Parents considering allowing their child to stay home alone this summer may have visions of “Home A l o n e ” protagonist Kevin McCallister fighting off the Wet Bandits or getting into other mischief. With the end of the school year approaching, it’s crunch time for parents to make summer plans for their children. There is no magic age for a child to stay home alone during the summer.
A good rule of thumb is age 12, but parents need to look more at their child’s level of maturity, responsibility and independence. Some may be ready at 12 years old, but other children may not. Being home all day is much different than a couple of hours after school or while a parent runs errands. Signs of maturity include getting themselves up in the morning and getting ready for school, finishing homework and completing chores with little parental prodding.
Although parents might welcome the thought of no summer childcare expenses, it’s important to talk with children to make sure that staying home alone is something they want to do. Sometimes, a child may be anxious at the thought of staying home alone while their parents are at work. If the anxiety is too much, consider waiting until next summer, or investigate alternatives.
Parents should work up to leaving their child home alone all day. Do some test runs during the weekend for a few hours at a time. Roleplay. Go through different scenarios such as someone knocking on the door, a storm rolling in, the electricity going out or the child getting hurt. Have a plan in place for each scenario.
Discuss house rules. Can the child have friends over to play? Is the child allowed to ride their bike to the park, a friend’s house or to the store? Consider a tracking app on the child’s phone to know where they are.
Talk about kitchen safety and what appliances the child can use. Plan meals and snacks that are easy to prepare. A fun weekend activity could be preparing healthy snacks for the weekdays. Have a list of emergency contacts on the refrigerator. Discuss the different types of emergencies that may arise and what could require a call to a neighbor or 911.
If an older child is responsible for younger siblings, that adds an extra layer to the summer equation. Taking care of younger children requires additional training.
It’s important to find things to help fill up their day. Simple chores such as emptying the dishwasher, taking out the trash and even light housekeeping will give them something to do. Establish rules about how much television and computer time will be allowed. Be sure to have parental controls set on the computer, tablet or phone.
Find out what summer programs are available through the public library or the county OSU Extension office. Most library offerings are free. Coordinate with other parents to share transportation responsibilities. Summer care isn’t a one-sizefits- all for every family, and what works for one family may not work for another. Talk with your child and involve them in the decision-making process to help make the summer as safe and fun as possible.
If you would like more information or to schedule a program locally, contact Risley at 918-775-4838.
