&gt;  Leaving a five-year-old unsupervised, even at home, is flirting with a visit from child protective services<p>Most accidents happen in the home.  Most people do a poor job of making their home safe for infants.  (EG look at the number of people in the UK who buy socket covers but who don&#x27;t bolt their TVs to the wall)<p>Perhaps I misunderstand what you mean by &quot;leave a 5 year old unsupervised&quot; - does this mean &quot;parent in the home but in different room&quot;? Or &quot;parent pops out to the local shop for half an hour&quot;?<p>Because five year old children are far too young to be left unsupervised for anything over short lengths of time, and if a parent is regularly doing that they probably need a chat from child protection social services.