Every parent at least once found himself in a situation where for some time need to absent himself from home, and not to leave the child with someone. You can, of course, ask to sit with the baby grandmother or neighbor, you can even invite a babysitter, but in the end still comes a time when a pipsqueak in the first time is still left alone. Some parents of such a test is given easily and without any extra nerves. Other mothers and fathers, on the contrary, live it in every minute calls and concern for her tomboy. What age can be considered optimal for this independence?
In each country in different ways. On average, it is 10-12 years. Interestingly, in some states of America parents are not allowed to leave his "baby" of the house to 18 years! In Ukraine, parents are free to decide this question, first of all, starting from the personal observations of his child, but, according to many experts and experienced parents, the average age for independent "gatherings" is 7 years.
It was at this age the child is familiar with the basic safety rules, is able to use the phone and fulfill parental requests. But this is just the average figure. In fact, all individually. One thing is clear: the older the child, the safer the situation, because with all the seeming independence and judgment, for example, of five or six year old child, to cope with the force majeure it is unlikely to be under force.
10 questions that will help determine how the child is independent
• The child may be freely carried away by one and a half to two hours, without the need for parental attention?
• The child is easy to cope with the fear of the dark, without fearing it, and goes to sleep with the door closed with the lights off?
• Familiar with the safety regulations and has a clear understanding of why you can not come to an open window, play with fire and open the door to strangers?
• Is a certain mobile users and landline phones, has skills to use chat rooms?
• Performs well instructions given by you (eg, veiled bed, caring for livestock;)?
• Does not require constant monitoring and reminders about cleaning his play area with toys and timely laying down to sleep?
• The child knows the emergency number in case of any danger?
• Know to whom the neighbors can contact in case of emergency situations and knows how to do it?
• The child does not take offense and is not hysterics when the mother leaves him alone, explaining that she is busy?
• He blurts out that he wants to become an adult, responsible and independent person?
If you answered yes to 8 points, then, can safely and gradually accustom the child to self-being alone, every second without control on your part. If the negative responses were more wait a little to leave the baby at home alone.
Besides, you must be especially vigilant when:
• The child is sick and has a fever, vomiting, stomach upset, or he is suffering from chronic diseases, such as asthma or epilepsy.
• If your child needs special care, when such diagnoses as cerebral palsy, autism, mental retardation, etc.
• If a child is hyperactive and can not control their actions, even when parents.
• If the child is too fondly refers to strangers.
• If the child is too impressionable.
If you're ready to leave your crumbs of a sufficiently long period of time, you must comply with a number of safety rules.
• Explain to your child that when an emergency (smoke, fire, flood, gas smell, power failure), can only help adults, so should immediately seek help, even if the situation is to blame for the child - blame no one will, on the contrary - the adults will come on help.
• Put your phone number on the child's important quick call - a number of relatives and rescue services. Lose with a child talking the situation to the operator so that he could explain the situation.
• Leaving the house, close all windows. It is desirable that they were equipped with special latches. Do not leave items visible places of child seduction: matches, lighters, piercing and cutting items, household chemicals, alcohol and cigarettes. Children's curiosity can always take precedence over parental prohibitions. Also, do not forget to turn off gas before leaving.
• For safety, leave a set of keys from trusted neighbors and tell them about his retirement.
• From time to time we call up with the child on the phone or go out with him on the video, pre-teach him to do it.
• The first few times, do not leave your child alone in the apartment for more than 15-20 minutes.
• Be punctual and go home when the promised child.
• Do not scold the child for the mess in the apartment. For the kid to stay at home alone - an adventure, so be prepared for that return, find homes real "Indian trails" or her best lipstick on the walls.
• Do not leave the house when the baby sleeps. Waking up alone in the house, he could wind up, even if you had been warned about your care or before that, he has repeatedly stayed at home himself.
• Take care of the entertainment for the baby, so he was busy with something interesting when you are away and not think about experiments that result in dangerous consequences.
