Getting supervision for children can be hard if you are busy at work and don't have the spare cash for a babysitter.
Many can be tempted to leave children alone for a couple of hours but there are some laws as well as advice on what you should do.
The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) has shared some advice.
What are the laws on leaving children on their own according to the government?
The service shares that although the law does not state an age at which children can be left on their own, it is an offence to leave a child alone in a place of risk.
Together, we’ve been campaigning for the #OnlineSafetyBill to give children the protection they deserve online. Now is the time for your voice.
— NSPCC (@NSPCC) March 23, 2023
Tell the govt why we must make sure that children’s voices are not drowned out by powerful tech companies 👇https://t.co/9BcxBo4Rym pic.twitter.com/9lkAzpiiZX
Urging that you should instead use your own judgement and decide how mature the child is before leaving them alone whether that be in a car or a home.
You can find out more information via the NSPCC website.
As the NSPCC states:
- Children under 12 are rarely mature enough to be left alone for a long period of time
- Children under 16 should not be left alone overnight
- Babies, toddlers and very young children should never be left alone
It is also very important to note that parents can be prosecuted if they leave a child unsupervised ‘in a manner likely to cause unnecessary suffering or injury to health’.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here