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Christmas is fast approaching and some parents have been left wondering what age they can leave kids at home alone (stock image)<\/p>\nWith schools across Ireland closing for the Christmas holidays next week, parents face the annual challenge of deciding when their children are mature enough to stay home alone.Christmas is fast approaching and some parents have been left wondering what age they can leave kids at home alone (stock image)<\/p>\n
With the Christmas holidays<\/a> fast approaching, many parents across Ireland face the annual challenge of arranging childcare and deciding when their children are ready to stay home alone.<\/p>\n The majority of schools <\/a>are set to break for Christmas next Friday, December 19 and won’t reopen for over two weeks. With parties, family visits, festive shopping<\/a> and other seasonal commitments piling up, some parents may be considering whether their children are mature enough to stay home unsupervised<\/p>\n In Ireland, there is no specific legal age for leaving a child home alone, but parents and guardians<\/a> must ensure their child’s safety and welfare.<\/p>\n Tusla <\/a>(Child and Family Agency) said: “There is no set age at which it is legal to leave children home alone, as it depends on whether the child is mature enough to be left alone. In Ireland, children under 14 years of age are not seen to be mature enough to be left alone or unsupervised.<\/p>\n “For older teenagers, it is the decision of the parent or guardian, based on the child, their level of maturity and their living circumstances.<\/p>\n “Children mature at different ages. Young children should never be left home alone, even for a short time. It is recommended that children under the age of 14 should not be left alone for more than a very short period of time. Teenagers over the age of 16 can be left home alone.”<\/p>\n To help families navigate this tricky topic over Christmas, guidance from the NSPCC offers advice on how to assess a child’s maturity and keep them safe, whether they are at home or out playing without adult supervision.<\/p>\n Helen Westerman, the NSPCC’s<\/a> head of local campaigns, said that “a child who doesn’t feel comfortable shouldn’t be left alone”. She added this is why making a universal legal age is impractical, as some children, albeit the same age, have different levels of maturity.<\/p>\n Parents must also consider if it’s safe for their children to play outside without supervision, Echo <\/a>reports. Helen stated: “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. This can be a really tricky decision for parents and carers to make, as it will differ from child to child.<\/p>\n “As well as navigating if a child is ready to be left alone, lots of parents will also find managing work alongside the school break really challenging, particularly in light of the soaring child costs and the cost of living crisis<\/a>, which is putting additional pressure on families.”<\/p>\n She 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.”<\/p>\n Helen offered guidance for parents and carers considering leaving their children home alone or allowing them to go out unsupervised over the festive period.<\/p>\n 1. Are they ready to be left home alone<\/p>\n Parents should think about how their child might handle being unsupervised, especially if there were to be an emergency. Helen said: “Think about if they can deal with risks; will they behave responsibly, and will they be safe? And perhaps most importantly, how does your child feel about this idea?”<\/p>\n 2. Take sensible precautions<\/p>\n If you’re thinking about leaving your child at home by themselves, take precautions like leaving a spare set of keys and ensuring they have access to food and the bathroom. Helen stated: “Consider if there’s anything that could hurt them and how you could reduce that risk.”<\/p>\n 3. Never leave babies or young children alone<\/p>\n Helen emphasises the important point that babies and very young children should never be left unattended, not even for short periods, regardless of whether they are asleep or awake. She added: “Children under the age of 12 are rarely mature enough to cope in an emergency and should not be left at home alone for a long period.”<\/p>\n 4. Know the facts if they go out unsupervised<\/p>\n When your child is going out on their own, it’s important to be aware of their intended destination, activities, companions and travel distance. Helen added that this will help parents “make the right decision”.<\/p>\n 5. Make sure they have the right phone numbers<\/p>\n Ensure your child has the contact number of a parent or carer, and identify a trustworthy adult nearby they can turn to in case of an emergency if they’re staying home alone. She said: “If they’re going out alone, make sure they know a trusted adult’s full name and address, and have two trusted adults’ phone numbers.”<\/p>\n 6. Go through different scenarios with your child.<\/p>\n Chat with your child early on about situations they could find themselves in and how to stay safe. Ask them what their actions would be and how they think they’d feel.<\/p>\n Helen added: “If they’re going to be home alone, for example, ask them what they’d do if they hurt themselves or if a stranger knocks on the door. If they’re going out alone, you might want to ask them what they’d do if someone asks them to do something they’re not comfortable with.”<\/p>\n 7. Establish clear boundaries<\/p>\n Ensure your child is fully aware of the rules when they’re unsupervised, whether in the home or if they venture out alone, so both you and they understand how they should behave when you’re not present.<\/p>\n Helen said: “It’s a good idea to agree on some house or outside rules that suit their maturity before you leave them alone. Give your child a chance to build their independence by building your trust. If they adhere to rules and boundaries you set, you’ll feel more confident letting them do more on their own.”<\/p>\n If you have concerns about the safety of a child you should report the issue to Tusla and the gardai<\/a>.<\/p>\n