Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, February 8, 1993 TAG: 9302090013
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: NF-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: WENDI GIBSON RICHERT NEWSFUN WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
HOME ALONE - FOR REAL
I bet you thought it was pretty funny when young Kevin's folks walked off and accidentally left him at home - alone - while they journeyed overseas in the 1990 hit movie, "Home Alone."And it made for more laughs when Kevin's parents did it again in last year's sequel, "Home Alone 2" - this time leaving the poor guy stranded in New York while they vacationed in Florida.
But when a real-life Illinois couple left their two daughters, ages 9 and 4, home alone while they vacationed in Mexico for more than a week, the at-home-without-an-adult scenario lost its humor.
Since the couple was arrested in December, and their daughters taken into foster care, the home alone issue has raised more than a few questions about kids who are asked to care for themselves.
The loads of responses we received to the Mini-Forum question asking how many kids have stayed home alone showed that most of you do it often, though not for weeks at a time.
Still, most of you had stayed home by yourself at least once, and many of you regularly return home from school to find notes instead of your folks. Some of you said you were sometimes scared by the experience.
But most every response from kids who stay by themselves included some of the basic rules kids at home alone should follow.
Thayere Walker is director of The Parents' Place, a parenting education and support agency in Roanoke. We shared some of your answers with her in hopes that she could provide some guidelines for kids with no adult supervision.
Her response: "Compliment these kids!"
Your knowledge of the guidelines for being at home by yourself really impressed Walker. In fact, there were only a couple of others she would add to the list.
Here is that list, including some of the rules you already know to follow:
Keep all doors locked.
Keep emergency numbers posted by the telephone, and those of neighbors and family. Also know your address and telephone number, as well as your parent's work numbers.
Do not open the door to strangers. One kid said his family used a secret knock when approaching to the door. Walker also suggests a secret password that only you and your parents know. Parents could then tell the word to a friend or neighbor who they want to come to your house or pick you up from school; open the door only to the person that knows the password.
If strangers are at your door, and they won't leave, call a neighbor. If that doesn't work, call the police.
When answering the phone, do not tell callers that you are by yourself. Say your parents are busy and can't come to the phone, or one of them is sleeping. Take a message if necessary.
Don't use unfamiliar appliances - including the stove.
Do not have friends over, or if your parents allow you to, limit the number to one or two. If you're around a bunch of kids, the atmosphere soon will resemble a party, and you may wind up out of control and in trouble.
Walker says it's a good idea to know who your neighbors are. If you know someone in your neighborhood, you'll have somebody close by to talk to when you are afraid or in need of help. Arrange to meet some of your neighbors with your parents.
If you do find yourself afraid when staying by yourself, Walker says your should talk to your folks. Perhaps they cannot change the situation, but they can work with you to make your time alone more comfortable.
Talk over ideas that will ease your fears. Maybe a parent can call you every day at 4:30 p.m., or have a grandmother call you.
Another way to overcome your fears is to role-play, says Roanoke family therapist Kathleen Carrol. Walker agrees. With your parents, pretend a stranger is at the door and act out your response to the situation. Or pretend the clothes dryer caught fire, or you sprained your ankle running through the house.