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What age can my child be left alone at home?

As a parent, you are required to adequately supervise your children at all times. Parents and legal guardians are ultimately responsible for the safety of children in their care.

In Ontario, the Child & Family Services Act does not specifically state a minimum age your child must be before you can leave them unsupervised. It does explain that caregivers should not leave children under the age of 16 alone without making reasonable arrangements for their care, and expressly says children under the age of 16 are not permitted to be out alone between midnight and 6 AM.

According to Durham Children’s Aid Society, you may leave a child alone for a short period of time without supervision starting from the age of 10, keeping in mind that every child is different.

Here are some questions to help you decide whether it is appropriate to leave your child alone for a short period:

• How old is your child?
• What is your child’s behaviour generally like?
• Is your child home from school with an illness?
• Does your child have special needs that may impact decision making?
• How long will your child be left alone?
• Does your child know where you will be and how they can reach you?
• Is the emergency contact person for your child easily reached?
• Does your child know your house rules when you are not there?

It is important for you to keep in mind that every child and situation is different, and you should consider these as a guideline only.

What should I consider if I need a short-term babysitter?

There is no age specified by law for what age a teenager can start babysitting. As a parent, you must consider if a teenager is responsible enough to provide a safe environment for your younger children.

Questions you might ask a potential teenage babysitter:

• Have they taken a babysitting course?
• Do they have previous child care experience with positive references?
• Are they good with younger children? 
• Can they watch more than one child at a time?

It is good to keep in mind that younger babysitters should not be used for long periods or late at night.

How do I find long-term child care?

Child care services in Ontario are in high demand and often have long waiting lists. You may not get a spot right away. It is important to plan ahead if you need child care. When you contact child care providers, it is important to ask many questions. You can learn more about the kinds of questions to ask in our article about finding child care in Ontario.

What are my child care options?

In Ontario, there are three basic types of child care:

• licensed child care centres, often called daycare
• licensed home care
• unlicensed child care.

Child care is expensive, but there may be options to help you pay for it. You can find more information on how to pay for child care at the Ministry of Education website.

You may qualify for other types of child care benefits depending on your region or municipality. You can contact 211Ontario for free information about benefits and referrals to programs in your area.

For More Information

• Search for Licensed Child Care - A directory of licensed child care in Ontario. From the Ministry of Education.
• Ontario Early Years Centres - These centres offer free programs and activities for children up to the age of 6 and their parents and caregivers.
• How to Prepare Your Child for Child Care - A fact sheet providing tips on how to help your child adjust to child care. From the Ministry of Community, Family and Children's Services.
• Types of Child Care – Information about the types of child care available in Ontario. From the Ministry of Education.