Kevin McCallister is the protagonist of the iconic ‘90s movie, “Home Alone.” Kevin — age 8 — is mistakenly left at home during the Christmas season after his family flies to France to celebrate the holiday. Kevin must defend his home against bumbling burglars and generally fend for himself.
While the premise of “Home Alone” is a humorous one, and Kevin certainly has the smarts to outwit the two foolish thieves and seems relatively self-sufficient, in real life the idea of letting an 8-year-old stay home by himself is one that would no doubt raise an eyebrow. In fact, many states have laws in place that regulate the age at which a child is legally able to stay home alone.
… Stay Home Alone?
Age limits vary according to area and can be verified by contacting one’s local child welfare agency. However, the National SAFEKIDS Campaign recommends that no child younger than 12 be left at home alone. It is only by the age of 12 or 13 that kids are able to think logically and self-supervise for an extended period of time. Even at this age, it isn’t recommended that pre-teens stay at home alone overnight.
… Use the Oven?
With adult supervision children can begin cooking with the oven and the stove top at age 12. Parents may want to wait until the child is 14 before allowing him or her to cook foods unsupervised. Proper training on safety procedures, including how to use a fire extinguisher, should be given before enabling a child to use appliances unattended.
… Shower or Bathe Alone?
This is really a case of personal preference. The American Academy of Pediatrics Policy states that children younger than 4 should not be left alone around or in water due to the risk of drowning. Parents can gauge whether a 5- or 6-year-old child is mature enough to shower or bathe on his or her own, since at this time some children experience embarrassment or issues of privacy as they become more aware of their unclothed bodies. Even if the decision is made to allow unsupervised bathing, parents can regularly check in on the child to ensure that he or she is OK. Leaving the door open or encouraging the child to sing a song so that a parent can hear him or her is another option.
… Take a Shower Instead of a Bath?
Again, this is an issue of preference for both the parent and the child. Some kids take to showering like a duck to water. Others are insecure in the shower and prefer bathing. If a 5- or 6-year-old child is capable of washing his or her body and rinsing shampoo from his or her hair, parents can allow them to shower alone and see how things go. Install a nonskid bath mat to help prevent falls. In addition, limit the shower time to 5 or 10 minutes to lessen the chance for hijinks.
… Stay Alone Overnight?
Although a teenager may be able to stay alone overnight by age 15 or 16, a child’s maturity level should carry significant weight in the decision-making process. It is also important for parents to realize that laws regarding partying that involve underage drinking often place the responsibility on parents — some of whom have served jailed time as a result of teens getting out of hand. Parents can think about whether the child is the one who wants to stay home alone overnight or if it’s the parents’ wish to go away sans kids. If the child doesn’t feel comfortable no matter the age, he or she shouldn’t be left alone.
… Babysit Another Person?
There are no rules governing the acceptable age at which a child can watch another child. Usually by age 14 a child is mature enough to watch a sibling for a little while. Unless the sitter is well known and comes recommended by others, parents may want to insist their babysitters are at least 14 or 15. Leary parents can share childcare duties with other friends who have kids.
There is no guidebook for parenting, and many times caregivers must use their own judgement when deciding whether a child is physically and emotionally ready to do many of the things adults take for granted. While there are laws governing when a person can drive or drink alcohol, there are no such guidelines for many other important milestones. Parents often have to use their own discretion.
