Note
- You have the right to decide whether it is safe to leave your child home alone.
- Consider your child’s ability to make safe decisions and respond to emergencies.
- If you leave your child home alone, make sure your child understands the rules, safety plans, and emergency procedures.
Leaving your child home alone: Is your child ready? There is no law in Australia that sets a minimum age for a child to be home alone. However, parents and guardians have a legal responsibility to keep their children safe and secure.
You are the best judge of when your child is ready to be left home alone. It is not just your child’s age that matters, but also your child’s maturity. For example, you may be confident in leaving a 12-year-old child who is very responsible, but you may be very concerned about a 15-year-old who is very disruptive.
You can ask yourself the following questions to help you decide whether you want to leave your child home alone. The following questions can also help you figure out what steps to take to prepare your child for home alone when the time is right:
- Can my child handle emergencies like a fire?
- Are our homes and communities safe?
- Does my child know important information like phone numbers?
- Will my child follow the house rules even when I’m there or not?
- Is my child confident enough to be alone? How long can I be gone?
- How far can I go?
If you’re not sure if your child is ready, trust your judgment and wait until he’s older. If your child is confused or afraid of being alone at home, be patient and reassure them that they will grow up and be ready. There is no need to rush things.
Benefits of being alone at home
Being alone at home is part of a child’s journey to independence.
- This gives you the opportunity to transfer responsibility to your child. You can ask your child to do household chores, such as hanging out the laundry or preparing food while you are out. This can help your child learn and develop valuable skills like problem-solving.
- In a busy household, leaving the kids home alone can also be a chance to enjoy some quiet, independent time.
Be prepared to leave your child home alone
Even if you think your child is old enough to be home alone, you are still responsible for their health and safety at all times. So, it’s important to prepare your children and your home for this experience.
Rules
Make a list of things your child can do while you’re at home, like playing in their room, writing, or reading. You may want to make a list of things your child cannot do without an adult in the house, such as having friends, cooking, bathing, or swimming in the pool. rear bathroom. You may want to remind your child of the family’s rules about screen time and the use of digital technology.
Another good rule of thumb is to have your child call you after school and call you when you’re late.
If your child is at home with siblings, clear rules about who is responsible can help. You can also make action plans for what your older sibling can do if the younger sibling doesn’t do the asking or gets into an argument. Activities and support
Children can get bored or lonely when they are home alone. This can help your child complete some of the tasks and routines they need to follow, such as doing homework, preparing meals, and then having fun in their free time.
If you are leaving your children for the whole day, you can arrange for a trusted adult to come over during the day, or you can call home at a different time. Your children can also spend some time visiting their friends.
