Community Resources Your Family Plan Are my home Home Alone? Is my ready? Guidelines and family ready? Child Supervision Guidelines

These are some of the most important topics to DCHS Child Protective Services SUPERVISION discuss and answer together. There are no laws in Virginia that say when or 1. Write family rules together. Discuss rules 703.746.5800 (24-hour Hotline) 8 YEARS AND YOUNGER should always be for phone and screen use, cooking, taking www.alexandriava.gov/ChildAbuse for how long a child can be left alone. Working Who should I call in an emergency? with other jurisdictions in Northern Virginia, in the care of a responsible person. Children care of siblings, doing homework, going DCHS Early Childhood Division Alexandria has developed these supervision this age should never be left unsupervised in outside, having friends over and answering homes, cars, playgrounds or yards. the door. For resources. NAME PHONE NUMBER guidelines for parents and caretakers to 703.746.KIDS (5437) consider before leaving a child alone. 9-10 YEARS OLD may be ready to be left 2. Help your child memorize their www.alexandriava.gov/DCHS address and important telephone numbers. NAME PHONE NUMBER Parents are ultimately responsible for making unsupervised up to 1.5 hours during daylight The Campagna Center decisions about their children’s safety. Every and early evening hours. 3. Review and post a list of emergency Child care programs, including Head Start, When am I allowed to use the phone? child is different and must be assessed based 11-12 YEARS OLD may be ready to be left contacts. Make sure smoke and carbon from newborn through school-age. on their maturity, skills and comfort level to be unsupervised up to 3 hours during daylight monoxide detectors are working. 703.549.0111 home alone. and early evening hours. 4. Have a spare key available. Leave an www.campagnacenter.org Is my child ready? Does he or she ... 13-15 YEARS OLD may be ready to be left extra key with a neighbor or trusted adult. Make sure your child knows how to use the Department of Recreation, Parks unsupervised more than three hours but not What should I do if someone knocks on the • understand instructions and follow overnight. door and window locks. & Cultural Activities door? important rules? For school-age child programs. 16 AND OLDER may be ready to be left 5. Let a trusted neighbor know that your 703.746.4343 • know how to ask for help from friends, unsupervised overnight for one to two days, child may be home alone. Designate a safe www.alexandriava.gov/Recreation neighbors, and police? with a plan in place. place where your child can go if he or she • make good decisions when away from you feels scared or unsafe. The American Red Cross or other adults? 6. Check in with your child by phone/text For training and certification in What should I do if I am locked out? BABYSITTING babysitting, child care, and first aid. • know when to contact you and 911 when regularly. On-line and classroom options available. needed? 10-12 YEARS OLD may provide care of other 7. Teach home safety, including proper use 703.549.8300 • feel comfortable and confident about children for up to three hours with the help of of kitchen utensils and appliances if allowed. www.redcrossnca.org staying home alone? an adult. Safely secure any dangerous items. When should I call 911? Stop Now of Northern 13-15 YEARS OLD may babysit and 8. Have a plan for emergencies. Discuss Virginia (SCAN) children but not overnight. what to do when your regular schedule For education and resources. 16 AND OLDER may watch children breaks down because of delays or other 703.820.9001 overnight. unexpected occurrences. www.scanva.org Practice staying home alone and Department of what to do in these scenarios. Community and Human Services

703.746.5902 www.alexandriava.gov/DCHS