Home Alone Course | Online | Canada

A Home Alone course teaches children practical safety skills for staying home alone, including emergency response, home safety, decision-making, and when to ask an adult for help.

Canada

The Canadian government has not defined a legal age at which a child can be left home alone. Manitoba and New Brunswick are the only two provinces in Canada where provincial child welfare acts state that children cannot legally be left home alone under the age of 12. In other provinces, parents have guidelines to follow regarding this issue. In general, child protection agencies recommend that a child younger than ten years old not be left alone and only for short periods of time.

This is a complicated issue, and the guidelines are unclear. Please refer to this article from the Canadian Child Welfare Research Portal: Legal Age for Leaving Children Unsupervised Across Canada

When Can Kids Stay Home Alone in Canada? Age Laws & FAQs

The Home Alone Safety Online course has 7 comprehensive learning modules covering:

• Street smarts and road safety
• People safety (learning how to spot tricky people and how to get help)
• Online safety
• At home safety
• Home fire safety
• Accident prevention
• Basic First Aid skills

  The modules are highly visual and interactive.

You're in the right place! Safe + Sound runs Canadian Red Cross Virtual Babysitting classes regularly. You can find information here.

After taking the Home Alone Safety for Kids course, your child will be safer and more confident to stay home alone. If they are planning to babysit, we recommend they also take a Red Cross Babysitting course. You can find more information about this course here: Canadian Red Cross Babysitting Program for 11-15 year olds

Yes. After clicking the "Register" button select the number of units (courses) you would like to purchase from the cart on the right hand side of your screen. If you would like the certificates to have your children's names on them, please enter their names during the registration/purchasing process. If you are not sure how to do this, please call 604-945-7277. Thank you.

While every child matures differently, there are some signs that indicate your child may be ready to stay home without adult supervision for short periods of time. These signs will help parents, guardians, and caregivers gauge their child’s readiness. Your child:

• is at least 10 years of age.
• follows family rules and instructions.
• knows his/her full name, address, major intersections and phone number.
• knows and understands when to contact 911.
• is not afraid to stay home alone.
• knows what to do when the unexpected arises.
• knows basic first aid, where the first aid kit is and how to use its contents
• knows how to lock the door routinely and safeguard the key
• knows how to contact a trusted adult if needed.

There are several benefits for children taking Home Alone, safety and first aid classes. These include:

• Self-sufficiency: These classes can teach children how to be self-sufficient and take care of themselves when they are home alone.
• Safety skills: Children can learn important safety skills, such as how to handle emergencies and what to do in the event of an injury.
• Independence: These classes can help children develop a sense of independence and responsibility.
• Confidence: Children can gain confidence in handling difficult situations by learning new skills.
• Fun: These classes can be engaging and interactive, making them more enjoyable for children.
• Convenience: Online, self-directed classes can be completed at a convenient time for the child and their family.
• Accessibility: Online classes can be accessed from anywhere with an internet connection, making them a convenient option for families who may not have access to in-person classes in their area.

A Home Alone Safety certificate will be available for download on completion of the course.

Once you've purchased the Home Alone course your child has 60 days to complete the training. If they can't take the course within that time, please get in touch with us.

The best age depends on the child's maturity, confidence, and local guidance, but many parents look for Home Alone training for children in the pre-teen years.