Advice for parents as schools break up for the school holidays

Photo: Jon Challicom

NSPCC offers advice to parents as schools across Rochdale break up for the school holidays - posed by a model

Deciding if a child is ready to be left home alone or ready to go out by themselves can be a tricky decision. There are lots of things to think about. During the summer months, the NSPCC helpline sees a significant rise in contacts relating to children being left alone.

Last year, the charity received 138 contacts from adults across Greater Manchester, including ten from Rochdale, with concerns about the issue.1 To help parents, the NSPCC is publishing new guides containing advice for parents/carers, and also has information available on its website.

An NSPCC spokesperson said: “The summer school break can be great for kids but it’s also a time when they might be left alone for long periods. That’s why the NSPCC has developed its Home Alone and Out Alone guides for parents and carers, to help them decide when their child is ready, and what parents can do if their children are still too young.

“The NSPCC’s helpline is also available 24/7 on 0808 800 5000. It’s available for parents if they want advice, or for anyone who may have a concern about a child who they feel may be too young to be on their own or who is being left alone for too long.”

There is no set age for leaving children home alone. The law simply says a child shouldn’t be left alone if they will be at risk. It depends on how mature and adaptable the child is – and this can vary greatly from child to child.

Things to consider before leaving a child home alone include: whether they seem mature for their age; whether they would be able to fix themselves something to eat and drink; and if they would know what to do if someone came to the door. The NSPCC has the following advice for parents/carers who decide their child is ready to be left alone:

• Never leave a baby or young child home alone, not even for a few minutes – whether they’re sleeping or awake. Most accidents happen at home, and children under the age of five are most at risk of getting hurt. 
• Even if a child is approaching 12, they may not be mature enough to cope with an emergency. If they do need to be left, parents/carer should make sure it’s only for a short time. 
• If leaving an older child alone, make sure they’re happy about the arrangement and know when and how to contact a trusted adult and the emergency services.
• If a child is under 16 they shouldn’t be left alone overnight.
• Children should be taught what to do if there’s a problem and need to know how to reach their parent/carer. It’s also a good idea to leave a list of trusted people for them to go to or call, such as a neighbour or relative.

Leaving a child inside the family home alone is one thing, but what about the day they start asking to go out on their own? It's a natural part of their growing independence but can be a challenging hurdle for a parent/carer to overcome. Just like deciding when a child's old enough to be left at home on their own, the law doesn’t specify a set age. It depends on: where they’re planning to go; what they want to do once there; who’s going to be with them; how their parent/carer will be able to reach them.

Avice from the NSPCC’s Out Alone guide to help prepare for this step:

• It’s a good idea for parents/carers to talk about how their child can keep themselves safe whenever out together. For example, asking them about how they know when it's safe to cross a road; what to do if a stranger starts talking to them; or if other children start to bully them. 
• Let children know where they can and can't go, set a definite time for them to come home, and explain why these rules are important.
• It's a good idea to have a test run before letting them go out on their own for the very first time - letting them lead the way and only stepping in if they put themselves in danger.
• Sometimes a child will try to persuade their parent/carer that they'll be fine to go out alone. But parents/carers shouldn’t feel pressurised.
• Even after they start going out on their own, it’s a good idea to keep discussing safety outside the home with the child, remind them of the dangers and show an interest in who the child is spending time with. If there’s anything that doesn't seem quite right – like them being secretive or coming home with new belongings they can't explain – parents/carers should definitely look into the reasons why.