Is your child ready to stay home alone?

One of the rites of childhood is the first time kids get to stay home while their parents run a quick errand. And it’s a rite of parenthood determining when your child is ready for this milestone.

Most children aren’t ready until age 11 or 12 to handle emergencies, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. But age shouldn’t be the sole factor in determining whether your child can take care of themselves.

“A child who feels confident being alone and knows how to get help is often more ready to be home alone for short periods of time as opposed to meeting a certain age threshold,” says Dr. Edmund Fernandez, a family medicine physician at Aurora Health Care.

Factors to consider include your child’s maturity and their ability to make good judgements on their own. Safety of the home environment and immediate access to a responsible adult are important. You’ll also want to keep in mind if they have any health issues that might necessitate closer supervision.

“Most importantly, ask your child if they would feel comfortable being home alone for a few hours. If they seem nervous or afraid of being alone, it’s important to respect their feelings,” says Dr. Fernandez.

Once you and your child are ready, ease them into this new responsibility by keeping your initial outings short, such as leaving them home while you walk the dog.

“Over time, you can extend the time away to a few hours as both you and your child become more comfortable,” says Dr. Fernandez.

Before heading out the door, here are some ways to help set your child up for success.

Problem-solve together

Talk to your child about potential issues that could come up and how to handle them such as:

• What to do if there’s a fire or gas leak
• Where to go in the house during severe weather
• How to take care of pets in case of emergency
• What to do if they don’t know what to do in a situation

List key contacts

Write out any important phone numbers – including your cell phone – and anyone else they can contact in an emergency. Also discuss what’s considered a life-threatening emergency to call 911.

“If you don’t have a landline phone, make sure your child has a way to call those contacts whether it’s their own phone, smartwatch or a designated cell phone they can use while you’re out,” says Dr. Fernandez.

Gather emergency supplies

Make sure your first aid kit is stocked with items like bandages to treat minor injuries. Also show your child where to find a flashlight in case the power goes out.

Set activity rules

“Talk to your child about the types of activities you consider safe for them to do when they’re home alone,” says Dr. Fernandez.

This list could include rules about:

• Staying inside or only being outside in the yard
• Keeping doors locked
• Answering the door or phone
• Waiting to do certain activities until someone comes home, such as taking a shower or using the stove

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