It sounds like the next installment of the Home Alone franchise, except in this one the parents don’t mistakenly leave Kevin McCallister at home.
New research reveals that more than 80 per cent of Australian parents would allow their children to be left unsupervised while travelling overseas, and 30 per cent would leave their 12 to 15-year-old kids at home alone while they go away.
It found that two in three parents would allow their children aged under 18 to be left alone for a whole evening in overseas accommodation while they went out.
New research reveals that more than 80 per cent of Australian parents would allow their children to be left unsupervised while travelling overseas (stock image)
Sydney mother-of-two Lynette Bolton, the wife of retired Sydney Swans player Jude Bolton, said that parents were wrong to be leaving their children unaccompanied or unsupervised, particularly while travelling in unfamiliar areas or other countries (pictured together)
In public areas overseas, 37 per cent would leave their children under 15 alone in leisure areas such as a pool or beach for up to an hour, and 31 per cent allow their under-15s to sit alone for the same amount of time in a café or restaurant.
However, most concerning is that 75 per cent parents would let their 12 to 15-year-old children go to a public bathroom alone while overseas. Of these, 22 per cent of parents would allow their under-12s go to a public bathroom alone.
When it comes to travelling to or between destinations when overseas, 52 per cent of parents think it is appropriate to put their under-15s on a domestic flight with someone to meet them at the destination.
For international flights, half of all parents would allow their under-18s to fly alone with someone to meet them overseas.
One in three parents would put their under-15s on trains and buses alone overseas, with someone to meet them at the destination.
Although her children are aged only five and three, Mrs Bolton said she wouldn’t leave her children alone until they were well into their teenage years
Sydney mother-of-two Lynette Bolton, who is the wife of retired Sydney Swans player, Jude Bolton, said that parents were wrong to be leaving their children unaccompanied or unsupervised, particularly while travelling in unfamiliar areas or other countries.
‘I think it’s always difficult to decide at what age and in what scenario you should free up the reigns and give the kids more freedom,’ she said.
Although her children are aged only five and three, Mrs Bolton said she wouldn’t leave her children alone until they were well into their teenage years.
‘Sometimes it just depends on each situation, but I feel that 15-years-old should be the absolute minimum for any of these situations, and definitely a lot older when you’re in a foreign speaking country,’ she added.
Parenting expert Sharon Witt (pictured) believed leaving a child under the age of 17 unsupervised at home was ‘far too young’
However, parenting expert Sharon Witt, from Melbourne, believed leaving a child under the age of 17 unsupervised at home was ‘far too young’.
Speaking to Daily Mail Australia, the mother of two said she was ‘surprised and shocked’ to see such a high number of parents heading overseas without their kids.
‘Every child has a different level of maturity,’ Ms Witt explained.
‘One 15-year-old could be very mature while another 15-year-old would get up to all sorts of mischief.
‘We all know what happened with Corey Worthington when his parents left him alone when they were interstate – he hosted a Facebook [out-of-control] party.
‘Parents need to know that past behaviours are future behaviours. So if you have a confident 16-year-old, you leave them for a week to go overseas because you know what kind of child they are.
‘There’s nothing wrong with parents going overseas but you still need to remember they are children, they are not adult, they don’t have life experiences.’
Home Alone is a 1990 American comedy film about an eight-year-old boy named Kevin McCallister who was accidentally left at home while his family went on a Choliday
Ms Witt said there were serious outcomes if parents do choose to leave their children at home while they go travelling.
‘Kids make stupid decisions in the spur of the moment,’ she said.
‘They tend to make bad judgement, obviously not all children do but many are too young to be put in a situation where they can’t control the unknown.
‘Leaving children at home unsupervised could be risky because of the unknown. If you leave your kids behind, what if something serious happens?
‘What if there was an accident? What if there was a fire, or one of them breaks an arm or falls sick, children need to have adult supervision.
‘I know it’s a way for kids to become responsible young adults by leaving them at home alone but there’s a time and place – any age below 17 is too young.’
Ms Witt said if parents do choose to leave their youngsters at home, she urged them to find adult supervision (stock image)
Ms Witt said if parents do choose to leave their youngsters at home, she urged them to find adult supervision.
‘Get grandparents or relatives to spend the week at your place while you’re away in another country or interstate,’ she said.
‘Make sure you have all the emergency numbers up on the fridge – and let them know all the adults they can call should they feel unsafe or worried.’
She believed the ‘ideal age’ to leave a child at home is 17 years and above.
The study, which was commissioned by HotelsCombined.com.au, surveyed more than 1,000 Australian parents.