Tag Archives: ages

Don’t Just Rely on Age as Indicator

Developmental stages and age charts are just one way of evaluating whether or not a child is on track or in a “developmentally appropriate” stage. Most parents learn that age cannot be the only indicator of whether a child is capable of handling increased responsibilities, more complicated toys, special activities, etc. Our child and the same-age neighbor may be in completely different developmental stages. It is easy to find charts that tell you what the “average” 10-year-old or 5-year-old or even 16-year-old should be doing. Many parents will also set benchmarks like “no make-up until you’re 13” or “no dating … Continue reading →

Staying Home Alone

As my oldest son approaches twelve the subject of staying home alone is one that we revisit frequently. How do you know when your child is ready to stay home alone? Knowing your child well is the key to judging his or her ability to stay home alone. One of the biggest mistakes parents make is using an arbitrary age to determine their child’s ability to stay home alone. Some states set age minimum that a child must reach before they are allowed, by law, to stay home by themselves. Some parents misinterpret this to mean that their child is … Continue reading →