OTSEGO COUNTY - Though the drama probably won't be as exciting as Macaulay Culkin's character, Kevin, who was accidentally left behind in “Home Alone,” there are still some guidelines to follow when leaving a child home alone.

Bruce Bailey, Otsego County Dept. of Human Services (DHS) supervisor, said you definitely don't want friends over when parents aren't home.

“Past behavior is the best predictor of future behavior,” he said.

Bailey said parents should ask themselves these questions before leaving your child home alone:

€ What is the child's age?

€ Are they vulnerable?

€ Are their friends developmentally at an age to be left alone? (people choose friends similar to themselves).

€ Where is the location? (Is the closest house five miles away?)

€ If they ride the school bus, how do they act on the bus?

When Bailey receives a report that a child is left home alone, he calls and asks the the children a few basic questions. Though he's not required to notify the parent's of his call, he does let them know that he spoke with their child and decides whether or not the case needs further investigation. He asks the child:

€ Are you safe?

€ Do you feel safe?

€ If your brother gets hurt, what are you going to do?

“I asked a child the other day,” said Bailey, “suppose your brother got hit in the head with a rock. What would you do?”

In true sibling spirit the boy answered, “Did I throw the rock or did somebody else?”

He then offered, “If he wasn't OK, I'd call 911, then call my mom.”

Knowing who to call and where phone numbers are located are one of the most important first steps in preparing your home to leave a child alone.

Montmorency County Undersheriff Patty Skarbek advises knowing exactly when to leave a child home is different in each family. Some are ready and more mature at 11 or 12 years old and some babysit at 12 or 13.

Start with a trial run, Skarbeck added. Leave the child home alone for maybe 30 to 60 minutes the first time. Then go to three or four hours during the day.

Though some children are comfortable being left home alone during the day, “sometimes they get afraid when they're left home at night,” Skarbek said.

And don't hesitate checking up on them.

“I'd have my friends call,” said Skarbek, “or somebody the kids don't recognize.” This simple test allows the parent to know how the child interacts with strangers.

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