When do you know, as a parent, when your child is ready to stay home alone?
Parents know too well that moments of rest and opportunities to go out as a couple are rare, yet necessary. With a preteen, there’s always that big question: Should we call the babysitter or not?
What the law says
In Quebec, there is no legal age for leaving a child home alone. However, you can be accused of negligence under the Youth Protection Act if they are under 12 and get seriously injured during your absence.
Meanwhile, the Canadian Safety Council strongly advises not to leave a child under 10 alone at home – and no preteen should be left for more than two hours straight. Typically, the younger a child, the quicker they get bored and start to worry. Incidentally, the Red Cross Babysitting course is for kids ages 11-15.
Great powers…
Of course, you can’t just ask a child to stay home alone; they must want to and feel ready themselves. You then need to assess their maturity and autonomy. For example, do they get to school on their own? How well do they understand and comply with your instructions? Can they prepare meals/operate the dishwasher/take care of their little brother or the family pet/etc?
Having a “safety net” can greatly influence your decision, as well. Do you live on a quiet street? Are the neighbours close and able to help if need be? Is it possible to stay in touch at all times?
…and great responsibilities
A child that stays home alone must be able to remember to lock the doors, know what to do if the doorbell or the phone rings and have enough judgement to react properly in case of an emergency. There can be restrictions, too, like using the microwave only and not the oven.
The important thing is to use common sense and test your kid gradually.
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