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 Red Cross offers a babysitting course for children aged 11 to 15 to prepare them to care for young children. If your child is responsible for caring for younger siblings, consider enrolling them in this course, where they will receive a certificate and a healthy dose of self-confidence, as well as an opportunity to earn extra money. She will provide basic first aid, CPR, emergency plans, and learn how to entertain and keep young children on time. 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.
Anne Kinsey is a writer, businesswoman, minister and coach who is passionate about inspiring others, achieving their career dreams and believing in possibilities. She lives with her husband and three children in rural North Carolina, where they enjoy the outdoors and serve vulnerable youth together. “Even if you had to leave your 10-year-old home for an hour while you`re at a doctor`s appointment, there are reasons why you wouldn`t want the same child to have to be left alone every day during the summer,” says Whitfield, a professor of developmental psychology at Santa Clara University. That`s “a lot of self-monitoring you can ask of these kids.” Another East Bay mother, Liz Shipsides, once briefly left her 9-year-old son home alone while dropping off his siblings at school. She came home and found that he had barricaded himself in her room out of sheer terror. 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. She jokes that 34 could be a good minimum age. But she certainly intends to wait until he`s at least in high school.
Younger, she says, and she would worry that a stranger would realize he was home alone and enjoy it. Of course, she also points out that leaving teenagers to fend for themselves can also be a recipe for disaster. Does anyone remember “Risky Business”? Beverly Bird has been writing professionally since 1983. She is the author of several novels, including the bestsellers “Comes the Rain” and “With Every Breath”. Bird also has extensive experience as a paralegal, particularly in the areas of divorce and family law, insolvency and inheritance law. She addresses many legal topics in her articles. Deborah Lohse was left home alone with her two brothers after school, starting in fourth grade. She remembers a lot of bickering and a “boat full of Brady Bunch.” She and her brothers were also tasked with preparing dinner before their people came home. But she doesn`t feel comfortable letting her 10-year-old daughter do the same. 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. Social expectations also play a role. Cardwell, Discovery Bay`s mother, remembers the neighbors` reaction when they learned that a 5-year-old girl had been left home alone. Although the child seemed satisfied with the arrangement, many neighbors felt compelled to keep an eye on her. On the other side of the coin, 28-year-old Cody Cook stayed home alone after school at age six because his grandparents, who raised him, both worked. He was fine. 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. 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. School is over for the summer, and many parents in the San Francisco Bay Area face a dilemma. California does not have a law on the age at which a child is willing to stay home alone. You are confident to apply your judgment when it comes to safety and preparedness. Although you can legally leave a child alone at home at any age, it is advisable to exercise discretion and assess your child`s maturity and development. “Whaaat? It`s crazy,” says Bethany Cardwell, a mother of two under 7 who lives in Discovery Bay. “I can`t imagine leaving children under the age of 10 alone. I can`t imagine that. Keep in mind that if your child is in trouble because you left them home alone, the law could hold you criminally and civilly liable for their actions.
