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.

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 - Home Alone Program (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.