Dear Doctor. One of the most discussed themes with the mothers of my daughter’s friends (9 years old) is whether or not to leave them at home alone. I firmly say no. First of all because it is a persecutable crime, then because if you frighten you don’t know what to do and then because I don’t see the need to run on everything. Are they too chioccia?
Antonia
– Dear Antonia, the theme that lifts questions the responsibility of the adult and contains many educational challenges. The Italian law (article 591 of the CP) provides that the minor children, under 14 years of age, can never be left alone to pay attention to themselves, not even for a short time. So we adults should always be present when they are at home.
A pre -adolescent has a level of autonomy and ability to manage in free time such as to make it capable of being at home alone for a few hours. At the same time, However, if something happens that puts his well -being at risk, an investigation against his parents could start, passable deThe crime of “abandonment of minor and incapable people”.
This juncture today occurs with a certain relevance especially in cases in which the two parents are separated And they have different styles in the management of time with their children. In such cases, a parent could be very attentive and protective and never leave a child only at home, while the other could instead be less rigorous.
There are ongoing legal proceedings in which the most protective parent calls to trial the other parent believed to be responsible for leaving his son only at home, condition that is addressed as a reason for non -compliance with one’s parental duty, possibly also asking for a revision of the conditions of custody of the child himself.
As you can see, the theme is complex because From a legal point of view there is no margin of educational self -determination. That is, also the parent who believes his child able to be alone at home, however, must change his way to his belief on the basis of what was stated by the law.
The fact remains that in pre -adolescence our children have sufficient competence that makes them capable of managing passages of their daily life in autonomousAE without the constant supervision of adults. In particular, I think these indications of the law, If applying to outputs in the world of pre -adolescents become extremely limiting their possibility of living and involving themselves in peer relationships.
What sense can it have to have to go to the park or the oratory to meet friends having to always ask a parent to be accompanied or present along the journey or in the place reached?
