In every family’s life, there comes a time when parents have to think about how long a child can be left alone at home. Are there legal restrictions in Poland that determine the age at which a child can be left alone? And what should be considered when deciding to leave our child unsupervised, even for a short period? In this article, we will review the Dalili Medical  legal and practical aspects related to this topic, as well as the necessary precautions before leaving a child alone. It is important for parents to know the necessary procedures and precautions to take, as well as the extent of the child’s maturity and ability to stay alone at home while the parents are away. We will review these details in the following paragraphs.

**Advantages of leaving a child alone at home**

 

**Promoting responsibility in the child:** Leaving a child alone at home is a step towards achieving independence, as it gives him the opportunity to take responsibility, such as doing some housework, preparing food for himself, and sleeping in the absence of the parents.

**Child's sense of accomplishment:** When a child is left alone, it enhances their sense of competence and ability to take care of themselves and their home, which contributes to their sense of accomplishment, happiness and success in their daily tasks, and motivates them to develop themselves.

**Developing new skills:** Leaving a child alone is a new experience for them and their parents, as it forces the child to learn and practice new and useful skills, such as cooking, solving problems and making decisions independently without the need to consult their parents.

**Getting quiet time:** A child, like adults, may want to spend some time alone in peace, or study in a quiet atmosphere, especially if the house is full of people. The child may enjoy spending his time in peace, even if he does not have a specific activity to do.

**Achieving some privacy**: As the child approaches adolescence and before, the child may begin to feel the need for some privacy. The child can feel this by spending time at home, such as talking to his friends on the phone and sharing their private conversations. This is considered positive, provided that some supervision is maintained and trust is enhanced.

From what age can a child be left alone at home?

 

According to the law and expert recommendations, which take into account the stages of physical and emotional development of the child up to the age of 6, it is forbidden to leave children unattended.

**Ages 6 to 9** It is recommended not to leave children alone at home, even if they show responsibility and maturity appropriate to their age, as they are still unable to deal with risks and unexpected situations. From the age of 6 onwards, parents should use their own judgment to decide whether a child can be allowed to stay alone at home.

**Ages 9 to 12** A boy or girl can be left alone at home for very short periods, such as when you go to help a neighbor or when you go to the nearby supermarket for a few minutes. Make sure the boy or girl is ready before you go out, and tell them that you will be back shortly.

**Ages 12 and up** A boy or girl can be left alone for longer periods, but this decision should be based on the parents’ assessment of the children’s abilities and previous experiences. Based on this, parents will determine how long children can stay alone, what time of day, and how often. However, it is always good to communicate with children from time to time.

**Training the child to stay home alone**

 

The child can be prepared to stay home alone gradually, which helps him adhere to the instructions provided by the parents. The following steps can be started:

. **Teaching the child to depend on himself**: The child initially feels excited about the idea of ​​staying home alone, as he seeks to prove his ability to do so and that he has become big enough. Therefore, it is important to teach the child how to depend on himself in many daily matters, such as keeping the house clean, putting things back in their proper places, preparing and eating food on his own, in addition to maintaining his safety and personal hygiene.

. **Leaving the child for short periods at first**: When leaving the child alone for the first time, parents may feel anxious, which is a natural feeling given that this is the child's first experience. Therefore, it is best not to leave him for long periods at first, such as going to work for six hours. You can start by leaving your 9-year-old alone for half an hour to an hour, gradually increasing this time the next time.

**Staying in an easily accessible place:** The first time, your child may find it difficult to deal with sudden situations, even if he is aware of it. Therefore, parents should be close to the child, so that he can reach them easily, such as going to the neighbors' house. It is also necessary to maintain an easy means of communication via phone, to ensure that the child can be reached directly in the event of any emergency.

**Talking to the child about his experience:** When returning home, parents should sit with the child and talk to him about his experience. The child will talk about how he was left alone and what he was able to do. You can ask him some questions to find out the details of his experience, such as: Did he talk to anyone on the phone, what was his answer, did anyone come to the house while you were away, and how did he act in that situation.

