You need to feel that your child is mature enough to handle the responsibilities of being on his or her own. If she usually observes home rules without too much disagreement, if she is resourceful enough to find something useful and interesting to do, and if she has indicated a willingness to be on her own, she probably is a good candidate for being alone. Another important aid to success in such a situation is for you and your child to be able to communicate. He needs to feel free and able to talk about feelings. You need to explain the reasons for leaving your child alone and encourage your child to give his reaction.
Some children are more fearful than others.
Some are afraid of the dark or have concerns about danger. Such children may fear coming home alone to an empty house. This can be relieved if all family members are able to talk about how they feel. Begin the communication before the child is left alone, instead of waiting for fears to develop. Other topics, such as first aid and eating snacks, also are important.