Tag: Home Alone

Rise in referrals made by NSPCC to agencies in Scotland about children being left home alone

Rising numbers of referrals made by NSPCC to agencies in Scotland about children being left home alone

The NSPCC made 18% more referrals to Scottish agencies, including the police and children’s services, following contacts to its Helpline about children being left home alone or unsupervised last year, the charity reports as it offers parents advice with the summer holidays approaching. 

In 2025/26 the Helpline, which provides help and advice for adults with concerns about the wellbeing of a child, made 197 referrals in Scotland, compared to 167 in 2024/25.

The service will refer a concern to external agencies if practitioners believe additional support or intervention is deemed necessary.

Contacts to the NSPCC Helpline from adults across the UK who were concerned about a child being left at home alone or unsupervised increased by 11% last year. 

The service handled 7,452 contacts about this issue between 1 April 2025 and 31 March 2026, compared to6,719 contacts the previous year (2024/25).  

More than two fifths of these contacts (44%) were deemed serious enough for the NSPCC Helpline to make a referral to external agencies. Over a third (35%) of those referrals were made for children aged five and below. 

The months with the greatest number of contacts across the UK were July and August, with 793 and 871 contacts respectively. These months can be particularly difficult for parents as they are forced to balance the competing pressures of work and childcare.  

With schools across the UK breaking up in the coming weeks for the summer holidays, many adults might feel unsure about whether their child is ready to be left unsupervised or have concerns about another child being left alone.  

A mother from Scotland, who contacted the NSPCC Helpline, said: “I am concerned about my children spending time alone at my ex’s house.

“We agreed they would stay with their dad during part of the school holidays, but he frequently leaves them alone even though they’re only 12 and 14 years old. He gives them money for the local shops and leaves for the day, which really worries me.

£I know the state of the house is inappropriate and dangerous. I’ve raised my concerns with him, but he either dismisses them or say he’ll clear the place and find other work that is more flexible.

“I don’t know to do – I don’t want the children to think I’m trying to stop them from seeing their father.”  

There is no legal age limit for leaving children, but the NSPCC recommends not leaving a child aged under 12 years old at home alone.

Also, if a child has expressed worries about being left without a parent or carer, those should be taken seriously and respected. 

Kam Thandi, Head of the NSPCC’s Helpline, said: “For many parents and carers, the long summer break can be a logistical nightmare, as they try to balance keeping their children safe and cared for with the demands of work. 

“Managing these pressures may lead some to consider whether leaving their child at home alone is a practical solution. 

“Even for children aged 12 and over, it’s important to make sure they feel confident about being left by themselves, and to agree in advance what they will be doing while the parent or carer is away and what they should do if anything goes wrong. 

“Parents and carers can also turn to the NSPCC Helpline and website for a wide range of expert advice, information and support.”  

For parents and carers of young people who are ready to remain at home unsupervised, the NSPCC has prepared advice. 

 Tips for parents and carers considering leaving their child alone 

  • Being left on their own for the first time can feel just as daunting for a young person as it does for you as a parent or carer leaving them. To prepare them, it can help to talk through different situations they might face and how to handle them – for example, would they know what to do if someone knocked at the door. 
  • Make sure they have key phone numbers written down, including the emergency services and trusted contacts like family or friends, in case they’re unable to contact you or they face an emergency. 
  • Agree in advance what they will be doing while you are out and be clear about any rules or limits – for example, cooking can be risky and should only be done by an older child. 
  • As a carer or parent, you should make it clear what time you expect to be back, keeping your child informed if plans change, and check in with them regularly. 
  • Being left at home alone can be a significant adjustment, depending on the child. It is best to start with short periods – around 20 minutes – and gradually increase the time as they become more comfortable and confident. 

Further advice on leaving children home alone can be found on the NSPCC website, as well as a quiz to assess if a child is ready to be left unsupervised. 

Adults with concerns about a child can contact the NSPCC Helpline by calling 0808 800 5000 or emailing help@NSPCC.org.uk. 

Childline is available for young people via phone on 0800 1111 and online, offering a 1-2-1 chat on the website. 

Letters: Home Alone

Dear Editor, 

During the October holidays, many families across Scotland will be weighing up childcare options and wondering whether their children are ready to be left home alone. 

