What age are children ready to stay home alone?

As all parents know, children mature at their own pace, so there is no magic age when kids are ready to be left home alone. Essentially, age isn’t what determines whether your child can handle the responsibility of staying home alone ─ his stage of development does.

5 questions to ask before you let your children stay home alone
It can be outright scary to think of your children home alone, making decisions for themselves without your care and direction. Answering these five questions will help you feel more at ease about letting them care for themselves while you step out.
• Are they at least 12 years old?
• Do they want to stay home alone?
• Do they have additional needs?
• Are they independent
• Have they had any safety training?
• Have you worked with them to prepare for when you're not home?

What is Babysitting?          

Babysitting is essentially the temporary care of a child for a short period of time often when parents are going out socially, or attending an evening event with work. The role varies from keeping an eye on sleeping children, changing nappies, playing games and geenray entertaining them, making snacks, watching TV with them.

Who does it?
The majority of the time, babysitters tend to be in the later years of high school or college (age 15+), although parents/caregiver will often utilise friends and family adults for this purpose.

Think About What You’re Asking a Babysitter to Do
There’s more to babysitting than showing up on time and hanging out with your children. Your babysitter is being asked to assume responsibility for your child’s life when you’re away. There’s no bigger job than that!
Here are some guidelines:
• Consider the number of children the sitter will be caring for and for how many hours.
• Short babysitting jobs are best for new sitters.
• More than two children are too difficult to supervise

Hire a sitter that’s taken a babysitting course. It’s great for the safety of your children as well as your sitter. Teens who’ve taken a course are more equipped and confident in their life and safety skills.

FOR THOSE INTERESTED IN ATTENDING A COURSE OR SHARING DETAILS WITH THEIR BABYSITTER PLEASE FIND DETAILS ON OUR BABYSITTING COURSE HERE

More info on this topic https://www.nspcc.org.uk/preventing-abuse/keeping-children-safe/leaving-child-home-alone/