Advice on leaving children home alone

DECIDING if a child is ready to be left home alone during the Easter holidays can be a tricky decision, and it is made even more difficult by the fact there is no legal minimum age for children to be left alone.

That means it is up to parents and carers to use their judgment when deciding if their child is ready to be on their own for an extended period.

To help them, NSPCC Northern Ireland has some key advice and tips to help parents decide.

We recommend babies, toddlers and very young children should never be left alone under any circumstances. Children under the age of 12 are rarely mature enough to cope in an emergency and should not be left at home alone for a long period, while youngsters under the age of 16 should not be left alone overnight.

It’s important to remember that a child should never be left at home alone if they do not feel comfortable with this, regardless of their age.

Also, bear in mind if a child has additional needs, these should be considered when leaving them at home alone or with an older sibling. And remember when leaving a younger child with an older sibling, think about what may happen if they were to have a falling out. Would they both be safe?

With the school holidays on the horizon, parents should check their children are happy and confident and know what to do in an emergency if the decision is taken to leave them alone at the family home. There’s lots of advice for parents on our website,www.nspcc.org.uk.

Please note that letters should be short and to the point. Letters will be edited as deemed necessary and should be authenticated with a full name and postal address, not necessarily for publication. A daytime telephone number would also be useful.