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March 26, 2019 By Lesley Gordon

Home Alone – a Christmas comedy or a parental dilemma?

For many of us the words ‘Home Alone’ conjure up the familiar image of MacAulay Culkin wreaking havoc on two bungling burglars in the annual Christmas airing of that American comedy film.  But for those who man the phone lines at Childline and other similar organisations the reality of children being left home alone is no laughing matter.

Home alone childThe NSPCC last year reported that throughout the UK approx. 7500 children were referred to the local authorities due to concerns about being left alone and that 849 referrals were made to the police.  Childline receives calls from children as young as 7 who have been left at home alone. We will have all seen at some time the sensationalised newspaper headlines of a parent who went on holiday, in some instances for 3 weeks, leaving their child or children with no food, who was arrested on their return to the UK, and in some instances wasn’t prosecuted with any offence. Only last week it was reported that an 11 year old boy was left cowering under a table as an axe-wielding burglar wearing a head torch ransacked his parents’ Gosport house while he was alone at home.

So is it ever okay to leave a child home alone?

With many single parent families in the UK and the cost of childcare/babysitting an additional expense it is no surprise that parents look for guidance on how old their child needs to be before they can be left on their own at home. This is often a question we face from our own clients.

The short answer is that there is no specific legal age to leave children alone, simply that you shouldn’t leave a child alone if they would be ‘at risk’.  It is therefore left to you as their parents to judge when a child is mature enough to be left alone and whether or not they would be ‘at risk’ if you were to do so.  Clearly the ‘risk’ of leaving a child alone while you pop to the shops is different from going abroad for 3 weeks but the period of time away from the house is not the only factor to consider when assessing what risk you would place your child in. A parent or carer can be prosecuted for neglect, they can be fined or sent to prison if they are judged to have placed a child at risk of harm by leaving them at home alone.  Parents really are left with a tricky decision and it is not surprising therefore that they look to us in the hope that we will give them a definite answer.

Parents really are left with a tricky decision

When a parent asks me that question I refer them to the NSPCC guidelines.  These state that:

  • Babies, toddlers and very young children should never be left alone
  • Children under the age of 12 are rarely mature enough to cope in an emergency and should not be left at home for a long period of time
  • Children under the age of 16 should not be left alone overnight
  • A child should never be left at home alone if they do not feel comfortable with this, regardless of their age
  • If a child has additional needs, these should be considered when leaving them at home alone or with an older sibling
  • When leaving a younger child with an older sibling think about what may happen if they were to have a falling out – would they both be safe?

The NSPCC website – Home Alone guidance also gives some helpful guidance on questions to ask yourself about your children, after all everyone’s child is different, children of the same age may be years apart in their maturity levels and you know your child better than anybody else.  The guidelines will help you come to a decision on whether or not you would be placing your child at risk if you left them home alone.  They suggest that you ask yourself:

  • Does your child seem to be responsible and mature for their age and always do what you tell him or her?
  • Would they be able to fix themselves something to eat and drink and would you be happy with them using the cooker or microwave?
  • Can you imagine how they’d cope in an emergency like a power cut or a flooded bathroom?
  • Would they know what to do if the phone rang or someone came to the door?
  • Would they know how to contact you or another family member or friend if they needed to?
  • Do they have these contact numbers to hand?
  • How would they feel about being left alone – pleased to be given the responsibility or scared by the thought of it?

Ultimately my advice to any parent who has considered all of the above and the guidelines on the NSPCC website would be that if you or your child are even the slightest bit unsure about leaving them at home on their own its always best to be on the safe side and arrange some other kind of care for them such as a babysitter or child-minder.

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Filed Under: Children and Family, Family Law in the News Tagged With: home alone, leaving your child alone

Lesley Gordon

Lesley is a Partner at BTO Solicitors LLP. Accredited as a Specialist in Family Law by the Law Society of Scotland, Experienced Collaborative Practitioner, and Accredited Family Law Arbitrator. Read Lesley's professional biography

What our clients say

An Excellent Lawyer…

Beverley thanks for all your assistance with everything. It’s much appreciated and rest assured should I ever need an excellent lawyer in the future you will be the first to be called.

