Supervision and Your Child
Ultimately parents are responsible for their children's safety!
The Child and Family Services Act (CFSA) does not identify an age when a child can be left alone, or an age at which a child can supervise other children. The act recognizes that age alone is not a sufficient safeguard for the supervision of children.
What does supervision mean?
Supervision means that the caregiver can see the child and is close enough to protect the child from harm.
Children 0-4 years old
Children in this age group must be supervised at all times.
Children 5-7 years old
Children in this age group should not be left home alone.
Indoor play: Children in this age group may play with less supervision 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.
Outdoor play: This age group should not be left unsupervised. Children in Kindergarten and Grades 1 and 2 must be accompanied by a caregiver when walking to school or waiting for the school bus.
Children 8 to 9 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 8 to 9 may play with less supervision in the immediate neighbourhood. However parents must set clear boundaries that the child understands. These boundaries include where the children can play and the frequency of which parent and child check in with each other. Also, the conditions listed below need to be taken into consideration.
- Child is taught to check in regularly, i.e. going to a friend's to play
- When it is dark, children should be in the home or in the immediate vicinity of the home supervised
- The child knows general rules for safety
- The child knows how to react in cases of fire, power outage and other emergencies
- The safety of the external and internal environment has been assessed
Safety Tips & Info
- Never leave a child alone in a car
- Never leave a young child alone with pets (they can be unpredictable)
- Never leave a child near water (i.e. bathtub, pool)
- Never leave matches, lighters, ashtrays, candles and other fire hazards within the reach of a child
Child Safety Links
- Safe Kids Canada
- KFL&A Health Unit
- SMARTRISK
- Health Canada's Consumer Product Safety Program
- Plan-it Safe, The Child and Youth Injury Prevention Centre
Parenting/Community Resources
- KFL&A Health Unit • 613 549-1232
- Better Beginnings • 613 542-2835
- Pathways for Children & Youth • 613 546-8535
- Ontario Early Years Center • 613 384-1231
- Parent Help Line • 1-888-603-9100
Notes and the Law
This page provides parents and other caregivers with some general guidelines to consider when making decisions about what level of supervision children need to ensure their safety and well-being.
What the CFSA says about leaving a child 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."
Anyone who contravenes this provision is guilty of a provincial offense and if convicted is liable to a fine of up to $1,000 and/or imprisonment of up to a year. Sec. 79(4) — "Where a person is charged with contravening the Subsection (3) and the child is less than 10 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."