Adolescent children who are home alone after school or in the summer for long periods of time without adult supervision tend to experience loneliness and boredom.  These emotions can lead them to take unnecessary risks, and increase their vulnerability to being hurt in accidents.   In the United States it is estimated that there are 5 million “latchkey” children who are left unattended each day after school.

Studies show that:

·     The incidence of in-home accidents is higher in children aged 9 and under when they are left alone.

·     The incidence of fires in homes is also much higher when there are children there alone.

In Israel the penal code (amendment 59, enacted in 2001) says that:

“Anyone leaving a child 6 years old or younger alone or without proper supervision, as such endangering the child’s life, leaving him liable to physical or emotional injury faces imprisonment of 3 years.  If found guilty of negligence, imprisonment of a year.  If found guilty of abandonment, imprisonment of 5 years.”

In contrast with this, in other countries like the United States and Canada, the law determines that the minimal age when children may be left alone is between 10 and 13, varying slightly from state to state and country to country. 

The organization Beterem has issued the following recommendations to policymakers: 

·    To change the laws, raising the minimum age of children left alone to 12 years.

·    To create an emergency telephone hotline for children to use if they need help when alone at home.

Further, Beterem recommends to the public:

·     Do not leave children under the age of12 years alone without adult supervision.

·     Do what you can to make the house safe for your children, to avoid accident risks.

·     Leave your phone number next to the home phone, and program it into your child’s mobile.

Finally, teach your children before you leave them alone:

·     Safe use of heaters, electric appliances, and gas.  (In fact, it is a good idea to have a meal already prepared that the child can simply heat in the microwave.)

·     Where to go in an emergency.

·     Basic first aid.

·     Not to open the door to strangers.

·     Make sure you have a list of emergency phone numbers in a prominent, central place that everyone in the family knows about.

For further information, contact the extension of Hadassah Beterem at 02-67-78897 or email Beterem@hadassah.org.il, or the main Beterem website at http://www.beterem.org.