If your child is not willing to stay home alone, chances are there are several alternatives in your community. The Boys and Girls Club offers a variety of after-school programs to keep kids entertained until their parents get home from work. Alternatively, you can arrange childcare cooperation with other parents or sign up your child in the same sports program as a friend so they can share a ride. Schuck noted that there are unique challenges when teens are left home alone: «Poor health choices in choosing what to eat, who to let in when they`re alone, access to tobacco and alcohol.» Provided you do not leave and leave your child defenseless without instruction and food, and is reasonably mature, you are unlikely to be charged with criminal negligence for leaving him alone at reasonable intervals. However, this may depend to some extent on the opinions of outsiders. Related Articles Lifestyle | Bay Area Parents: Summer Daycare Can you afford to | Lifestyle: A theatre critic`s dream becomes a lifestyle | in «The Lion King» Trampled Underfoot A Mother`s Confession: Toddlers Aren`t the Only Ones Suffering from Separation Anxiety What should they do with their little ones all day? If grandparents are not an option, if both parents work crazy hours and money is tight, the norm in this country of astronomical housing costs, it can be a real stumbling block. Summer camp is the usual route, but it can cost you a package. The average day camp costs about $304 per week, according to the American Camp Association, while an overnight camp costs about $700 per week on average, and specialized camps are even higher. If you`re able to work or make another commitment where you can`t be with your child regularly when they get home from school, most child care experts suggest looking for an extracurricular activity they can participate in rather than leaving them to fend for themselves. A good choice are art classes, school sports and organizations such as the Boys and Girls Club. Another option is to make an agreement with the parents of a friend of your child, where they monitor your child for a few hours each week in exchange for your other tasks.
The American Academy of Pediatrics lists 11 or 12 as the appropriate age to leave children at home, but only during the day and no more than about three hours. The national KIDS Safety campaign recommends leaving no child under the age of 12 alone at home. California is one of many states that do not have a law that determines the age at which a child can be left alone. But that doesn`t mean it couldn`t be a crime if you do it when he`s too young. The court will decide on a case-by-case basis, and your child`s maturity level is usually the deciding factor. A 10-year-old might be able to fend for himself, while a rebellious 12-year-old might not. She also warns that children who stay home alone lack a lot of educational and social growth through summer activities and lose a sense of connection to a wider community beyond their parents. Experts say one of the easiest ways to tell a child might be willing to do it alone for a short time is to ask. Most children will answer honestly.
The signs that a child is scared and not yet ready are the desire to turn on all the lights, make the television roar or have nightmares. Called «turnkey children» because of the telltale key hanging around their necks, these children go home to an empty house after school or stay home alone in the summer. Some states, like California, offer little advice because there is no minimum age for children to be left home alone. The majority of states with laws cite 12 years as the limit, while some states are younger, including Maryland and Georgia at 8 and Kansas at six. Children mature at different speeds and ages. Somewhere at the end of elementary school, it`s likely that your child will ask you if they can stay home alone because one or more of their friends no longer go to daycare or use babysitters. Or maybe you need to run to a doctor`s appointment and wonder if it`s okay to leave your child home alone. Learn the guidelines and recommendations so you can make an informed and safe choice for you and your child. Allow your child to stay home alone by trying it for half an hour, then an hour, two hours, and so on. This will help calm fears and worries and build trust between the two of you. Practice what she would do in various emergency situations. Consider installing security cameras that you can monitor from your mobile phone for added security.
For Cook, the confidence of being home alone taught him to rely on himself early on. He believes it has given him an edge in life. California law does not specifically provide for a minimum age for leaving a child alone at home, nor a minimum age for a child to care for younger siblings. However, leaving children alone before they are ready can result in criminal charges and penalties. California lawmakers believe it should be up to parents to decide at what age their child is responsible enough to take care of themselves when home alone. States that have laws have set this age at 10 to 12 years. Child care experts are quick to point out that it should be determined from one child to another. Tamsin Ing, who has two children, Ollie, 6, and Charlotte, 10, knows all too well the challenges of being left home alone.
Since she spent her childhood as a turnkey child of a single mother, she decided that her children wouldn`t pass that too. The crucial point is that every child is different and everyone reaches the independence phase at different ages. This is one of the reasons why child psychologist Lisa Whitfield recommends promoting independence in children. This could include leaving her alone for short periods of time, starting at age 6 and gradually increasing the duration as she ages, but she cautions against expecting routine self-care. «If you feel your child is developmentally ready and meets all of these criteria and the environment is safe, that`s probably the best way to start while you`re half a mile away from the grocery store,» Schuck said. «Continue to assess your child`s comfort when left alone. Balance safety risks with your child`s independence. «Leaving a child home alone has some benefits,» said Sabrina Schuck, Ph.D., executive director of the School of Child Development at UC Irvine. One child may be willing to stay home at age 12, while another may need to be supervised until adolescence. Ask yourself if your child keeps your word and does what they say. When he goes out with friends, is he good at letting you know where he`s going and getting home on time? Basic fire safety training is essential, as is awareness on how to call for help in an emergency. Your child should know their address, phone number, phone number, and how to communicate with friends and family.
They must be able to engage in constructive activities, know how to prepare a basic meal or snack, and not be afraid too easily. Neighborhood safety is another thing to consider, just like you know your neighbors. When in doubt, seek the advice of the pediatrician, teacher and others who know him well. «Being able to stay home alone and take care of yourself is a healthy part of a child`s development and builds confidence in children,» she said.