Anyone with children surely realizes that the time will come when it's time to trust their children to stay home alone. This is always a nerve-wracking time for parents, and it can also be a very touchy subject- some parents find it acceptable to let their young children come home from school alone, while others wouldn't dream of leaving their high-school students home alone for an afternoon.
The decision to stop hiring a babysitter when you'll be out of the house is one that must involve careful consideration. There is no set age when a child becomes responsible enough - so you must consider your child's responsibility level. Then, too, is the responsibility level of his or her friends. Do you trust them to behave themselves when home alone, or will they pressure your son or daughter into bad behaviors? Do the parents of your child's friends already allow them to stay home alone? This might factor into your decision, too.
Making the choice to allow your child to stay home alone isn't just about your child. It's also about the neighborhood in which you live and the security of your home. If you live in a safe neighborhood where parents routinely entrust their kids with a lot of responsibility, you might feel better about leaving your kids home alone.
Of course, it's also a decision about money. Maybe you must work long hours, or can't afford daycare or a babysitter. In this situation, you might find yourself leaving the kids home alone more than you ordinarily would. While this is certainly understandable, it is also important to set aside the resources needed to make your home as safe as possible while you're away.
There's nothing wrong with worrying about your kids when they are home by themselves, but you can help yourself feel more at ease by installing simple home security devices. Outdoor lighting, door and window alarms, and surveillance cameras will all make your home safer, and not just when your kids are home alone. Consider a "nanny cam" or hidden camera, which can transmit a real-time view of your home over the internet to your computer when you're away from home.
Home security is as much about information as it is about security devices. Talk with your child to make sure they feel comfortable staying home by themselves. Make sure they know how to get inside, and what to do in case of an emergency- from an intruder to a fire. If your kids are coming home from school to an empty house, leave a spare key in a disguised rock or thermometer so that they can get inside if they've forgotten theirs. Leave the phone number of a trusted neighbor, and tell them how to contact you if they feel the need.
Finally, establish house rules with your child. Can they invite friends over? Throw a party while you're away? Watch TV and eat junk food all day? Besides outlining acceptable behaviors while they're home alone, make sure that you reinforce the importance of using door and window locks, and arming the alarm system.
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