Still, the Urban Institute estimates that 22 percent of children in the United States ages 5 to 14 years are at home alone at least some of the time. Therefore, it s important for children to learn how to be safe when they re alone. That s where coaching and teaching come in. Gear Up for Safety One of a parent s hardest decisions is determining whether or not a child is mature enough to stay at home without direct adult supervision. Parents want to foster independence in their children, but their children s safety comes first.
Children develop at different rates.
When determining whether or not your child is ready to stay home alone, assess the child individually, not just as part of an overall age group. But children develop at different rates, and parents must consider each child individually. 4 Make sure children know a safe route home. If a child is afraid to be left alone, he or she isn t ready. Parents need to be confident that their child will follow directions on answering the telephone and door, on allowing playmates in the house, on computer and television usage, and on getting along with siblings.