Title: Home Alone
Feed: CWKN #442, June 17, 2009
Time: 1:27
SUGGESTED LEAD: WITH PARENTS AT WORK AND KIDS OFF FOR THE SUMMER… MANY FAMILIES STRUGGLE THIS TIME OF YEAR WITH A DIFFICULT QUESTION: CAN I LEAVE MY CHILDREN HOME ALONE? ARE THEY OLD ENOUGH TO KEEP THEMSELVES SAFE?  THAT STORY IN TODAY’S CONNECT WITH KIDS.
<<PKG>>

NATS: Boy coughs as mom takes his temperature.

NARR: IT’S SUMMER TIME AND YOUR CHILD IS OUT OF SCHOOL … OR YOUR CHILD IS SICK AND BOTH PARENTS HAVE TO WORK …

WHAT DO YOU DO? (:07)

SUPER: Adair Johnson, Parent (:07)
“My husband or I have to suck it up and somehow figure it out - in half-day shifts, quarter day shifts, whatever works.”

SUPER: Ingrid Emmons, Parent  (:13)
“I’ve definitely been in a dilemma where it’s a struggle to try to figure it out.”

NARR: EXPERTS SAY IF A KID IS TOO SICK OR TOO YOUNG, THERE IS NO CHOICE: SOMEONE HAS TO STAY WITH THE CHILD. (:07)

SUPER: Seema Csukas, M.D., Pediatrician (:24)
“Certainly a child less than ten years old I wouldn’t consider leaving home alone, whether they’re healthy or they’re sick.”

NARR: BUT IF THE CHILD IS RESPONSIBLE AND OLDER THAN 10 … EXPERTS SUGGEST A CHECKLIST OF QUESTIONS: (:06)

SOT: Seema Csukas, M.D., Pediatrician
“Do they answer the phone, or not? Do they answer the door, or not? Can they cook anything? Can they use a microwave? Can they use a stove? Those kind of things, maybe you do some practice runs when they’re healthy.”

NARR: AND THIS IS THE ADVICE OF PARENTS BASED ON THEIR EXPERIENCES: (:04)

SUPER: Mark Alterio, Parent (:52)
“If they’re home alone the house is locked, the alarm is on, they’re not to leave the house and they have to have the phone next to them.”

SOT: Ingrid Emmons, Parent
“Make sure all the doors are closed. You know, don’t open the door for anyone, even people who seem familiar to you, unless it’s a family member.”

NARR:  AND IN THE CASE OF SICK CHILD WHO NEEDS CARE, EXPERTS SAY DEVISING STRATEGIES IN ADVANCE CAN SAVE TIME AND PANIC.  (:08)

SOT: Seema Csukas, M.D., Pediatrician
“Think of alternative plans. You know – can one parent be home with the child versus the other, is there a neighbor, is there a baby sitter, are there other childcare arrangements that can be made?”

SUGGESTED TAG:    CHECK LOCAL LAWS ABOUT WHEN CHILDREN ARE CONSIDERED OLD ENOUGH TO CARE FOR THEMSELVES. MOST STATES HAVE GUIDELINES AND RECOMMENDATIONS AVAILABLE THROUGH THE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES.