Home Alone as a Latchkey Kid
Leaving your son alone at home is a big step and not one for which every parent or every teen feels ready. Only you and your son can decide what works best for your family.
Experts in childcare usually agree it is best to never leave your child alone until the age of twelve. However, find out if your state or city has laws that determine how old your child must be before you leave him without adult supervision.
Here are some questions to answer to help you decide if your son is ready to be at home alone:
Is your son responsible?
Is everything okay between you and your son?
Does your son know where to go and who to call in an emergency?
Do you trust your son?
Is your son willing to stay home alone?
There may be times when your son is fine being home alone, but you may have to reevaluate your decision periodically. There may be times when he is not able to stay alone because of behavioral or emotional issues. Be sure that you have a backup plan, should a change be necessary.
A big question when deciding whether to leave your son home alone is how he will behave when you aren't there. One of the best ways to make sure your son won't do anything you disapprove of is to give him explicit written rules to follow. This ensures that there won't be any miscommunications.
Essential
You should always have any weapons in the home locked up. Always store ammunition in a separate place. Your son should not have access to the weapons, ever. This is a tragedy waiting to happen.
Address issue of how he is to spend his time. Be clear and specific about the rules of not only what he needs to do, but also what he should not be doing.
Another hot topic for teens is who can be in the house when you aren't home. Many parents have rules that say no friends or girlfriends allowed when the parents aren't home.
The stakes go up if your son is also expected to take care of younger siblings. Some activities, like cooking and bathing younger children, increase the risks of accidents, so be cautious about asking your teen to do them alone.
The American Red Cross offers a teen babysitting course. This will teach your son the best way to handle infants and young children as well as give him some safety advice. This emergency preparation will come in handy for everyone's peace of mind.
