Rules for staying ‘home alone’

The KMC child supervision policy defines appropriate ages where children can be left unattended. Parents are ultimately responsible for the supervision, welfare and actions of their children.

Less than 5 years – Not unattended in a yard or playground, not unattended walking to school or bus, not unattended in quarters or in car, not able to babysit others.

Ages 5, 6 – May play unattended in a playground or yard less than one hour in daylight, with immediate access to adult supervision. Kindergarteners may not walk unattended to school or bus, first-graders may if accompanied by an older sibling, but not across busy streets or more than one mile, not unattended in quarters or car, may not babysit others.

Ages 7 to 9 – May play unattended in a yard or playground with access to an adult, may walk unattended to school or bus, but not across busy streets or more than one mile, may not stay alone in quarters or car, may not babysit others.

Ages 10, 11 – May play unattended in yard or playground with access to an adult, may walk to school or bus alone, may stay in quarters alone up to three hours with access to an adult, may not babysit others.

Ages 12, 13 – May play unattended, may walk to school or bus unattended, may stay alone in quarters but not overnight, may babysit others but not overnight.

Ages 14, 15 – May play unattended, may walk to school or bus unattended, may stay alone in quarters not exceeding 24 hours, may babysit others but not overnight.

Ages 16, 17 – May play unattended, may walk to school or bus unattended, may stay alone in quarters not exceeding three consecutive days with periodic adult checks, may babysit others not exceeding 24 hours.