**Ensuring that you understand the child's feelings when he is alone**: It is important to ask the child about his feelings during this experience. If he is feeling anxious, we must find out what causes this anxiety while he is alone at home. Does he feel safe in the neighborhood he lives in? Is he afraid of the dark? Does he prefer quiet or does he feel lonely in his silence?

**Guiding the child on how to behave in the future**: The child may have behaved well while he was alone at home at that moment, but through dialogue with him we can understand how he can deal with longer periods or different situations that may ariseFace it in the future. Accordingly, we can praise the child, in addition to some appropriate guidance for him, and modify some of the behaviors he has done.

**Preparations needed to leave the child alone at home**

 

**Determine the means of communication with the child:** It is important to provide a permanent and easy means of communication with the child during the absence of the parents, especially if the period is long. If the parents are at work, make sure that the mobile phone is turned on and not turned off, and answer the child's calls immediately. It is also preferable to provide a schedule for the child that shows the times when he can communicate with the parents when needed, provided that there are no emergencies.

**Setting the ground rules:** Some important rules should be clarified to the child, such as not leaving the house in the absence of the parents, not opening the door to strangers, and avoiding approaching windows and balconies. Caution should also be exercised in movement, not making noise that may disturb the neighbors, and preserving the furniture of the house. It is also preferable to reduce the time spent on social media, smartphones, and television. It is essential for parents to alert the child to these rules before they leave to ensure his safety and ensure his commitment to them.

**Advice the child and remind him of it constantly:** There are a set of tips that the child may overlook because he feels that he has grown up, but it is necessary to remind him of them every time to ensure his safety while he is alone at home. These tips include avoiding playing with sharp tools such as knives, staying away from playing with flammable sources such as matches and gas, in addition to not talking to strangers about being alone.

**Providing basic needs at home:** When leaving the child alone at home, you must ensure that all his basic needs are available, such as food and drink. You should also place the electrical switches within reach to facilitate their operation in the event of a power outage, and ensure that everything the child needs from daily supplies is available during the period of his stay alone.

**Providing protection for the child while he is alone at home:** One of the important things that parents must consider before leaving the child alone is ensuring the safety of the house as much as possible. You must ensure that the windows and doors are tightly closed, so that they are tightly closed but the child can open them when needed. Emergency numbers should also be placed in a clear and easily accessible place. There should be a means of communication available to the child in case he needs it, in addition to the presence of a fire extinguisher, smoke alarms and appropriate lighting, to ensure the safety of the child in the absence of the parents.

****When should you avoid leaving the child alone at home****

 

**Sick child**: If the child suffers from a health condition that prevents him from staying alone at home, such as a high temperature or an illness that requires special care and taking medication, it is necessary not to leave him alone until he recovers.

**Child with psychological disorders**: It is usually unsafe to leave a child who suffers from psychological or neurological disorders alone at home, such as children with autism or who display aggressive behaviors or suffer from psychological problems, as they are more likely to harm themselves and do not know how to deal with situations that they may face.

**If the house is located in a remote area**: The house in which the child will stay alone should be secured from the inside and outside. If the house is in an isolated area and there are no trusted people near the child, he becomes more vulnerable to theft or assault without anyone noticing, and the child may face situations where it is difficult for him to ask for help.

**Difficulty securing the house**: If it is difficult to secure the house well, such as easy entry, loose locks, or a swimming pool without alarms, the child should not be left alone until he reaches puberty and is able to understand the risks and how to act in such situations.

**The child's inability to protect himself**: The child should be able to protect himself in the event of an emergency, such as a fire. If he feels afraid or confused, he is not ready to stay home alone.

**Lack of means of communication at home**: If there is no means that enables the child to communicate with the parents easily, such as not having a phone or communicating via the internet with the parents, he should not be left at home alone to avoid getting into trouble without the parents knowing.

What should parents think about before leaving the child alone at home?

