key turned in the lock and they wind up struggling with it and becoming frustrated.
- Set up some form of communication for your children to use to let you know they are home and safe. Instruct them to call you or you call them by a certain time or use email if possible to stay in touch.
- Run through some emergency scenarios to put them at ease. Discuss what they should do if there were a fire, or if the power went out, or if a storm were to arise.
- Teach them some basic first aid. Show them how to properly clean and bandage a cut and show them where you store the first aid kit, what is in it and how it all works.
- They should have a strict set of rules to follow if someone knocks on the door or telephones for you or your spouse. Run over what your child should do and how they should respond to persistent adults.
- Structure their time at home. Have a clear set of guidelines about what they are to be doing with their time alone. Doing homework and chores helps keep them occupied and out of trouble.
- Be firm about any restrictions you have, including not having friends over, not using the stove, or not leaving the house without informing you.
