Pediatrician advises when it’s safe to leave kids unsupervised.
If you’ve got kids, there’s a good chance you sometimes crave alone time. Or maybe you have a doctor’s appointment or want to make a quick solo run to the store. So you may be thinking about leaving them at home alone. But at what age is it safe? It’s a common dilemma, amplified by the fact that each child is different. To provide some insight, we spoke with Dr. Kevin Colton, a board-certified pediatrician who’s been with Children’s Medical Group with offices in Brookhaven, Buckhead, Decatur and Johns Creek for the past 25 years.
At what age is it generally OK to start leaving a child at home by themselves, and what are some factors to consider?
The American Academy of Pediatrics says 12, and I think that sounds reasonable. It depends, of course, on where the child is developmentally. Part of it is how responsible they are. Some are ready, and some aren’t. It’s about knowing your child. For instance, past unpredictable or destructive behavior or thoughts of self-harm would be a deterrent.
What are some safety factors to think about?
Basic things like knowing not to open the door for anyone and how and when to call 911. Also important is making sure they have a cellphone or other way to communicate with you. I would also suggest prohibiting certain behaviors, like cooking, taking medicines or swimming— anything that might put them in harm’s way. People need to look at what’s dangerous in their house before they give their kids the responsibility. They need to make sure medications and firearms are locked up. There are household rules you’d want them to abide by, too, not necessarily for safety, but about things like homework and screen time. You can’t throw all the rules of the house out the window just because you’re gone. A lot of people have video cameras inside their houses so they can watch the kids from their phones.
How do you walk the line between checking on your child and spying on them?
It kind of defeats the purpose if you’re going to watch them on the camera the whole time. And it’s not a very relaxing trip out for you. Maybe do it the first go-round. Always tell your child that you’re going to be able to see them on the camera, though. Doing it in secret breaks trust.
What details should parents give their children before walking out the door?
They need to give kids as much information as possible, like where they’re going, how far away they’ll be, how long they’ll be gone and how to get in touch with them. And they have to stay true to their word.
Like not saying they’ll be gone for an hour and then coming home four hours later?
Yes. You want to give them a sense of security. If, say, something came up, and you were unreachable, that could be traumatizing to a child.
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