The legal age to leave children home alone as the summer holidays approach

Parents are being given guidance on the rules for leaving children home alone as the summer holidays approach.

During school breaks, parents are often faced with the challenge of deciding whether to leave their children home alone. And while there is no specified legal age for when children can be left unsupervised, it is against the law to leave a child alone if it puts them at risk.

As the summer holidays approach, we take a look back at some of the guidance published by the NSPCC to help parents make informed decisions during the summer holidays.

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Helen Westerman, the NSPCC’s head of local campaigns, said “a child who is not comfortable should not be left alone. She said this is why setting a universal legal age is impractical because some children, although of the same age, have different levels of maturity.

Parents should also consider whether it is safe for their children to play outside unsupervised.

Westerman added: “Many parents will consider whether it is safe to leave their children at home safely and whether they are old enough to leave the house unsupervised. This can be a very difficult decision for parents and carers. it will differ from child to child.”

“As well as navigating when a child is ready to be left alone, many parents will also find it a challenge to manage work during the school holidays, particularly in light of the rising costs of children and the cost of living crisis, which puts additional pressure. on families”.

In 2022, Westerman previously said the NSPCC had received more than 21,000 calls in the past four years about unattended children, with almost half occurring during the summer holidays.

She added: “As children grow, it’s common for them to want more freedom and learn to be independent.

“This is an important part of growing up, but we know it can be a lot for parents to think about. Because every child is different, we recommend that they build their independence at their own pace and talk to them to make sure they feel safe. .”

Westerman offers guidance for parents and caregivers who are considering leaving their children home alone or allowing them outside unsupervised during the summer:

1. Are they ready to be left home alone?

Parents should consider how their child might cope without supervision, especially in an emergency. Westerman added: “Think about if they can handle the risks, will they behave responsibly, will they be safe?

“And perhaps most importantly, how does your child feel about this idea?”

2. Take sensible precautions.

If you’re thinking of leaving your child home alone, take precautions like leaving a spare set of keys and making sure they have access to food and the bathroom. Westerman said, “Think about if there’s anything that could hurt them and how you could reduce that risk.”

3. Never leave babies or small children alone.

Westerman stresses the critical point that babies and very young children should never be left unattended, even for short periods of time, whether they are asleep or awake. She added: “Children under the age of 12 are rarely mature enough to deal with an emergency and should not be left alone at home for any length of time.”

The charity also advises against leaving children under 16 alone overnight and reminds parents to consider any additional needs a child may have when deciding whether to leave them at home alone or with an older sibling big.

4. Know the facts if they come out unattended.

When your child is traveling alone, it is vital to be aware of the destination, activities, companions and travel distance. Westerman added that this will help parents “make the right decision.”

5. Make sure they have the right phone numbers.

Make sure your child has a parent or carer’s contact number and identify a trusted adult nearby to contact in an emergency if they are home alone. She said: “If they are going out alone, make sure they know the name and full address of a trusted adult and have two trusted adult phone numbers.”

6. Go through different scenarios with your child.

Talk to your child early on about situations they might encounter and how to stay safe, ask them what their actions would be and how they think they would feel.

Westerman added: “If they’re going to be home alone, for example, ask them what they would do if they got hurt or if a stranger knocked on the door.

“If they’re going out alone, you might want to ask them what they would do if someone asked them to do something they weren’t comfortable with.”

7. Set clear boundaries.

Make sure your child is fully aware of the rules when they are unsupervised, whether they are in the house or venturing out on their own, so that both you and they understand how they should behave when you are not around.

Westerman added, “It’s a good idea to agree on some ground or ground rules that suit their maturity before you leave them alone.

“Give your child a chance to build independence by building your confidence. If he follows the rules and boundaries you set, you’ll feel more confident, letting him do more on his own.”

If you are concerned about a child, contact the NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000 or email [email protected].

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