Safety tips for kids at home alone

As kids get older and more responsible, it's natural to wonder - when can I leave them home on their own?

The laws in Australia make this tricky to work out, because they pretty much leave this decision up to you (apart from Queensland - we'll get to that below).

Independence, trust, and responsibility are some of the benefits that children experience with being left alone, but of course, it needs to be done in a safe manner, and will depend on your own individual family dynamics.

Wondering when it’s safe to leave your child at home alone without worrying about their safety? It’s a tricky question without a one-size-fits-all answer.

In Australia, there isn't a specific legal age for leaving a child home alone, but the Commonwealth Family Law Act requires parents to ensure their kids are safe and properly supervised. Queensland is the only state with a clear rule: leaving a child under 12 alone for what’s deemed an “unreasonable” time without adequate care is considered illegal. 

The NSW Government’s website also reminds us that even though around the world, children being cared for by their siblings can be the norm, in Australia, parents are still very much responsible.

So even if your child is looked after by an older sibling, you’re still responsible if that sibling is under 18 (or under 16 in Tasmania). If something goes awry, you could be held accountable not just for your child but for the younger caregiver too.

In the end, it’s more about your child’s maturity than their age. You’ll need to assess whether they’re ready to handle unexpected situations if something goes wrong or if you’re delayed. 

If you’re unsure, it’s usually best to err on the side of caution and wait until your child is a bit older.

Once again, there’s no specific legal guideline for this situation, so it really comes down to assessing your child’s age and maturity. You’ll need to think about what you believe they can handle and how comfortable they are with being home alone. If you’re unsure, it’s best to avoid leaving them by themselves or start with very short periods and see how they handle it.

For babies and toddlers, the rule is clear: they should never be left home alone, even for a minute. Little ones require constant supervision and are helpless in the event of a fire or other emergency.

On the other hand, teenagers are at an age where a bit of responsibility and independence could be good for them. This will come down to your individual child, and whether you think they are ready to be left home alone, and for how long.

Method of contact. Ensure your child knows how to get in touch with you whether it be a smartphone they have or a landline. Write your phone number on the fridge, get your child to memorise it or have it on speed dial on your child's phone.

000. Ensure they know what the 000 number is for and when to call. Leave your home address and telephone number by the phone. If they are too young to read, practice saying their address out loud with them.

(Did you know - 112 is also an emergency number in Australia that can be dialled from mobile phones. It doesn't require a pin code or SIM card in order to dial, and it works the same as 000.)

Set rules for when you are away. Write a list of things that are possibly hazardous, and base your rules around avoiding these activities. Maybe your rule is that they cannot make toast, turn on the heater or make a hot drink when you’re gone. Then write a list of things your child can do when they're at home alone – for example, playing in their room, drawing or reading. Make sure your child has plenty to keep them busy and occupied (in a safe way!) while you're out.

Have regular contact: Regular check-ins are a good way to make sure everyone is okay. You could ask that your child phones or texts you when they get home from school, or send a text every hour. Always let your child know if you've had any sudden changes to your plans and are running late.

Practice.  If you're unsure if your child is going to understand and follow important rules like ‘don’t open the door’, then experiment! Leave home, come back and knock on the door 10 minutes later and see what they do. If they answer, it might be too early to leave them on their own.

Set rules for answering the phone. If you still have a landline, getting an answering machine (if you don't already) is an easy way to screen calls. Mobile phones have made it easy to identify who's calling, so have a rule that kids don't answer phone numbers they don't recognise. And of course, if your child does answer any calls, teach them to never say they are home alone, ever.

Have an emergency contact. If for any reason your child cannot get through to you, make sure they've got the number of another trusted adult they can call - a grandparent, a neighbour etc.

Know your neighbour’s house. If you've got a trusted neighbour that you know well, you could designate it as a 'safety house' for your child to visit in an emergency.

Locks. Make sure your child knows how all the locks and other safety features work.

Role-play emergency situations. Will your kid know what to do if there's a fire? What if the dog runs away? Go through any possible emergency scenarios and act them out so your child is confident they know what to do in an emergency.

First aid kit. Make sure they know where the first aid kit is located and how to use it.

Start small. No need to start with a whole day alone, you can build up to it. Start with just 10 minutes and see how your child goes.

Conduct a safety audit your house. This of course will depend on your child's age, but if they're still quite young, put dangerous chemicals and items such as flammable liquids, matches and heater cords out of reach, and turn off appliances like the the stove off at the wall. You could also use safety cupboard locks on your cupboards to safely secure any hazardous items like bleach.

Arrange activities and tasks. To prevent your children from getting bored or lonely, give them plenty to keep them busy. Fun activities, lots of snacks and maybe a few chores to do.

Install a smart doorbell camera. A video doorbell can help you keep an eye on any visitors that come to the house.

Get your kids a smart watch. A kid’s smartwatch can help bridge the gap between  parental control and safety with a child’s increasing need for independence.