Home Alone: Is your child ready for the responsibility?
by Heather Quackenboss
When can your child safely stay home alone? That can be a scary question for parents to consider. And the answer varies from child to child.
Wisconsin has no law on the books for the minimum age a child needs to be to stay home alone; only two states do. It’s up to parents to determine if their children are ready for this big step.
Although each child is different, children who follow rules at home and school tend to be more responsible and capable of staying home alone than children who rebel against rules, says Janet Holter, an initial assessment social worker for the Family Services Unit at La Crosse County Human Services.
The Family Services Unit developed an assessment checklist that can help parents determine whether or not their child can stay home alone. The checklist helps parents measure a child’s self-care abilities, capability of following rules, medical issues, neighborhood traits, emergency preparedness, and level of responsibility.
If a parent decides from the assessment that the child shows the potential to stay home alone, the recommendations are:
- 7 to 8 years: 30 minutes alone
- 8 to 9 years: 1 hour
- 9 to 10 years: 1 ½ hours
- 10 to 11 years: 2 hours
Generally, these guidelines are adjusted when younger siblings are staying home as well. Then the eldest child also needs to know how to be responsible for his or her younger siblings.
Officer Drew Gavrilos of the La Crosse Police Department teaches safety skills at babysitting classes held at Franciscan Skemp Healthcare. He recommends talking to youth about how to handle strangers at the door, what to say on the telephone, exits to the house, and knowing who to call in case of an emergency.
For parents, teaching safety and emergency preparedness can be daunting. “Education is the key,” says Sergeant David Schatzley of the Juvenile Division at the La Crosse Police Department.
To avoid scaring kids, discuss safety issues in a matter-of-fact way, as if you’re teaching them how to use the dishwasher, Schatzley says. “Kids want to understand how things work and why,” he says.
Parents and children need to plan for emergencies and situations that may arise when a child is home alone. “Children need to know how to deal with danger before they stay home alone,” Holter says. “That is the reality.”
It’s important to post contact numbers of relatives, neighbors, and the police department by the telephone. Teach children about emergency numbers and what happens when they call those numbers. This will help them during an actual emergency. “Explain what the police will do and why we’re here,” Schatzley says. “Most importantly, tell them they can call the police even if they’re a kid. If it’s not a prank, they won’t be in trouble, and we’re glad to ease their fears and help solve problems.”
Before children stay home alone, it’s recommended that parents and children discuss:
- Emergency plans
- Parent contact numbers
- House rules
- Back up numbers and plans
Heather Quackenboss, a former latchkey kid herself, was MOSTLY good when home alone. She lives in La Crosse with her husband and children, Sam, Ryan, and Lily.