The other day my friend mentioned that she had left her 11 year-old daughter home while she ran to the store. I was a bit surprised but, knowing her and her sense of maturity, I realized that this does start becoming an issue around this age. This is an interesting subject since no states except for Maryland and Illinois have laws stating the age in which it’s legal to leave a child home alone. Even then, a great deal depends on the emotional maturity of the child.

For many dual working parents, there are times when this is a necessity. But, when it is at all possible, it’s best to hold off leaving your child home alone until you know that he or she is ready to handle situations that might arise while you’re away. There are a few things to consider:

Do they know what to do in an emergency? They might know to call 911 in case of fire but do they know where to go if they need to evacuate the house? It’s good to role play several scenarios with them including:

• What they would do if they got burned, cut or fell?
• How they would handle a natural disaster such as an earthquake?
• What they would do in a blackout?
• Where they should go if the smoke detector or CO detector goes off?

Who is their back-up call? Do they know all of your contact numbers as well as the phone numbers for a neighbor in case they need to leave the house. There should always be a contact sheet posted prominently in your house

Do they know what’s off-limits? Have you discussed rules about cooking or playing outside while you’re gone? Be sure they understand and you can trust that they will follow whatever rules you have established.

Are they just watching themselves or younger siblings as well? While your child might be mature enough to watch himself, he or she might not be able to handle the responsibility of watching a younger sibling. If this is the case it’s important that your child take a CPR/First Aid course prior to caring for another child.

It’s a good idea to do a “test-run” and leave for a short time at a nearby location to see how your child does. And you can check with your state to see what guidelines are in place. No matter what, you know your child best and understand their maturity and capability. It’s always best to err on the side of caution and never assume that your child is ready at the same time as his or her friends.

*Content expressed in Home Security Source does not represent the thoughts and opinions of ADT Security Services, Inc. unless explicitly indicated.