Edition 46 › Hope for Single Parents › Anonymous

Single Parenting Tips for Leaving Children Home Alone

Wed, 06/16/2010 - 14:36 — GentleVic

The decision to leave a child home alone takes thought, discussion and preparedness. Deciding a child's readiness to safely assume the responsibilities of taking care of themselves at home can often be answered simply by asking the child.



If your child has shown a high level of apprehension in the past about being alone at home then other alternatives may need to be found. However, safety knowledge and training can often provide the child with the right tools to feel more confident about staying home alone.



Taking this simple quiz can help you determine if your child is ready to be home alone and what areas you can improve to help insure the proper safety tools are in place.


Quiz - Is Your Child Ready To Be Left Alone


Q: Does your child generally make good choices about safety?


Yes


No


Bottom of Form



Q: Have you ever seen how your child reacts during high stress or emergency situations?


Yes


No


Q: When your child is under pressure do they generally think and speak clearly?


Yes


No


Q: Would you say your child is more of a leader than a follower?


Yes


No


Q: Can your child say and spell their home address and phone number?


Yes


No


Q: Does your child follow house safety rules?


Yes


No


Q: Have you reviewed the steps of how and when to dial 911 with your child?


Yes


No


Q: Do you live in a low crime neighborhood?


Yes


No


Q: Do you have a good relationship with your neighbors?


Yes


No


Q: Do you have a home security system?


Yes


No


Q: Does your child know how to call you at work?


Yes


No


Q: Does your child know how to turn on and use a cell phone?


Yes


No


Q: Are emergency numbers posted in your home?


Yes


No


Q: Are house safety rules posted in your home?


Yes


No


Q: Does your child know where emergency numbers and house safety rules are posted in your home?


Yes


No


Q: Is your child comfortable answering the phone and taking messages?


Yes


No


Q: Does your child call you when they arrive home alone?


Yes


No


Q: Does your child stand up to peer pressure?


Yes


No


Q: Does your child know how to use the emergency button on your home security system?


Yes


No


Q: Have you asked your child how they feel about being in the house alone?


Yes


No


If your score is 100%. It appears you have covered the three essentials - thought, discussion and preparedness - for leaving your child alone
0
Your rating: None