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At What Age Can A Child Be Left Alone?
According to the National Child Care Information Center, only Maryland and Illinois have specific laws stipulating the age at which a child can be left home alone.
However, the National SAFEKIDS Campaign recommends that no child under the age of 12 be left home alone.
Home Alone Considerations
When you're ready to leave your child home alone for the first time, be sure to:
- Consider your child's age and maturity level. For example, if your child is extremely impulsive, you might want to wait until he or she is older than 12.
- Begin with several "dry runs" where you leave your child home alone for short periods of time.
- Leave a phone number where you can be reached. If possible, provide a land line in addition to your cell phone number, just in case your company's service is disrupted for any reason.
- Call home to check on your child.
- If possible, make arrangements for your child to check in with you, or with a relative or neighbor, while you are out.
- Thoroughly prepare your child for staying home alone. Consider using a book, such as Dottie Raymer's Staying Home Alone, to discuss what it means to make safe choices.
Be specific in discussing your expectations and how you would like your child to use his or her time. For example:
- Is the TV allowed?
- If so, are there any channels that are off-limits?
- Do you want your child to answer the phone?
- Should homework be completed before you arrive?
- May your child use the computer?
- Can your child have friends over while you're not at home?
- Can he or she go to other friends' houses?
- Make sure your home is childproof. For example:
- Are medications kept in a locked cabinet?
- Are there firearms in the home?
- If so, are they in a locked cabinet and/or do they have child safety locks?
- What could your child potentially get into that might cause harm?
- Practice handling emergencies. For example:
- What would you do in an emergency?
- What if someone were trying to get into the house?
- What would you do if there were a fire?
Ask your child if he or she feels confident and ready to stay home alone. If he or she is hesitant, hire a babysitter and reconsider this issue in six months.
References
1 - Children Home Alone and Babysitter Age Guidelines. (2006, May). National Child Care Information Center. Retrieved August 15, 2006.
2 - Protecting Your Kids When They’re Home Alone. (n.d.) Safe Kids U.S.A. retrieved August 15, 2006.
Articles About Latchkey Kids
Home Alone Children Calling Program
Database Systems Corp. (DSC) is a technology company that has been in business since 1978. DSC has developed several call processing solutions that are ideally suited for community notification and alert services.
One of the most important solutions developed by DSC is its CARE (Call Reassurance) telephone service. The CARE telephone reassurance system calls elderly residents or home alone children. These calls are made to ensure the well-being of these individuals.
CARE systems have been installed and operational at many law enforcement and community service organizations throughout the country. These systems primarily check-in on the welfare of shut-in seniors, but also to check-in on latchkey children.
DSC develops and markets these community notification phone systems, but also provides individual calling services for parents who wish to enroll their child into our automated calling program.
How Do I Enroll My Child?
Before enrollment, please take time to view a description and explanation of the Registration Process that is required to enroll your child in this program.
To enroll, simply click on the graphic below:
DSC provides an easy and secure sign-up procedure for enrolling in this Home Alone Children calling program. Everything can be done using our Latchkey Kids website.
- Online Enrollment - Sign-up online using our secure website.
- Child's Profile - Specify your child's profile (window of time to make calls to your child).
- Name Contacts - Identify who we need to contact if we can't reach your child.
- Secure Payment - Choose one of several enrollment and payment options and pay online using Visa or MasterCard.
DSC provides online and phone management of your account. This lets you view a history of the calls. You can also manage the dates and times for these calls including vacation days.
Plus our service is performed automatically - there are no operators involved so we can ensure your child's privacy.
CARE Information
Contact DSC to learn more about our CARE home alone children calling service and phone systems.
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