My 13-year-old daughter is very afraid to stay alone at home.She has never been alone at home(I follow the laws and have never left her while she was a child) but she is already a big girl.She is mature and there aren't any other problems but she is just afraid to stay alone at home.I can't even go to the shop by the corner without her because she insists on not staying alone at home.What should I do?
2006-12-11 01:18:44 · 16 answers · asked by mikaea s 1 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Parenting
The mistake here was that you have never left her stay alone at home and now she is afraid.Try doing it slowly.First make sure while you are to the corner shop,she will be watching a movie or writing homework in her room...or doing anything pleasure for her.Then slowly increase the time while she is alone.From 10 minutes,go to 15,next time - 20 and like that.When you have reached 1 hour.You can be sure everything is OK and yur daughter is ready to stay alone at home for longer time.
2006-12-11 01:22:12 · answer #1 · answered by Livia 4 · 4⤊ 0⤋
OMG, some guy told you to leave while she was sleeping. Hopefully you are a good enough parent to know, NEVER do that. She will never trust you if you do something like that. I would suggest talking to her and finding out the reasons behind her fear and then take baby steps from there. If she just doesn't come around then don't leave her alone. A good way to start would be to let her have a friend over and then while they are there together try to go to the corner store while they stay there. This might help and it is a baby step, she will eventually realize that there isn't anything to be scared of. Good luck!
2006-12-11 01:29:05 · answer #2 · answered by Kat 742 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
find out why she is afraid.
there's a reason, so find out what it is.
is it b/c she has just never done it before?? is it b/c she is scared of someone breaking in?? is she scared of the boogeyman in the closet??
all are valid reasons and i know i was nervous the first time i was left home alone. i'm glad you asked this b/c it's something i haven't thought about!!! my baby is a lont way from being home alone....but it's something for the back of my mind!!
so, back to your gal. i would find out why, then try to combat that reason.
like, if it's b/c she's never done it before, then tell her she will be fine and just go out for a few minutes. get her a new movie and tell her that this is to occupy her while you go to the corner store. then, put the movie in and wait until she is good and into it, then tell her that you'll be back in just a little bit and give her your cell phone number in case she needs you.
the more you do this the better it will get. if she's into a movie, then she won't be thinking about scary stuff.
take care and good luck.
p.s....don't push her too much or else she may develop a major phobia.
2006-12-11 01:32:37 · answer #3 · answered by joey322 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ok, this hilarious. I'm more afraid than anyone I think. Ok, so like about 1 month ago, my parents left and I was home alone and my dad has this sword and I got it out and was sitting in my room with the door closed and i was holding the sword lol waiting for my parents to get home.. =))) It was funny. hehe
2016-05-23 04:57:47 · answer #4 · answered by Annette 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
did she happen to watch "When a stranger calls", if she did this could possibly be the source of her worries (I have cousins that would stay home alone and since they watched that movie they are scared to stay alone). Other than that, try her out with a friend first, without you in the house. THen she will see that nothing bad happens when you are away from the house and slowly ease her into staying very short periods alone and progress to longer periods,.
2006-12-11 01:22:11 · answer #5 · answered by MomOf2Girls 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
13 isn't so old. Don't force the issue. When she is ready to be home alone she will let you know. Don't be in a hurry for your child to grow up. Just because she seems mature in some area's of her life doesn't mean she is ready for this.
2006-12-11 01:30:10 · answer #6 · answered by Barbiq 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Hello Mika, my son is turning 13 soon and I will not leave him alone at home. You should not push it if she prefers not to be home alone. She will change that in her own time. Sometimes what we see or think of maturity is really not the way our kids actually are. It's one of those things that you leave up to time, I guess.
2006-12-11 01:24:57 · answer #7 · answered by spider 2 · 5⤊ 0⤋
I would suggest sitting down and talking with her about why she is afraid to be at home alone. Discuss this with her and try to help her get over her fear. Good luck!
2006-12-11 01:29:25 · answer #8 · answered by bbear20 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Have her call your cell phone, when she feels afraid. After a few short stays alone, it should improve.
2006-12-11 01:21:50 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Tell her that you need to do other stuff and she needs to stay at home, make sure she can call or go to someone elses house if she gets scared or something happens while you are gone. It may depend on the neighborhood you live in. She may feel scared because there may be people who scare her, she may think she may get raped or something.
2006-12-11 01:23:49 · answer #10 · answered by --; cookie. 4 · 2⤊ 3⤋