Parents More Confident In Tweens' Ability To Handle Weather Emergency Than Finding A Gun, Study Finds

SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) -- A new 'home alone' report suggests that 82-percent of parents think that their tween-age children would know what to do in case of an emergency like a storm.

But, the number drops significantly to just about half of parents when it comes to gun safety, and if would their kids would know what to do if they found a gun.

"Parents likely have conversations, and sometimes even practicing what to do in the event of a weather related emergency. We may not practice, or model conversations or behavior around gun safety," Sarah Clark the Director of C.S. Mott Children's Hospital National Poll in Ann Arbor, Michigan, which conducted the survey, told KCBS.

Clark says many parents struggle deciding if their child is responsible enough to be left home alone, especially as their child moves into the tween years.

"One of the things that may be going on here is that one, parents are more aware of incidents and accidents with kids and guns – not intentional, but the accidents that happen," Clark said.

She says this is an especially important decision during the summer when many parents have to make arrangements for kids who are out of school.