Leaving your kid home alone for the first time is a rite of passage—for them and for you. But how do you know if they’re ready? Are they responsible enough to handle an hour solo without turning your kitchen into a science experiment gone wrong?
Here are nine things to consider before you make your decision.
1. Consider Age vs. Maturity
While there’s no magic age when your child can be safely left on their own, experts generally suggest kids under 10 shouldn’t be left alone. That said, some 12-year-olds would lose their heads if it wasn’t attached, while some nine-year-olds could probably file your taxes. It’s about maturity, not just the number of candles on their last birthday cake.
2. How Will They Handle Snack Time?
If your child’s idea of “cooking” is eating dry cereal straight from the box, they might not be ready for solo snack duty. If they can whip up a simple snack without setting off the smoke alarm (or leaving a mess that looks like a tornado hit the kitchen), they’re on the right track.
3. Do They Have Emergency Know-How?
Run a pop quiz: “What do you do if a stranger knocks on the door?” If their answer is anything other than “Don’t open it,” you might need to go over Home Alone 101 again. They need to be able to recite emergency numbers, your phone number and at least two other numbers of family members, friends or neighbours who live close by. They should also know where you keep the first aid kit and how to use it.
4. Do a Mini Test Run
Before heading out for a whole evening, start small. Run to the grocery store for 15 minutes and see what happens. If you come back and everything is as you left it, that’s a great sign. If your living room now resembles an art project gone wrong, they might need a little more time. Try extending the test to a quick coffee run before leaving them alone for longer stretches.
5. Are They Comfortable Being Alone?
This is a very important question. Even if your child seems responsible enough, ask them if they are comfortable being alone. Some kids love the idea until they’re home alone and start imagining every creak is a burglar. If they’re nervous, ease into it with short absences before jumping to a full evening away. Remind them that the “monsters” they hear are probably just the fridge making weird noises.
6. Will They Be in Charge of Siblings?
Leaving one kid alone is one thing, but if they have younger siblings, the game changes. If your older child is mature enough to watch their younger siblings without turning the house into a WWE arena, that’s great. If they still argue over who breathes too loudly, maybe rethink that plan. Also, make sure they understand their role isn’t to “parent” their sibling but to keep things in order—no drastic haircut experiments or extreme bossiness allowed.
7. Have You Gone Over the Rules?
Make sure they know what’s off-limits (the stove, answering the door, roller skating in the house, etc). And make sure you agree upon a check-in plan—whether it’s calling you after an hour or sending a periodical “still alive, no disasters” text.
8. Do You Have a Backup Plan?
Even if your kid is ready to be home alone, it’s useful to have a backup plan–at least the first few times. Things happen—the Wi-Fi fails, the dog escapes or a random panic sets in. Make sure a nearby friend, relative or neighbour is on standby just in case. It’ll give you peace of mind knowing your child has someone to call for help if needed.
9. Trust Your Gut
At the end of the day, you know your kid best. If you have that nagging feeling they’re not quite ready, trust it. There’s no rush—eventually, they’ll be begging you to leave them alone so they can blast their music and eat snacks in peace. If your gut says they’re ready, take a deep breath and embrace this new independent phase.
Leaving your child home alone is a big step for both of you. Start small, prepare them well and embrace the moment when you realize you can finally run errands by yourself.
