Suggestions to help working moms, dads make the decision

The Safe Sitter program will help older siblings learn responsibility.
By NANCILYNN GATTA
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
At the end of the school year, children anxiously count down the days until summer vacation. Their parents or guardians count the time to decide if their children are old enough to stay home alone while they are at their jobs.
Some careers, such as teaching, coincide with their children's school year. Peggy Dollwick, a first-year assistant principal at W.S. Guy Middle School, said that when her children were growing up, she was home with them in the summer.
But she does realize that times have changed.
"I think working parents have a hard time finding adequate child care, especially for older children who have some independence and can ride their bikes to visit friends," said Dollwick.
Working parents Christine and John Thomas of North Lima have full-time jobs and a daughter, Michela, who is finishing kindergarten. She attends classes in the South Range School system every other day and on alternate Fridays. Michela also goes to Creative Corners Daycare/Pre-School.
Because of her age, Michela is too young to stay home alone. Fortunately, the Thomases' parents and in-laws are also available to watch their daughter during her time off from school.
"The way it is now, kids at that age make some stupid mistakes. I mean, they go outside to play. Their parents say 'OK, you can stay by yourselves. You can stay in the house until someone gets home.' They go outside and someone kidnaps them," said Christine Thomas.
Thinking ahead
Thomas is also anticipating problems and ponders the means to avoid them as her daughter grows older and it is time for her summer break.
"I would probably have her go to another child that is her age at their home with a parent or a relative," said Thomas.
The Humility of Mary Health Partners' Safe Sitter program is geared toward baby-sitting as a business, but it also aims to prepare children for the responsibility of being home alone and in charge of younger siblings. Its national affiliation recommends the course for girls and boys between the ages of 11 and 13. They learn such things as child care tips and emergency instructions. Participants in the program also receive a handbook and a first-aid chart. At the end of the course, parents are asked to evaluate their own child's readiness for this responsibility.
"Parents should set some expectations with the younger children, that the older child, the baby-sitter, is in charge and that you need to listen to that baby sitter, " said Ellen Ford, one of the Safe Sitter trainers at St. Joseph Health Center. Ford is a community health educator and a registered nurse.
She also added that parents should let the older child know that he or she is appreciated for what they are doing.
"The responsibility is with the parents of the child because we're not there with specific situations. We provide some guidelines. We don't say we certify these kids or provide some guarantee, but excellent information. We really defer to parents to continue to work with their children," Ford said.