How do I decide whether my child can safely be left at home alone?

Age alone is not a sufficient guide to when you can leave a child at home on their own. There is a need to assess if the child is mature enough to be able to cope with an emergency and how long the child is being left for. If a parent is thinking of leaving a child at home alone, the parent should discuss the possibility with the child and ask them how they feel about it.

It is sensible to consider the following aspects:

• How old is the child?
• What is the child's level of maturity and understanding?
• How long will the child be left alone for?
• How often will the child be left alone?
• Where will the child be left?
• Are there any other children in the household?
• Are there any obvious risks?
• How does the child feel about being at home alone?

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