Is my child ready to stay home alone? (1112)

Are you wondering if your child is ready to stay home alone? Parents who must work away from the home or leave their children unsupervised when they are doing chores worry about their children. One research study showed that 10 percent of third graders are alone at least part of the week. Forty-two percent of third graders are supervised by a sibling for part of the week.

While not advocating self-care for children, we want to help you evaluate whether your child, regardless of age, has the skills and maturity to stay home alone when necessary.

Evaluate your child's readiness in these areas:

1. How safe is your house and how safe is your neighborhood?

2. Do you think your child is ready?

3. Does he indicate a readiness to be alone?

Let's look at her environment. How familiar is she with the neighborhood? Is the neighborhood safe if she walks home from school? Are there adults who live nearby that she could call upon in an emergency? How heavily traveled are the roads near your home? Does your community have a telephone hotline that your child can call? Does your neighborhood have a "Block Watch" program?

Is your home safe, with the furnace and electrical wiring in safe working order? Are the doors and windows secure? Is your telephone in good working condition? Can your child reach you or someone nearby if needed?

If you feel your child is ready, has he indicated he would like to stay alone? Does he accept responsibility readily? Can he follow written or verbal instructions to complete a complex task? For example, can your child easily unlock the door and enter the home following agreed upon procedures. Does he appear to be afraid?

An important area of concern would be whether your child can find interesting activities or hobbies to keep herself entertained. Have you talked with her about self-care? Is she open with you and can she share feelings and concerns?

You may want to talk with your child so he can express his interest. These are good questions to ask your child:

1. Are you sometimes afraid to be in the house alone during the day?

2. What about at night; would you sometimes be afraid if you were by yourself?

3. Who could you go to in the neighborhood if you had an emergency?

4. Is there anyone who lives near you who would make you feel afraid if you were outside or walking home?

5. Will you miss out on any school activities?

6. What can you do to keep from being bored?

7. What household chores could you do?

8. Do you have friends who also go home alone? What do they tell you about being home by themselves?

There is no magic age when children are ready. When you and your child are ready, you may wish to set up a trial period to see how it is working. This may be less threatening to a child who is uncomfortable. Parents can assess how well it seems to be going and change the arrangement if necessary.

For more information on this subject, Please visit the College of Agricultural Sciences Publications Web site.

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