age when you can be left home alone
The charity Action for Children is launching a campaign calling for the 80-year-old Children and Young Persons Act 1933 to be amended in order to give vulnerable children greater protection under the law, and avoid caring and responsible families suddenly finding themselves open to prosecution. Preparing Your Children to Stay Home Alone. At some point during the school years, you may begin to consider the possibility of having your children care for themselves before or after school. Self-care can be a rewarding experience for children who are ready for it. What to do if they think someone is in the house when they get home; Kitchen safety (use of appliances, knives and tools); What to do if they smell smoke or gas, or in the event of a fire; What to do during severe storms; Basic first aid techniques; and. Perhaps surprisingly, while a recent YouGov survey found a large majority thought parents who left children aged 11 and over at home on their own would not be breaking the law, there is no official lower age limit – although parents can be prosecuted if their actions are subsequently deemed irresponsible. 8 to 10 years - Should not be left alone for more than 1½ hours and only during daylight and early evening hours. 11 to 12 years - May be left alone for up to 3 hours but not late at night or in circumstances requiring inappropriate responsibility. 13 to 15 years - May be left unsupervised, but not overnight. 16 to 17 years - May be left unsupervised (in some cases, for up to two consecutive overnight periods). The law doesn’t say an age when you can leave a child on their own, but it’s an offence to leave a child alone if it places them at risk. Use your judgement on how mature your child is before you decide to leave them alone, eg at home or in a car. The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) says: The National SAFE KIDS Campaign recommends that children not be left alone before the age of 12. Many other children will not be ready until later than that. Also, experts caution that older siblings are generally not ready for the responsibility of supervising younger children until the age of 15 or older. Children between ages 7 and 10 years aren't generally ready to self-supervise for an extended period, but in a routine and predictable environment, such as just after school, they can manage, Tanner said. Children 12 and 13 years old should be judged on a case- by-case basis but should not be left alone overnight. 1  The following is a state by state listing of specific age restrictions on home alone children. This list was obtained from information on the web as well as contacts within certain state agencies. The National SAFEKIDS Campaign recommends that no child under the age of 12 be left at home alone. However, consider a child's age and maturity level. For example, if a child is extremely impulsive, it might be best to wait until he or she is older than 12. Family Development - A Caregiver's Guide. When to Leave Your Kids Home Alone. Eventually every parent is faced with the question of whether his or her child is old enough to begin staying home alone. When older children are placed in situations of independence that they can handle, it can help them learn responsibility.
At the age of 12.