Tweens
5 Ways to Know if Your Kid is Ready to be Home Alone

Parents often find themselves in a childcare no-man’s land during the tween years (roughly 9 to 12). Kids this age may seem mature and capable enough to stay home alone, yet a little bit of concern still lingers. Could they truly handle an emergency? Can they make judgment calls about things that you can’t foresee and leave instructions for? Here are some ways to determine if your child is ready to fly solo:

1.  Ask yourself if he or she consistently follows all household rules (particularly those which relate to safety) when you’re around. How about rules regarding screen time and internet safety? If so, you could probably reasonably expect them to do the same in your absence. If the answer is no, then staying home alone is out of the question. As a helpful reminder, you might want to review and post iMom’s Home Alone Rules with your child.

2.  Find out if being alone scares your child in any way. Some kids are still just frightened when alone, and you don’t want to put them in that situation unnecessarily. Ask some questions in a way that gives your son or daughter the freedom to be honest without feeling embarrassed, and honor their feelings.

3.  Consider whether they’ll be responsible for only themselves, or if there are younger siblings who would be home, as well. A good rule of thumb here is: if you are confident enough in your child’s level of responsibility to allow her to take a babysitting job with another family, then she may be able to care for her younger siblings. However, sibling dynamics often make this impossible. In other words, if your 11-year-old and your 8-year-old still bicker and fight to the death, one shouldn’t be left to care for the other.

4.  Consider the back-up system that exists for your child in case of emergency. Calling mom or dad on the cell phone is a good alternative, but there are some situations that  may call for more immediate, hands-on adult help. Is there a trusted neighbor next door who would help bandage a cut or assist in some other way if needed? If so, you may be ready to give your child a trial run.

5.  See how your kid handles brief periods of self-supervision. After laying out the rules, let him stay home while you make a run to the bank or the grocery store. If several of these short-term attempts at self-supervision go off without a hitch, you may be ready to extend the period of time your child is home alone.

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