Spring Break

Leaving kids home alone:

Spring break is effective tomorrow in Miami Dade County, other counties have other dates. For most of us spring break means vacation or leaving kids at home if they are old enough while we work. I always asked, what is a good age to leave your child home alone? I have always heard it was at 13 years old, well I looked it up, and there is no age limitations, there is a recommendation, and it is 12 years of age or older. The reality is that maturity levels vary in children and as a parent you know if your child is responsible and alert enough to stay home alone. Where it gets even trickier is when you have more children who are younger and need to be watched. Can the eldest watch the younger ones? I waited until my oldest was about 12 years old to stay home alone and just recently I began feeling more secure that she can watch over her 9 year old sister. Before this, I would leave her home and take the younger one to a camp or a relative’s house. I have a third baby which I would not leave her with. She’s 14 years old now but is busy sleeping, watching television and on her cell phone (like I said, we know our kids capabilities) so, make sure to make a good judgement call. All I can say is that if I’m going to be at work, I need a piece of mind. I try to do everything I can to make sure they don’t stay home alone, whether it’s taking time off or splitting the time with relatives (Grandma, aunt, cousin, etc.…). Here are some useful tips that work for me to prepare my kids:

• Make sure the pool fence is up (avoids any accidents) (no kids in the pool until an adult is home)
• Practice fire drills and escape routes
• Don’t let them cook (leave prepared breakfast, lunches and snacks) they eat A LOT!
• Leave a list with all the emergency numbers (for example: family members, doctors and neighbors, your place of employment)
• Leave a list of responsibilities for the eldest if watching a younger sibling to go over.
• Don’t answer the land line
• If someone knocks on the door answer with a deep, strong voice to let them know someone is home (in many cases, robbers knock to see if someone is home to break in).
• Never say you are home alone, tell them to come back later (this is when the new doorbell called “RING” with a camera is very useful).
• If you have a home alarm show them how to work it.
• NO friends allowed until you arrive. (When kids get together they tend to wonder and become curious).
• Make sure their cell phones are fully charged and that they have it with them 24-7 (this shouldn’t be an issue).
• Lastly, if watching a younger child, make sure the younger one knows they are to listen to whatever the older sibling tells them to do (many times they are fighting and it becomes a battle of power. In case of an emergency this can be detrimental).
• I try to face time as often as possible with them.

Hope this helps, have a fun and safe spring break!