One in five UK parents have left their 8 to 9-year-olds home alone overnight, says survey
It's a common debate among parents: what's a suitable age to leave your child at home alone? Now a recent survey has revealed that one in five parents (20%) have left their child at home alone at the age of eight or nine.
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Despite some parents thinking that this is too young, 32% of mums and dads believe when children are eight or nine, they can be left unsupervised, and are old enough to look after themselves.
Surprisingly, there is no law for the age at which your child is able to be left at home alone. However, the law states that a child should not be left on their own if they are 'at risk'.
Parents and carers can be prosecuted for neglect if it's judged that they placed a child at risk by leaving them at home alone.
The survey, from Churchill Home Insurance, asked parents what they thought about leaving children at home unsupervised.
It revealed that 1.3 million parents with children aged five to seven, would leave their child at home alone.
And, surprisingly, one in five parents said they have left their eight- or nine-year-old at home alone overnight, in the past 12 months.
Many parents also said they have returned home after leaving their child unsupervised to find damaged furniture and electricals, and even injuries.
The head of Churchill Home Insurance, Martin Scott, said:
We urge parents to follow the advice from the NSPCC, which is not to leave children alone, as those under 12 in particular are rarely able to look after themselves.
The NSPCC said that a child should never be left at home alone if they don't want to be, or if they are at risk.
It also stated that children under the age of 12 are 'rarely mature enough' to be left alone, and children under the age of 16 should not be left alone overnight.
NSPCC advice on leaving a child at home
- Babies, toddlers and very young children should never be left alone.
- 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 of time.
- Children under the age of 16 should not be left alone overnight.
- Parents and carers can be prosecuted for neglect if it is judged that they placed a child at risk by leaving them at home alone.
- A child should never be left at home alone if they do not feel comfortable with this, regardless of their age.
- If a child has additional needs, these should be considered when leaving them at home alone or with an older sibling.
- When leaving a younger child with an older sibling, think about what may happen if they were to have a falling out – would they both be safe?
For more information on leaving a child at home alone, visit the NSPCC.
