Adult Opinions About the Age at Which Children Can Be Left Home Alone, Bathe Alone, or Bike Alone: Second Injury Control and Risk Survey (ICARIS-2)

Overview

Journal J Safety Res

Specialty Critical Care

Date 2012 Sep 15

PMID 22974688

Citations 2

Authors

Karin A Mack

Ann Dellinger

Bethany A West

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Problem: This study describes adult opinions about child supervision during various activities.

Methods: Data come from a survey of U.S. adults. Respondents were asked the minimum age a child could safely: stay home alone; bathe alone; or ride a bike alone. Respondents with children were asked if their child had ever been allowed to: play outside alone; play in a room at home for more than 10 minutes alone; bathe with another child; or bathe alone.

Results: The mean age that adults believed a child could be home alone was 13.0 years (95% CI=12.9-13.1), bathe alone was 7.5 years (95% CI=7.4-7.6), or bike alone was 10.1 years (95% CI=10.0-10.3). There were significant differences by income, education, and race.

Discussion: Assessing adult's understanding of the appropriate age for independent action helps set a context for providing guidance on parental supervision. Guidelines for parents should acknowledge social norms and child development stages.

Impact On Industry: Knowledge of social norms can help guide injury prevention messages for parents.

Citing Articles

Pediatric outdoor recreational injuries: another hidden concern during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Blumberg M, Gittelman M, Pomerantz W Inj Epidemiol. 2023; 10(Suppl 1):29.

PMID: 37386561 PMC: 10311709. DOI: 10.1186/s40621-023-00445-6.

Child abuse and neglect experts' determination of when a child being left home alone constitutes child neglect.

Jennissen C, Evans E, Oral R, Denning G Inj Epidemiol. 2018; 5(Suppl 1):16.

PMID: 29637427 PMC: 5893514. DOI: 10.1186/s40621-018-0144-0.

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