Parents and Children
Information for parents on parenting in emergency situations
Information for parents on parenting in emergency situations
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Self-Care to Be Able to Help Children
During emergencues, parents have a twofold challenge: function and cope with the situation themselves, so they can support and communicate the situation to their children. This way you can take… -
Staying Home with the Children
Prolonged stay at home with the children may increase both our stress and our children's. Important guidelines for prolonged stay at home and for relieving children's stress and trauma. -
Child and Teenager Online Safety
Especially during war and emergency situations, like the one that we are currently experiencing, the internet provides us with escapism and pleasure, but it may also present us with challenges… -
Screens in Wartime
Everything you need to know about screen time, both during emergency situations and in general. Pros, cons and what is the recommended screen time for every age group. -
Leaving Children Home Alone
According to law, you can leave children alone at home from the age of 6, but it is recommended not to leave them alone before the age of 9, as… -
Parental Guidance on Managing Child Traumatic Stress
Anxiety has different manifestations among children of different age groups and between children of the same age group. All the information and recommendations that parents need for coping with anxiety… -
Helping Children Understand Tragic Events
A couple of tips that will help you if you need to talk to your children about difficult subjects. -
Parents in Active Military Service
How you can help your children cope with the recruitment of a parent to military service. It is important to remember that recruitment causes pressure but it also provides an…
Leaving Children Home Alone
From what age is it allowed to leave a child home alone and how to prepare them and the house
As parents you no doubt have many doubts about various decisions that every parent must make. One of them is concerned with the question: when can I leave a child at home without adult supervision?
According to the law in Israel, it is forbidden to leave a child under 6 years old without proper supervision. This is true even if the child is mature and responsible for their age, and can even take care of themselves and younger siblings. Despite their maturity and responsibility, they are still children and therefore under the age of 6 years old we will not leave a baby or a child home alone, even for a short while.
Even subsequently, when it is legally allowed to leave a child home alone, we will do so in a gradual manner, at first for short periods of time and then gradually extend the period of time in which they can remain home alone.
When is it allowed to leave a child home alone
- Under 6 years old: it is forbidden to leave a child unsupervised.
- Ages 6 to 9: it is preferable that you don't leave the child home alone, even if they show responsibility and maturity.
- Ages 9 to 12: you may leave the child alone for short periods of time (up to two hours).
- Ages 12 and older: you may leave the child home alone for longer periods of time.
At all ages, you should increase your absence from home in a gradual manner. For example, the first time leave the house for fifteen minutes, second time leave for an hour and so on.
Required conditions for leaving a child home alone
- Make sure that the child can take care of their basic needs like eating, drinking and keeping themselves occupied.
- Remind them of the safety rules and set some agreed-upon rules.
- Talk to the child about what they should do in emergency situations such as a power blackout, fire or a stranger knocking on the door.
You need to take the following actions before leaving a child home alone
- Agreement and setting expectations: at any age where you leave a child home alone, you should make sure that they agree to stay home alone and that they do so after talking to them about this, setting expectations and preparing ahead of time.
- Food: leave a ready meal for them, preferably a meal that does not require heating.
- Safety measures: install a smoke detector and leave a list with all the necessary emergency numbers.
- Communication: make sure that the child knows how to communicate with you and practice with them, while you are still at home, what they should do in various emergency situations like a power blackout, fire or a stranger knocking on the door.
- Safe environment: disconnect the cooking gas valve before you leave the house and leave the child home alone. The home environment should always be safe for children, and this is a good time to make sure that there are no dangers and that potentially dangerous or toxic materials are stored out of the child's reach. Install smoke detectors and leave behind in an accessible place a list of emergency phone numbers and make sure that the child knows who to call in any situation, as necessary.
- Rules of behavior: set some agreed-upon rules with your child about inviting friends over, heating ready meals and in general what they are allowed and not allowed to do while their parents are not around.
- Internet: remind your child of the rules of safe internet behavior.
In addition to all of the above, prepare a "plan B" in case that the child changes their mind about staying home alone, like neighbors who can stay at home with the child while you're not around, a friend who lives nearby and can come to your home and stay with the child and so on.
How do I know that an older child is ready to babysit a younger sibling
Instruct the older child and brief them according to the following stages:
- Talk to them: explain to them the enormity of their responsibility to babysit a younger sibling, compliment them on their maturity and praise them for their willingness to help.
- Safety-proof the house: make sure that the house is safe and free of dangers for children of all ages; instruct the older child what they should do in cases of emergency.
- Brief them: brief the older child what the younger children are allowed and not allowed to do, and stress the differences between the children's ages.
• Encourage them: encourage siblings of different ages to play together, and explain to the older child explicitly that the younger siblings should not be left unsupervised, not even for a moment.
You should know: it is recommended that a child who regularly babysits undergo a first aid course for teenagers offered by MDA.