If your child has reached the age that you can think about leaving him home alone, let's set up and discuss some ground rules.
Are you thinking that your child is perhaps old enough to be home alone for a period of time while you go run an errand? Maybe a few of my suggestions will help you decide if he's ready or not. This will mean stepping up to a new level of being responsible for your child and you'll be so thrilled to get out for an hour or so at first alone, even though you'll surely worry. But don't rush into letting your child be home alone: there are a few factors involved in making this new decision.
First of all you'll need to create a list of rules that he needs to follow when you are not home. A few thoughts on this would be: don't answer the door unless you see who is there, such as perhaps his grandmother, no cooking on the stove, and lots of other don't that might be suitable for your child in your home. Naturally you will have a list of do's, including: finishing homework, how much television to watch, perhaps cleaning his room.
You will need to tell your child that you have a list of phone numbers for him to call in case he needs someone. You might have a cell phone for him to call you anytime but still he needs some emergency phone number with one main number first on the list. Also check locally to see: if a child were to call 9ll would it go directly to someone who could be of help to him? This is very important, don't just assume that there is one.
Now sit down and pretend you are someone coming to the door and asking to come in or knocking: practice exactly what he will do; ask him, if he wants to eat something what will he do? Of course you will be leaving him a sandwich, a snack or
whatever he will need for food before you leave the home.
Most of all, be sure that your child is mature enough to be home alone: one child can be mature enough at a certain age and another may not be that mature so all this has to be put in consideration before making this new decision.
Take at look at how responsible your child is when you say clean your room, do your homework, etc.: is he doing as you say or is he whining and complaining? If so, he may not be ready for additional responsibliity. You may have to improve
his sense of responsibilty before startng something new in his life and in yours. After all you certainly as a parent don't want to rush this new process, for your sake and also for his.
When you finally decide to make the decision to leave your child home alone, make it for a short period of time: say thirty minutes and then build up to an hour. Do this graudally for your comfort and also for your child's comfort. And do be careful and check with the laws in your area on the ages that children can be left alone. With careful thinking, research and talking with your child I am sure you will be making the right decision and I do hope my suggestions will be of help in this matter.
