Whether it's a snow day home from school, an unexpected business
appointment, or a childcare arrangement that fell through,
situations are likely to arise where you feel you have little
choice but to leave your child home alone. It's natural for
parents to be a bit anxious when first leaving kids without
supervision. But you can feel prepared and confident with some
planning and a couple of trial runs. And handled well, staying
home alone can be a positive experience for kids, too, helping
them gain a sense of self-assurance and independence. Factors to
Consider It's obvious that a 5-year-old can't go it alone but
that a 16-year-old probably can. But what about those school-
aged kids in the middle? It can be difficult to know when kids
are ready to handle being home alone. Ultimately, it comes down
to your judgment about what your child is ready for. You'll want
to know how your child feels about the idea, of course. But kids
often insist that they'll be fine long before parents feel
comfortable with it. And