Home Alone & Stranger Safety Questions
How much is the course?
The cost for the Home Alone & Stranger Safety program is $75.00 plus HST, for a total of $84.75.
What do students learn?
This course is designed specifically for younger students aged 8 and up. It helps children build independence, confidence, and awareness while learning how to keep themselves safe in everyday situations.
Key topics include:
- Getting home safely and communicating with parents
- Stranger safety, including in-person, online, phone, and door safety
- Staying productive and establishing family home-alone rules
- Beginner kitchen hazards, fire safety, and how to call EMS/911
- Basic self-first aid and practical safety awareness
Family follow-up after the course: After the program, we ask parents to review the practical section of the manual with their child. At Vari SAFE, we want parents to feel just as comfortable as their child so everyone is prepared for the responsibilities and opportunities that come with this exciting step toward independence.
How the course is delivered: Vari SAFE courses are instructor-led and supported by a detailed handbook. Students learn through discussion, real-life examples, activities, and role plays that help them understand and practise the material. The result is an engaging, practical learning experience—not just a boring day in a classroom.
Can my child stay home alone after taking your Home Alone course?
This is a decision that must be made together as a family, with your child's safety in mind first and foremost. Student maturity level (regardless of age), demonstrated abilities, confidence and comfort level should all be taken into consideration in addition to ensuring that any periods of self-supervision are considered reasonable in length and time of day.
Vari SAFE Education does not "certify" your child as to when they may begin staying home alone. This decision can only be made by a parent or guardian and should always take into consideration the "Guidelines for the Supervision of Children" as per the link below.
Participation in our Home Alone course does not mean that a child is now ready to stay home alone; it helps to prepare them and give them the confidence and knowledge to be safe when the time is right.
Upon completion of our course, your child will return home with many ideas on how they can be more "self-safe" and with a workbook including an "@ Home Review," which is to be completed post-course, as a family. This family review portion offers tips and resources for parents, as well as a series of questions and situations to assist you in reviewing the course content with your child. We ask that you check for understanding, readiness and comfort level as you review the course materials with them.
This is a great way to open the lines of communication and to establish whether all parties are ready or not (based on the guidelines provided below) to begin staying Home Alone.
Please review the following links that may answer more of your questions in greater detail:
The Child, Youth and Family Services Act does not identify a specific age at which a child or youth can be left alone, or an age at which a child or youth can supervise or babysit other children.
The Act says that a person who has charge of a child who is less than 18 years of age cannot leave the child without making provision for their care or supervision that is reasonable under the circumstances.
Is it appropriate for my 8- or 9-year-old student to attend this program?
Absolutely, we have had great success working with "younger" students in the past, provided that the following applies;
- The child wants to attend and has a desire to learn about becoming more "self-safe".
- Ideally, the younger student is simply mature for their age and will be attending with an older sibling. This is important so that all members of the family are included and working together.
- It is understood that although age, in and of itself, is not the best determining factor for readiness, it is never too early to begin learning and practicing these skills!
At this stage, provided the above are true, we would welcome these students and suggest that families begin having discussions regarding self-safety. Especially with regards to strangers (in person, online or on the phone), house rules (such as never opening the door to strangers), fire safety, how to call for help in case of an emergency and learning how and why it’s important to say NO! if someone makes you uncomfortable, etc.
These skills are always valuable, regardless of age and whether Home Alone or not!
This may also be a great time to begin short periods of "indirect supervision" directly! Perhaps while you are outside doing yard work, younger students may begin to practice indoors while you are nearby to gain confidence and experience with self-supervision.
Can I stay with my child during the course?
To help students build essential home-alone and personal safety skills, we ask that parents sign in their child at arrival but do not remain in the classroom during the course. This helps students focus on developing independence, responsible decision-making, proactive thinking, and self-safety awareness through instructor-led demonstrations, group activities, and interaction with other students.
Our instructors will be working with students throughout the day, with an emphasis on keeping self-safe and how to avoid or respond to difficult situations should they arise.
Upon conclusion of the course, we will be asking all parents and students to complete the "@home review", which is a tremendous discussion piece for you and your child to assess readiness, reinforce key learnings or provide additional support or clarification at your discretion. Your child will return from the course with some great ideas on what they can do, and how they will be safe when given the opportunity to stay home alone - and we want them to be just as comfortable as you are in this new and exciting responsibility.
Parent Resources
Here are some excellent website links that may assist you with answering more of your Home Alone questions: