FAMILIES across England are preparing for the Christmas holidays, and while kids count down to festive fun, the break can bring worry for working parents.
The two-week school shutdown can leave working parents scrambling for childcare, time off and extra cash to cover the costs.
So the question is – at what age can you legally leave children at home on their own in England?
Is it illegal to leave a child at home?
There is currently no law in England that sets a specific age for leaving a child unsupervised at home.
But it is a criminal offence if youngsters are put at risk.
Parents can face fines or even jail if a child suffers harm due to being left alone.
Under child protection laws, it is illegal to leave a minor “in a manner likely to cause unnecessary suffering or injury to health”.
Government advice urges parents to use common sense and judge how mature a child is before popping out, even briefly.
The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) gives a more comprehensive guide.
“Every child matures differently, so it would be almost impossible to have a ‘one size fits all’ law,” it says on its website.
The NSPCC recommends children under the age of 12 are rarely mature enough to be left alone for a long period of time.
Kids aged under 16 should not be left home alone overnight, no matter how responsible they seem.
Babies, toddlers and very young children must never be left alone, even for a moment.
The charity says the decision can be tough as each child develops differently, and pressure on parents grows when childcare costs soar over the holidays.
The NPCC’s Helen Westerman went into greater detail and said parents needed to take into consideration a couple of critical factors.
This includes how they feel about their children playing outside unsupervised, and also how their child feels about it themselves.
“Lots of parents will be thinking about whether it’s safe to leave their children at home safely, and if they’re old enough to leave the house unsupervised,” she told the Liverpool Echo.
“As well as determining if a child is ready to be left alone, many parents will also find balancing work with the school break quite challenging, especially considering the rising child costs and the cost of living crisis, which is placing additional strain on families.”
Helen added: “As children get older, it’s common for them to want more freedom and learn to be independent.
“This is an important part of growing up, but we know there can be a lot to think about for parents.
“As every child is different, we recommend building up their independence at their pace and checking in with them to make sure they feel safe.”
As Christmas approaches, parents across the country will be weighing up these choices, making sure the festive season stays safe as well as fun.
Meanwhile, for parents struggling to keep the family entertained this Christmas, we’ve rounded up six cheap activities you can do with loved ones.
Elsewhere, a parenting expert has shed light on how to keep kids entertained through the holidays.
NSPC advice
HELEN, from the NSPC, has said that parents should consider these six things if they are deciding to leave their child home alone.
1. Are they prepared to be left home alone? – Think about how your child would handle an emergency situation if they are home alone. Helen says: “Think about if they can deal with risks, will they behave responsibly, will they be safe?”
2. Undertake prudent measures – Think about the key steps that you would need to take to make sure your child has everything they need, like spare keys and access to food and a bathroom.
3. Never leave babies or toddlers on their own
4. Be in the know about their unsupervised outings – When your child is out on their own, make sure you know where they are going, who they are with, what they are doing and how far they’re travelling.
5. Share essential contact info – Helen says: “Make sure they know a trusted adult’s full name and address, and have two trusted adults’ phone numbers.”
6. Prepare your child – Make sure your child knows how to handle different situations. Helen advises: “Ask them what they’d do if they hurt themselves or if a stranger knocks on the door.”
