Most of us would never do this, but occasionally it would be so easy to put the kids to bed and then go out! Especially if you are a single parent or your partner is at work or out and you just want to go and get something or do something.
Sometimes babysitters, young and old have had the responsibility of someone else’s child and things go terribly wrong and of course there is the case of Madeleine McCann. The McCanns told police they put the children to bed at around 7pm, and that all three were asleep by 8.30pm, when they went for dinner at a tapas bar 50 yards across the pool from their apartment. There they met seven friends with whom they were on holiday. In the eight years since Madeleine McCann went missing from a holiday apartment in Portugal, myriad theories about what happened to her have taken root, but only one fact remains uncontested: that she was reported missing at 10.14pm on the evening of Thursday, May 3, 2007.
There is no actual law stating the age children can be left at home alone. However, the law is clear that parents are responsible for their children’s safety and they should not be left in dangerous situations. If you decide to leave your children in the care of an older brother or sister or other young person, you must be sure that they are reliable and mature. As a parent you may be held responsible for the carer, as well as your own children, if something goes wrong. For these reasons it is better that carers are adults (over the age of 18 years).
Is the home safe, are the ground rules clear? These are questions to ask the person in-charge, to see if it is safe and reasonable to leave the children at home with the older, mature child. Nevertheless, if there is any doubt, whatever you have to do, is probably not worth it.
Night time is also quite different to daytime and children may not feel safe. It is important to respect the fact that your young children might need you to be home rather than older siblings. However, if it is safe for them to be at home and necessary you go out, then make that decision responsibly.
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