The table below shows the minimum age at which children can be left home alone, classified by state, in the United States. Please note that city and county ordinances may have more definitive and restrictive laws in each state. Call your state`s DHS or local child protection agency to learn more about age guidelines in your area. Not everyone can afford summer camp or child care, and many working Canadian parents must find another way to keep their children safe and busy during the summer months. “Age is important, but it`s not the only factor” that makes it possible to leave a child home alone safely, says Lewis Smith of the Canada Safety Council. Alberta`s Child, Youth, and Family Enhancement Act states that if a child`s safety is at risk because they do not receive proper care or supervision (e.g., being left home alone), that child may be considered neglected. Well, don`t frech anymore. Once again, the Higgs government is helping those struggling when it announces changes to provincial legislation regarding the age at which a child can be left unattended at home. Like theme parks, most professional sports teams trust the judgment of responsible adults. According to Rogers Centre, it is at the discretion of parents to allow children to attend a Toronto Blue Jays game unsupervised – there is no minimum age and no special service for children watching independently. “You want to make sure the house is as safe as possible,” says Smith, who recommends good locks on doors and an answering machine so kids don`t have to answer the phone and let people know they`re home alone. Air Canada`s Unaccompanied Minor service is not available to children under the age of eight.

Instead, they must travel with a passenger who is at least 16 years old. However, the service is mandatory for children aged eight to 11 travelling alone and listed as optional for children aged 12 to 17. Being able to be alone at home is a process that should be initiated through gradual and supervised phases. Lewis Smith, communications coordinator for the Canada Safety Council, says his organization is getting more inquiries about leaving children home alone after high-profile legal cases like a recent decision in British Columbia. In that case, a court found that an eight-year-old child was too young to be left home alone after school. On Greyhound buses, anyone under the age of eight must be accompanied by a person who is at least 15 years old. Children between the ages of eight and 14 can travel alone on the bus, but certain conditions must be met, including: the journey must not last more than five hours, children cannot switch from one bus to another, and the journey must start during the day and end at 10 p.m., among other things. A trusted neighbor can be a good resource for children who stay home alone, Smith adds.

Ultimately, however, children must be able to reach a parent in an emergency – and parents must be able to go home to be reunited with their children when they are needed. Horvath also advises that staying home alone is a bad idea for children prone to depression, anxiety or self-harm, as well as for children with poor impulse control or a propensity for risky behavior. We have great tools to get you started. First of all, just because they meet the age requirement doesn`t mean they`re mature enough to stay home alone. Here are 5 ways to tell if your child is ready. If you decide yes, we`re ready to go, here are 6 ways to train your child to stay home alone and conversation starters to talk about your expectations and concerns. And chances are you`ll have a child who will play the role of babysitter, so check out our babysitting checklist, which can be printed to make sure all the important details are covered. The announcement comes amid a public outcry over the apparent lack of support for workers in the province by announcing new restrictions where children will delay their return to work in the classroom to slow the spread of COVID-19. Legally, most Canadian provinces and territories do not set a minimum age for leaving children alone at home.

However, Manitoba and New Brunswick laws state that children under the age of 12 cannot be left unattended.