What age can children be left at home alone?

[logicalvelocity]

Yes, and good idea to consider latchkey trends.


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[red6419]

there's also a really good course offered by Public Health through the city of Toronto (if you're in the area) and I suspect in other Public Health areas called "Home Alone". Its a training program (2 hours) for parents and kids on staying home alone - from a few minutes to a few hours and walks through the guidelines of what to do if...

I took it with my almost 10yo son and it was great.

Good luck!

[Nadia]

Thank you for all the detailed responses and comprehensive information, people.

Nadia

[InterprovincialParents]

As well, if you are looking at leaving your child alone, remember that you are legally responsible for them until 16. You are responsible for their well-being and any actions that occur.

You might want to look into a "Home Alone" course, offered in most communities, prior to even thinking about it. The guideline ages are just that...guidelines. You must decide at what point you feel your children are mature enough to handle any situation that may arise.

[Nadia]

Thank you for the feedback,

Nadia

[DunnMom]

There is no "magic" number and there are a variety of "factors".

For example ... my 2 youngest are 11 & 13. Either one of them I've left alone for the day (while I work) or if one calls me from school not feeling well, they go home, call me and all's fine. However I can't leave them BOTH home together. They FIGHT. I get call after call at work with silly stuff like "mommmmm, he won't get out of my room" .. "mommmmm he drank the last of the milk". Not to mention the odd hole in their bedroom walls.

My ex was/is insisting that they do NOT need summer care because they are too old ... well then he should have them stay at HIS house because mine get's destroyed. On their own, they are GREAT ... together, not so good!

This past summer the 13 yr old didn't go into any camps but the 11 yr old went for 2 weeks. I managed to get 3 weeks off, 7 the "short weeks" (due to long weekends) their 18 yr old brother was around & 1 week the oldest stayed at his cousins so it all worked out.

In "my" case, I wouldn't leave them younger than 10 yrs old, I still won't leave them alone together for more than an hour or so and I won't leave either of them during the night (ie. if I worked night shift, which I don't)

JMO

[rwm1273]

If you leave ten yr olds home alone, I would be expecting a call from CAS shortly thereafter.

[dadtotheend]

http://www.torontocas.ca/wp-content/...loneforweb.pdf