 

Parents should ask themselves the following questions:

1. Is the child aware of the situations that may arise while the parents are away from home, and does he know how to deal with them properly?

2. Is the child emotionally prepared to be home alone?

3. Does the child understand and remember verbal and written instructions?

4. Does the child follow rules and carry out instructions responsibly?

5. Does the child know how to deal with emergency situations, and does he have the common sense to act in such cases?

6. Can the child engage in useful activities such as reading, drawing, composing music, and playing, without wasting time in front of the TV or video games?

7. Does the child remember safety principles and how to stay safe when alone?

8. Have items that may pose a danger been checked, such as medications, firearms, household chemicals, alcoholic beverages, swimming pools, etc.?

9. Are carbon monoxide and smoke alarms working, and does the child know what to do if the sirens go off?

10. Can the child contact a parent or trusted adult in the event of an emergency?

11. Can neighbors provide support, and can the child contact them if needed?

12. Does the child have the necessary contact numbers for parents, emergency services, neighbors, or other helpers, as well as the home address they need to provide when calling the emergency department? All of this information should be clearly written on a piece of paper and stored.Put it on the refrigerator, so that the child can reach it easily and conveniently.

13. Does the child know how to use it? And do they have first aid supplies?

**The harms of leaving the child alone at home**

 

**Harming themselves:** One of the most dangerous risks associated with leaving the child alone at home is the possibility of physical or psychological harm. The child may play with dangerous tools or perform actions that are not permitted in the presence of parents. He may also misjudge the situation and believe that he is able to do things beyond his age capabilities, such as using the oven or razors.

**Feeling bored and lonely:** The first time the child is left alone for a long time, he may feel lonely and bored. This feeling may develop into a feeling of the absence of the parents and their lack of interest in him, especially if they are busy for long periods at work, which forces him to stay at home without being able to go out or play with friends. Therefore, it is important for parents to assign some tasks for the child to do before they return.

**Development of fear:** The child may be exposed to a simple incident while he is alone at home, which makes him feel afraid. This feeling may worsen even in the absence of any specific situation, such as fear of the shadows surrounding him or the sounds that he may have been affected by from the movies and series he watches.

**Exposure to strangers:** One of the potential risks of leaving the child alone at home for long periods of time on a frequent basis is that some untrustworthy strangers with bad intentions may realize that he is alone at certain times, which makes him vulnerable to theft or assault. Therefore, it is necessary to emphasize the importance of not talking to strangers and not opening the door of the house, in addition to making sure that it is tightly closed.

**Poor academic performance:** Among the disadvantages resulting from leaving the child alone at home is his lack of interest in schoolwork and studying, which makes him spend more time in front of mobile phone screens, television, etc. This leads to a decline in his academic achievement without the parents realizing it.

**Learning deviant behaviors:** When parents leave the child alone for long periods of time, it becomes difficult for them to know how to spend his time. The child may get to know people with inappropriate behaviors, and these people may enter the house in the absence of the parents. The child may also watch content on TV that is not appropriate for his age, which leads to him acquiring deviant behaviors that are inappropriate for society and parents.

**Caring for younger siblings** Boys and girls over the age of 12 are considered mature enough to care for a younger child, provided that the age difference is not less than two years. Boys and girls over the age of 14 can also take on the task of babysitting for short periods.

How can we make sure that the older brother or sister is ready to care for the younger siblings? We must guide them gradually and prepare appropriately:

- Talk to the older brother or sister who will be taking care of the younger siblings, and explain to them the extent of the responsibility placed on their shoulders. Do not forget to praise their maturity, give them confidence, and praise their willingness to help.

- Make sure the home is safe and free of dangers for children, regardless of their age, and instruct the older sibling on what to do in an emergency.

- Teach the older sibling what is and is not allowed for younger siblings, emphasizing age differences.

- Encourage the older sibling to play games with the younger siblings. Remind them that younger siblings should never be left unattended, even for a moment.