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I have come out of the process a much stronger person

I would have no hesitation recommending Lesley Gordon to anyone I know who needs the services of a divorce lawyer. It was a very positive experience all things considered and I have come out of the process a much stronger person thanks to Lesley.

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I won’t hesitate to put them in touch with you

Looking back I wish my ex-wife and I would have gone down the collaborative divorce path but as you know she chose a very different way which ended up being most certainly a longer, more stressful and more expensive path for both of us. Should I ever hear of anyone whose marriage has reached that… Read more “I won’t hesitate to put them in touch with you”

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Our anxieties were greatly alleviated

Lesley, thank you so much for all your help. It turned out to be a very uncomplicated matter in the end and probably not the most interesting for you. However our anxieties were greatly alleviated with your advice and work

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Things have been finalised in about twelve weeks

Amanda, many thanks for seeing all this through for me. I cannot believe that after the best part of two and a half years of frustration (pre BTO), things have been finalised in about twelve weeks.

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Very approachable manner

Many thanks Marjory for your very approachable manner during our meetings.

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Efficient and smooth service

Debbie, could I take this opportunity to thank you for the efficient and smooth service you have provided, and particularly, in our first meeting when you listened to my concerns and really helped explain things and put my mind at ease.

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I am eternally grateful

I am in no doubt I have made the correct choice by having BTO Solicitors represent me in such a difficult time. I am under no illusion you and your team will continue to do the best for me in future. Many many thanks for today. I am eternally grateful.

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Their service and support has been excellent

After quite a complex case, I can say that their service and support has been excellent.

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Highly professional and excellent services

Debbie, I would like to express my sincere gratitude for the highly professional and excellent services I received from yourself and your team.

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I would like to thank my exceptional Scottish team

My dear legal team! I have been writing this letter of thanks in my head since about two months ago, and didn’t know it would take a bit longer than expected to actually be able to express my deep gratitude to you ALL for winning this tough and enduring process for me……I would like to… Read more “I would like to thank my exceptional Scottish team”

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I was very pleased with how things went today

Hi Beverley – I would just like to email you to thank you for your services today and commend you on doing a stellar job. I was very pleased with how things went today. The level of professionalism you showed was much to my satisfaction and greatly appreciated. I felt very relaxed at having you… Read more “I was very pleased with how things went today”

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All starting to come together…

Thanks Marjory, it’s all starting to come together.. thanks to you…:)

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Thank you for your professionalism and talent

Thanks Debbie, as always, for your professionalism and talent, it has been a pleasure.

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Such a lovely welcoming manner

Beverley, just wanted to say thanks so much for your fertility law training session provided for the group last night! It was super helpful and everyone really appreciated it. You have such a lovely welcoming manner which I think really helped people feel comfortable to ask questions.

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Guiding me through a difficult time

Lesley, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your professionalism. Guiding me through a difficult time, also your understanding and empathy as to my personal situation. I would not hesitate in recommending your services to others.

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Outstanding job…

Marjory… you are doing an outstanding job… Thanks again for your support and expertise in helping me navigate through this horrible situation. I really appreciate it.

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Help guiding us through a very stressful time

I would like to thank you again for all your work and help guiding us through a very stressful time.

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Splendid work Marjory

Splendid work Marjory, it has been a treat to use BTO and your services.

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I left the offices empowered and liberated

Just wanted to say huge thank you to Lesley Gordon. I left the offices empowered and liberated. Not sure any psychologist would have done a better job! On top of her real job.

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Financial knowledge and gravitas

Lesley has financial knowledge and gravitas. I think she is faultless.

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Approachable and sensitive manner

Marjory, thank you very much for your very approachable and sensitive manner during our meetings.

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I would recommend you to anyone

Hi Marjory and Keira, I just want to thank you both for taking me through this terrible time in my life. I have learned a lot in the past 3 years with dealing with BTO and I would recommend you to anyone as you have been very fair and honest with all parties concerned.