There’s no legal minimum age for a child to stay at home or go out alone, and it’s common for parents to contact the NSPCC Helpline for advice. Every child is different, and between work and other responsibilities, it’s understandable that parents may need to consider this decision. 

It’s not always easy to know what’s best, but there are some important things to keep in mind. Very young children, especially those under three, should never be left alone – not even briefly while popping to the shops or leaving them in the car. For older children, we wouldn’t recommend leaving anyone under 12 at home alone, especially for long periods. 

What matters most is how your child feels. If they’re anxious or unsure, they shouldn’t be left by themselves – even if they’re older.

Feeling safe and confident is key, and they need to know what to do in an emergency. Talking things through can help you understand their concerns and decide if they’re ready. 

To support families, the NSPCC has created online checklists to help guide these decisions.  And for children who need someone to talk to, Childline is available 24/7.

They can speak to a trained counsellor for free by calling 0800 1111 or using the 1-2-1 chat at www.childline.org.uk. 

Yours sincerely, 

Carla Malseed 

NSPCC Scotland Local Campaigns Manager 

Letters: Home Alone

Dear Editor,

Now that the long school holiday is on the horizon, many parents in Scotland will be sorting out extra childcare over the break.

At the NSPCC Helpline, we often receive calls asking about the appropriate age to allow children to stay home alone. Between work appointments and other family commitments it’s inevitable that some parents will have to deal with this situation.

It can be difficult to know what’s best to do and it’s natural for parents to worry. With this in mind I thought it would be a good opportunity to give some insight into when it is safe for your child to be home alone.

There is no legal age that a child can be left home alone but it’s against the law to leave a child alone if it puts them at risk. Every child matures differently so it would be almost impossible to have a ‘one size fits all’ law. A child who doesn’t feel comfortable should never be left home alone and, obviously, infants aged 0 to 3 should never be left, even for a few minutes. Also, we wouldn’t recommend leaving a child under 12 years old home alone, particularly for longer periods of time.

However, as children get older they may want more freedom and independence. This can present another tough decision for parents and carers, and one that will differ from child to child. That’s why it’s a good idea to have a plan in place, to help to build up their independence at a pace that is right for them.

It’s absolutely vital to talk to your child about how they feel about this situation and to ask if they are worried about anything when home alone. Regularly checking how they feel can pinpoint any concerns and will give you an idea of how to help or why they might not be ready. If they are happy to be home alone for a while, it’s always good to check in with them during that time to make sure they feel safe.

There is guidance and information at  https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/in-the-home/home-alone/ but the most important thing to remember is that a child who doesn’t feel comfortable should not be left alone.

Parents can contact our helpline at help@nspcc.org.uk for more advice.

Our Childline service is available too, and children can contact us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, on 0800 1111 or via a one-to-one chat on www.childline.org.uk 

Wishing you a safe and happy summer!

Yours sincerely,

Carla Malseed

Campaigns Manager, NSPCC Scotland

REVEALED: How much Kevin’s electricity bill would be if Home Alone was set in 2022

KEEP THE CHANGE, YA FILTHY ANIMAL!

New data has predicted that Kevin McCallister would have racked up a £66.19 (or $80.65) energy bill in his three days Home Alone if the film was set in 2022.

Although it was released 32 years ago, in many ways, Home Alone is a timeless classic. However, if you’ve started your Christmas movie marathon already this year, you may be shocked by the HUGE amount of electricity that young Kevin McCallister uses in his time ‘Home Alone’. 

In light of the cost of living crisis, researchers at interiors brand, Bobbi Beck, have analysed the film to estimate how much money Kevin’s escapades would cost his parents if the film was set in the modern day:

The Bill

Researchers calculated that Kevin McCallister would have used at least 472.22kwh of energy in his three days left Home Alone. Based on the average residential electricity rate in his hometown of Chicago (Source: EnergyBot), Bobbi Beck predicts that Kevin’s energy bill would be AT LEAST $80.65 (or £66.19).

For context, in the UK, the average daily energy bill is around £2.70 (Source: Uswitch).

It is estimated that Kevin would have spent almost FIVE TIMES more than the average in his local area of Chicago, where the typical daily energy bill is $4.57 (Source: Energy Sage).

The Setup

How did Kevin rack up such a huge energy bill? We know that Kevin is alone for a total of three days (Source: IMDB) in a huge Chicago house, with six bedrooms and six baths (Source: Zillow). The house is apparently 4,243 square feet on a lot over half an acre in size (Source: Realtor). 

