Preparing to Leave Your Child Home Alone

Introduction

Getting ready to have your child stay home alone is a big step for families. The aim of At Home Alone - Family Workshop Handbook (PDF file) is to help you get ready. Families can use the handbook to develop a personal safety and injury prevention plan that will meet their unique needs. As you go through the exercises, remember to:

• Encourage mutual respect by speaking politely to each other.
• Decide on two or three simple rules stated in a positive way, such as “Lock the door when you get home” instead of “Don’t leave the house unlocked."
• Keep a positive attitude. Reward good behaviour to help ensure that this behaviour will happen again.
• Change the rules as your child becomes more responsible or you need to provide more direction.
• Spend time with your tween; take an interest in their day. This will help you to evaluate your child's home alone experience.
• Be open and honest and always keep your sense of humour!

Halton Region does not offer At Home Alone family workshops.

What age can I leave my child alone? (external PDF)
Halton Region Children’s Aid Society strongly recommends that no child under the age of 10 should be left home alone.

Safety courses for youth

Resources

• Halton Children's Aid Society (external link)
  Includes helpful guidelines for Leaving Your Child Alone or Babysitting (external PDF).
• Canada Safety Council (external link)
  Find interesting articles on Preparing Your Child to be Home Alone, Home Safety Checklist, What to Teach Children About Strangers and more.
• Active and Safe Routes to School (external link)
  Includes a Pedestrian Safety Tip Sheet to help you role model pedestrian safety to prepare your children to walk to and from school.