What age can you leave your child home alone?
Never is the juggle of life more apparent than during school holidays when parents have six, long weeks to entertain their children while also coping with work and expensive childcare.
For some carers the stress of it all could prompt a decision to leave children at home on their own,
That concern is compounded by newly released statistics from the NSPCC which reveals there has been a 65% increase in the calls to the charity’s adult Helpline about leaving children home alone or unsupervised.
Last year, the NSPCC’s Helpline supported almost 8,000 contacts where concerns about a child being left home alone or unsupervised was mentioned.
Between April 2023 and March 2024, 7,802 contacts were made with the service in relation to concerns about a child being left home alone or unsupervised. That compares to 4,717 contacts over the previous 12 months.
Just over half (51%) of reports made were deemed serious enough for the NSPCC to refer the case to a local agency or service with a view to further action being taken.
The increase in the number of contacts on this issue could be due to a number of factors, including a recent NSPCC Helpline marketing campaign, increased service capacity and greater public awareness about the risks of leaving children home alone.
But with schools in England breaking up this week, many adults might feel unsure about whether their child is ready to be left unsupervised or have concerns about another child being left alone.
For many parents, July and August can be particularly difficult as they are forced to balance the competing pressures of work and childcare. These challenges are likely to be even more acute this year as the cost-of-living crisis continues, forcing some parents and carers to work increased hours or take part-time jobs.
One adult contacted the Helpline with a concern about their neighbour, saying: “It’s two little girls I’m worried about, they must be about four and six. They’re left home alone quite a lot and that means they’re unsupervised with the family’s dogs. I’ve knocked a few times to see if they’re ok and they always say, ‘daddy will be back soon’ but it’s usually hours later when one of the parents comes back.”
So how do you know when is the right time to leave children at home on their own?
So when can children legally be left alone?
There are no UK laws dictating an age at which children can be left home alone meaning the decision is left solely in the hands of the parent or guardian.
Government guidance encourages parents to use their judgement before leaving children alone or in a car.
But the NSPCC advises that babies, toddlers and very young children should never be left unsupervised even for 15 minutes while you pop down the road.
The charity adds that this applies not just to leaving them home alone but also in your car while you run into the shops.
Despite there being no legal age limit for leaving children home alone, the NSPCC would not recommend leaving any child under the age of 12 at home unsupervised, especially for extended periods of time.
The NSPCC also stresses that children under the age of 16 should not be left unsupervised overnight.
Even though it is something of a grey area, the government website points out that parents can be prosecuted if they leave a child unsupervised “in a manner likely to cause unnecessary suffering or injury to health.”
"It can be hard for parents and carers to know the right age to leave their child home alone as every child is different, and the first time being left unsupervised will differ for every family," says Kam Thandi, Head of the NSPCC’s Helpline.
“It is vital that both the child and adult feel comfortable with any decision that is taken, and that if a young person is to be left home alone they know how to contact a trusted adult and what to do in an emergency.”
“For anyone who may need advice or is concerned about a child who might be at risk, our Helpline service can support you and the NSPCC website has a range of tips.”
How do you know if your child is mature enough to be left alone?
The NSPCC recommends taking to your child as they get older about how they feel about being left home alone.
The charity suggests talking about anything that is bothering your child and discussing a solution.
Understanding why they don’t feel comfortable will give you an idea of how to help – or why they might not be ready to be left alone.
The charity also points out that a child who expresses concern about being left alone should never be without a parent or carer and for those young people who do feel comfortable, it is vital they are left with contact numbers for a parent, carer or trusted adult.
Long periods of being unsupervised can lead to children feeling afraid or neglected.
One young person aged 14 told Childline: “I’m sick of being left on my own, mum expects me to just look after myself. There isn’t always food I can cook, I can’t go and see my friends or do anything fun, but she can.”
As for knowing when is the right time to leave children on their own, it is often a matter of judgement.
“Leaving your child home alone can be a difficult decision as children mature at different ages – there is no ‘one size fits all’ answer,” Louise Exton, manager at the NSPCC helpline, previously told Yahoo UK.
"Parents are best placed to know what is right for their child so it’s vital there is flexibility for them to decide, but we would urge them to think carefully and use their common sense when deciding if their child could cope.”
Should leaving a child alone be the only option for an adult, the charity's website has tips for parents to help ensure the young person feels safe, as well as a quiz to assess if a child is ready to be left unsupervised.
More information about leaving a child home alone
Adults with concerns about a child can contact the NSPCC Helpline by calling 0808 800 5000 or emailing help@NSPCC.org.uk.
Childline is available for young people via the phone on 0800 1111 and online where there is a 121 chat on the Childline website.
You can find more information and advice on leaving children home alone on the NSPCC website.
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