Kevin uses a lot of electricity in his various schemes, from heating up the doorknob with an electric barbeque lighter to using a record player and toy train track to mimic a party.

However, the most significant energy usage comes from the lights, both indoors and outside. During the infamous booby trap scene, we can see that every single light is on, but Kevin does turn them off when he leaves for church (Source: Youtube).

To calculate Kevin’s energy bill, Bobbi Beck investigated three areas of electricity usage: outdoor lights, indoor lights and TV use. 

Outdoor Lights

The data estimates that Kevin would have used £7.57 (or $9.22) on outdoor lighting alone if the film was set in 2022. With each side of the house stretching around 20 meters, around 10 sets of lights would be required, guzzling an estimated 54kwh for the three days (Source: Simply LED). 

Indoor Lights 

Kevin spent an estimated £58.59 (or $71.39) on indoor lighting. Researchers calculated that his home is  2.49 times bigger than an average U.S. house, meaning that they would have an estimated 99.60 lights inside (Source: Visual Capitalist).

The lights are likely to be an older, less energy-efficient model, most likely 100W in the estimation of Bobbi Beck’s researchers. They use 0.1kw an hour (Source: Ideal Home) and, because an average eight-year-old boy sleeps for around 10 hours (Source: Sleep Foundation), the lights would be on for roughly 42 hours. Therefore, Kevin would use 418kwh on indoor lights.

TV Use

Although it’s only a minor cost, researchers also uncovered that Kevin would have spent just 3p (or 4¢) on TV use. One of the most memorable Home Alone scenes sees Kevin watching a gangster film. He has a TV that is typically less energy efficient than a plasma and uses about 100 Watts of electricity (Source: Scientific American). An average film lasts 2 hours and 10 minutes (Source: Statista), so the gangster film alone would use up 0.217kwh.

James Mellan-Matulewicz, CEO of luxury wallpaper brand Bobbi Beck commented: “Most of us are currently feeling the impact of the cost of living crisis, with energy costs and food prices soaring. Not only does this impact our day-to-day finances, but it can also change our perspective on things – and Christmas movies are no exception …

“Home Alone is arguably the best Christmas movie of all time, particularly well known for its spectacular festive interiors. But when watching the film back, the amount of electricity that Kevin uses is really shocking! That’s why we wanted to crunch the numbers to find out just how much money he would have cost his parents in his three days of chaos.”

“We investigated Kevin’s lighting and TV usage to find that his energy bill would have been at least $80.65 for three days – that’s £66.19 in pounds. His TV use only cost a measly 3p, whereas his indoor lights have racked up a £58.59 bill. Given the average daily electricity bill in the UK is £2.70, it’s really shocking to see how much energy he used!”

These calculations were released by luxury, sustainable wallpaper brand Bobbi Beck, which provides a number of wallpaper designs to suit a range of tastes and personalities. 

Letters: When is your child old enough to be left home alone?

Dear Editor,

School’s out for summer and parents will be making important decisions about childcare over the next few weeks.

There isn’t a legal minimum age for a child to stay home or go out alone and parents often call the NSPCC Helpline to ask for advice on the appropriate age.

There’s no set rule for all because every child is different, but between work appointments and other family commitments, it’s inevitable that parents will have to consider whether to leave their child home alone at some point.

It can be difficult to know what’s best and with this in mind here’s some guidance about when it’s safe for your child to be home alone.

Infants and young children aged 0-3 years old should never be left alone – even for 15 minutes while you pop down the road. This also applies to leaving them in your car while you run into the shops.

While every child is different, we wouldn’t recommend leaving a child under 12 years old home alone, particularly for long periods of time.

It’s important to talk to your child about anything they may be worried about. Regularly checking how they feel can pinpoint any concerns and help you decide if they are ready to be left alone.

A child who doesn’t feel comfortable about staying alone should never be left home alone. Even if they are older, they may not be ready to look after themselves or know what to do in an emergency.

We have checklists to help keep children safe, visit: 

https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/in-the-home/home-alone/

Childline is also here for them. They can speak to a trained counsellor for FREE, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, on 0800 1111 or via 1-2-1 chat on www.childline.org.uk  

Gail Sayles

Local Campaigns Manager

NSPCC Scotland