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Forever I will be grateful…

Marjory, forever I will be grateful and thankful to you for all the hard work you did for me and my family. Thank you very much again and again. I am so very blessed in life that I found a lovely understanding person like you. Not many lawyers would say go and have a cup… Read more “Forever I will be grateful…”

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I will definitely recommend you…

Hi Marjory, thanks again for being an absolute joy to work with during this unknown and nerve-wracking process. You made me feel calm and reassured throughout (not an easy task). I will definitely recommend you to anyone else looking for representation.

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After all these years I’m finally free

Thank you so so much Amanda. Actually there’s no words to thank you. I feel great. After all these years I’m finally free. Thank you.

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I came out of your offices feeling great!

Marjory, thank you for a really positive meeting on Friday. I feel things are a lot clearer in my head – I came out of your offices feeling great!

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Wonderful job

I would like to thank you Lesley again for the wonderful job you and your team did for me at a very difficult time in my life.

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Excellent communications and support

Many thanks for your recent work related to my divorce…..I would particularly like to thank Amanda Richardson for her excellent communications and support.

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I still get to see my kids 3 times a week

Just wanted to say a huge thank you for your help and representation today. It’s such a relief to hear that I still get to see my kids 3 times a week. Also last but by no means least can you pass on my profound gratitude to Counsel who was a star !!!!

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Always appreciated being able to rely fully on you and the team

Amanda and Lesley, thank you to you both for all your help, now and during last year, and, as I said before, I have always appreciated being able to rely fully on you and the team at all times. Obviously, a very sad time for me but I am relieved that it is at an… Read more “Always appreciated being able to rely fully on you and the team”

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Great service

Beverley thank you so much for all your hard work and making things run as smoothly as possible. Great service.

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From our first meeting, I felt confident…

Hi Debbie, I wanted to take this opportunity to pass on my gratitude to you for getting me through this. From our first meeting, I felt confident and assured to be in your safe hands and that never changed during the last 18 months. Whilst it is a great relief to have this finished I… Read more “From our first meeting, I felt confident…”

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I certainly feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders

Marjory, I just wanted to say thanks very much for your help right throughout the case. Lately, the ad hoc support has been invaluable and given me the confidence to keep representing myself and not feel pushed into agreeing something I’m not comfortable with. I appreciate how difficult it must be to provide support when… Read more “I certainly feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders”

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Thanks for all the expert guidance through a trying situation

Hi Marjory, my daughter and her son are doing great. Everything seems to have calmed down. She and her husband finished the mediation process after a couple of visits as they both felt they had to step up to the mark for their son’s sake not for personal reasons. Once again thanks for all the… Read more “Thanks for all the expert guidance through a trying situation”

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You have smoothed the pathway with your efficiency

Amanda…May I take this opportunity to thank you for your help in these matters. Although I am a resilient person, it has not been easy, but you have smoothed the pathway with your efficiency…

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My recent collaborative process

Dear Marjory, I just wanted to say a huge thanks for all your help, advice and counsel throughout my recent collaborative process. You definitely made a difficult process easier for me. Thank you.

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Help during this extremely difficult time

Debbie, I would just like to thank you for your help during this extremely difficult time. I really appreciate it.

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Highly professional and meticulous in detail

Highly professional and meticulous in detail. No shortcuts or compromises involved, ensuring all eventualities were covered and underwritten with third-party expertise where appropriate.

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Risk assessed everything

They explained everything to me very clearly and we looked at every permutation and possible outcome and risk assessed everything.

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We would not have managed this without you

Marjory, I think we can all honestly say that we would not have managed this without you, truly you have been an absolute star and we are all very thankful.

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Your advice has been incredibly helpful

Beverley thank you for everything you’ve done regarding my case and for your assistance in getting the many issues resolved and matters concluded. Your advice has been incredibly helpful and greatly appreciated. Should I require any further assistance, I will be in touch.

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