A guide to help parents and carers decide whether their child is ready to either stay at home or go out alone

This guide provides practical tips and advice to help parents and carers decide what is best for their child when it comes to staying home alone or going out alone.

It covers some of the risks parents should consider before making a decision, such as how their child feels about the idea and who they should contact in an emergency.

There is also a checklist for parents and children to work through together to help them prepare for different types of scenarios. This includes questions about what to do if there is an accident at home or they are approached by a stranger outside. See the PDF guide below.

More resources for parents on the NSPCC website

The NSPCC website provides online advice, recommendations and resources to share or use with the parents and carers you are working with. Topics include:

• leaving children home alone
• keeping children safe when they are away from home
• talking about difficult topics with children and young people.