When can I go to the store by myself?

A trip to the mall
Depending on the size of your community and the size of the mall, it's best to wait until your child is older, perhaps twelve or so, before you let him go to the mall without you. He'll probably want to go with a friend or two. Drop them at the mall entrance, set a firm time limit, perhaps an hour the first time, and agree on a place for you to meet. Make sure they know whom to call if they have a problem.

A trip to the mall
Depending on the size of your community and the size of the mall, it's best to wait until your child is older, perhaps twelve or so, before you let him go to the mall without you. He'll probably want to go with a friend or two. Drop them at the mall entrance, set a firm time limit, perhaps an hour the first time, and agree on a place for you to meet. Make sure they know whom to call if they have a problem.

Going to a movie
For some children, going to a movie without their parents is a sure sign that they're growing up. And letting your child go without you can save you from sitting through the latest clash of the mutant warriors. Many children will be ready for such an outing at around age eleven. Start by taking your child and her friend to the theatre and meeting them when the movie's over. If she's itching to try going to a movie but you don't think she's ready, go along with her and her friends, but agree to sit in a different part of the theatre. Then meet them in the lobby when the lights come up.

Home alone
In many parts of Canada, there's no law setting out a minimum age for a child to be left alone at home without supervision. Most child protection professionals agree that children should not be left on their own for any significant amount of time until they are twelve. But even provinces such as New Brunswick, which sets the minimum age at twelve, recognize that there has to be some flexibility, depending on the circumstances. Here are a few guidelines.

• Ask yourself how mature the child is. Some responsible kids may be ready for brief periods on their own - say, up to an hour for the ages of ten or eleven. Some twelve-year-olds may not be mature enough.
• Ask yourself whether your child is comfortable being by herself. Many kids are happy to stay at home with a sibling or a friend, but not alone.
• Arrange for indirect supervision if you'll be away more than a short time. Have a relative or responsible neighbour look in on the child at a specified time.
• Make sure the child knows what numbers to phone in case of an emergency. If you're not going to be reachable by phone, post the phone numbers of other adults who could help.
• Make sure you can trust your child not to touch or play with the stove or any other potentially dangerous appliances or machinery. Drill your child on what to do in case of an emergency.
• Be sure he knows not to answer the phone or door unless it's at the specific times you've arranged for another adult to check on him.

First baby-sitting job
Baby-sitting not only provides kids with an opportunity to earn money, but it also builds self-confidence. Babysitting is a major responsibility, and your child must be prepared. Both the Red Cross and the St. John Ambulance offer courses for both boys and girls, in which they teach the basics of looking after children of varying ages and provide guidelines for dealing with emergencies. The Red Cross allows kids to start these courses at age eleven, but parents should check local offices for the recommended age for course participants in their region.