Is it safe to leave children alone?: 6 must-know tips from a psychologist, up to what age children should not be left alone at home

On November 8, a tragic incident took place in Rohini, Sector 27, Delhi. A family left their only son alone at home and went to the Ghats to celebrate Chhath Parva. The child was alone in a closed house. A back house caught fire and a 5-year-old child died.

One such incident happened in the year 2021 in the city of Sutton in South-West London. Here a mother left her four children at home and went shopping in the market. Suddenly, the house caught fire later, due to which the four children died tragically.

Many such incidents come to light every day, where parents go out leaving their children alone at home and accidents occur.

So, today relationship In this column we will talk about the safety of children. You will also learn that-

Is it safe to leave children home alone?

Children under the age of 12 should not be left home alone as most children below this age do not have the maturity to deal with emergencies when left alone. For this, as the child's intelligence grows, tell him about the dangerous points in the house. So that children can take care of themselves even when their parents are not around.

Think before leaving children home alone

There are a few things to keep in mind when deciding to leave a child home alone. such as-

Apart from this, see the details in the graphic below-

Keep these things in mind before leaving children alone at home Counseling Psychologist Dr. Aditi Saxena says that if you want to leave your child above the age of 12 at home alone, there are a few things that need to be taken care of before doing so.

For example, do you have neighbors around you that you can trust to help your child in an emergency? Do you live near a very busy road or is it a quiet area? Is there a high incidence of crime in or around your neighborhood? Keep these things in mind before deciding to leave your child home alone.

Prepare your child to face this situation too. Tell him about everything he needs in the house when you are not there. See this in the graphic below-

How to know when a child is ready for responsibility? When deciding whether your child is ready for responsibility, think about his skills. By considering a few things in the child's daily routine, one can estimate his liability. Understand it from the following indicators.

Educate children on how to deal with these situations Sometimes a situation arises suddenly that requires an immediate decision to deal with it. In such a situation, tell your children exactly how to deal with an emergency situation. These conditions can be of many types. such as-

A trial is necessary before leaving the child home alone Dr. Aditi Saxena explains that even if we are confident in our child's maturity, it is wise to do a few practice runs or trials before leaving him alone. First of all, leave your child alone at home for half an hour to an hour. During this time you should go to a place where you can reach them in less time.

Come back and ask the child these questions-

This kind of communication with the child itself encourages the child to be responsible and take responsible decisions. Children don't feel like they have to obey anyone's orders. They learn that living wisely is their own responsibility. This is how children attain maturity.

Make some rules for children when they leave the house

Set some rules for the children when you are out of the house and make sure the child follows them. such as-

Keep these items away from children Before leaving children alone at home, it is important to make the home safe for them. No matter how much your child obeys the rules. Keep away from children anything that may pose a health or safety hazard.