At what age can I leave my child home alone in California? Tips for parents during summer
With summer right around the corner and the school year ending, parents will be scrambling for childcare, begging the question: How old do kids need to be to be left alone?
California has no set age for when children can be left alone, but the state penal code on child neglect has laws in place regarding child safety, said Theresa Mier, a spokesperson for the California Department of Social Services.
There is no minimum age for babysitters, however, the department of social services states, "an occasional short-term babysitter may be under 18 years of age, but shall have the maturity, experience, and ability necessary to provide adequate care and supervision to a 'child.'"
Here's what to know about leaving your child home alone in California.
The California Department of Education has provided a checklist to help parents decide if their kids are ready to be left home alone.
Checklist or questions for parents to ask:
Would your child rather stay home than go to a child care or after-school program?
Is he easily frightened?
Is she responsible?
Can he creatively solve problems?
Would she spend her time responsibly?
Does your child become bored easily?
Does he always tell you where he is going and when he will return?
Would she be at home with an older brother or sister? Do siblings get along?
Would the older sibling resent caring for the younger one?
Would caring for the younger sibling restrict the older child's activities?
Do you live in an isolated area without close neighbors?
Is your neighborhood safe?
Will you or another adult always be available to your child in case of an emergency?
Is a neighbor home to help if needed?
How would your child handle: Strangers on the telephone or at the door?; Being locked out of the house? Fire?; Arguments with a sister or brother?; An insect bite or a skinned knee?
Along with a checklist the education department recommends writing out concrete house rules and leaving them in an easily accessible place, including: which friends are allowed to come over, what television programs they are allowed to watch, approved foods, using the stove, telephone, computer, appliances or tools, how to reach you and what to do if/when they leave the house.
The CDSS has outlined a couple of ways to find childcare locally.
Parents or guardians can look for child care providers and resources in their area using the Child Care Resource and Referral Program, Mier said.
The online search tool on MyChildCareplan.org is also a good way to search for local childcare, she added.
With summer vacation comes summer heat and trips to the local public pool, or even the pool at home. Keeping children safe and supervised is a priority with increased pool time.
According to Angi.com, as of 2022 California is the state with the second most residential pools in the country with 1,343,000. Florida holds the top spot with 1,590,000. Angi.com is an online site for homeowners to find contractors for home improvement projects, originally called Angie's List.
The CDSS has helped outline tips for pool safety.
Keep children in direct sight at all times, as children in or near water can drown immediately and silently.
Never leave a young child alone in or around a pool, spa, or wading pool, even for a few seconds.
Assign someone a 'Water Watcher' to keep them in direct sight, and relieve the watcher every 20 minutes.
Keep doors and gates leading to water closed, even when using the pool or spa.
Assign a set pool time for toddlers.
Always look first in the pool or spa if a child is missing.
Keep rescue equipment, like a safety ring and a phone, next to the pool or spa.
CPR training
Teach children how to dial 9-1-1.
Restrict access to the pool or spa when it cannot be adequately supervised. Doors and gates should be closed and locked.
Keep things children can climb on, like chairs, away from pool fences and gates.
Have a professional regularly inspect your pool or spa for entrapment or entanglement hazards.
Teach children how to swim when they are old enough. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends starting at 4 years old.
Safety barriers are recommended to help prevent or slow a child from getting to the water.
According to the department, a four-sided isolation fence is the best barrier as it surrounds the pool or spa. Additional safety precautions include: California law-approved safety covers, self-latching fences and ladders, exit alarms, swimming pool alarms that detect movement, and pet doors.
Ernesto Centeno Araujo covers breaking news for the Ventura County Star. He can be reached at ecentenoaraujo@vcstar.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Tips for parents leaving their child home alone over the summer
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