Leaving children at home alone :Cross Stitch – Parents

There is no legal age limit for leaving a child on their own, but it is an offence to leave a child alone if it places them at risk. Parents can be prosecuted if they leave a child unsupervised ‘in a manner likely to cause unnecessary suffering or injury to health’ (Children and Young Person’s Act).

The most important factor to consider is how mature the child is. For example, it may be okay to leave a mature 12 year old alone, but not a 13 year old who is not mature.

The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) advises that:

• children under the age of about 12 are rarely mature enough to be left alone for a long period of time
• children under the age of 16 should not be left alone overnight
• babies, toddlers and very young children should never be left alone