What Does "Supervised" Mean?

Supervised means that the caregiver can see the child and is close enough to protect the child from harm.

Children 0 to Four Years Old

Children in this age group must be supervised at all times!

Children Five to Seven Years Old

Children in this age group may play unsupervised for up to 30 minutes when a parent (or age-appropriate caregiver) is at home and can check-in regularly with the child or is able to see the child. Many children in this age group can be taught to walk to school by themselves, however, it is preferred that children in Kindergarten and Grades one and two are accompanied by a caregiver when walking to school or waiting for the school bus.

Children Eight to Nine Years Old

Children in this age group should not be left alone before or after school. When a parent (or age-appropriate caregiver) is at home, children aged eight to nine may play unsupervised in the immediate neighbourhood for up to one hour after the conditions listed below have been taken into consideration. There should not be a pattern of leaving a child unsupervised.

-the child knows general rules for safety
-the child knows how to react in case of fire, power outage and other emergencies
- the safety of the external and internal environment has been assessed
-the developmental age and abilities of the child have been considered
-the child is generally cooperative and can be depended on to follow rules

Ten to Eleven Years Old

Children in this age group may be occasionally left alone at home for up to one to two hours (eg. after school 3:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m.), provided they have no fear or anxiety staying home alone and the child's level of maturity matches this arrangement. Children in this age group should not be home alone for any period of time during overnight hours or be expected to take care of younger siblings or friends. In order to ensure a childs' safety, parents should teach them general safety rules which should include the following:

-how to react in case of a fire, power outage and other emergencies
-how to use the telephone and how to answer the telephone or door (and know the dangers of each)
-whom to contact in an emergency
-where to find emergency and contact numbers (both should be posted by the phone)
-where emergency supplies, like a flashlight and first aid kit, are kept and how to use them
-how to use a house key responsibly
-how to set limits with friends
-where to play, with whom and for how long

Children Twelve & Older

It is recommended that children in this age group are not left alone overnight. Children in this age group are often able to babysit younger children. They should be able to demonstrate that they can follow safety rules. A babysitter who has a babysitting certificate has demonstrated a commitment to take care of younger children and has learned skills that help keep children safe.

-a 12 or 13 year old babysitter should not be left in charge of more than two children; -should not be responsible for cooking, supervising swimming of or the bathing of children; must have zero to five minutes access to consultation with a parent or a responsible adult; and it is generally preferred/ recommended that they do not babysit after midnight or for periods longer than four hours per day
-a sitter's number one priority should be looking after the children NOT entertaining friends, listening to music, etc...
-it's the job of the parent(s) to hire a sitter to look after their children adequately

What does the CFSA say about leaving children unattended?
Sec. 79(3)--"No person having charge of a child less than 16 years of age shall leave the child without making provision for his or her supervision and care that is reasonable in the circumstances."

Sec. 79(4)-- "Where a person is charged with contravening Subsection (3) and the child is less than ten years of age, the onus of establishing that the person made provision for the child's supervision and care that was reasonable in the circumstances rests with the person."

Parents Are Ultimately Responsible For Their children's safety!

Additional Safety Tips
-never leave a child alone in a car
-never leave a child home alone
-never leave a child alone with pets (pets can be unpredictable)
-never leave a child near water (bathtub, pool, hot tub, river...)
-never leave matches, lighters, ashtrays, candles, and other fire hazards within the reach of a child

Use a Child Proofing Checklist around and in your home to prevent injury and ensure safety for your children. A checklist can guide you through your home and help you notice problems such as hazardous chemical storage, unsecure furniture, insufficient safety latches, exposed electrical cords and poisonous plants. For a copy of a checklist, please contact one of the resources listed on our pamphlet or visit our links page.

Accidents Can Be Prevented!