When school ends for summer, some school age children will be at home during the day without adult supervision throughout Kern County. The State of California does not specify any age at which a child can be left at home alone. Generally speaking, when leaving a child at home alone, a parent or caregiver should consider a number of factors, including: maturity level of the child, ability of the child to take care of his/her basic needs, availability of friends or neighbors to assist the child in case of an emergency, ability of the child to use the telephone to call emergency numbers, resources readily available to the child, and length of time the parent or caregiver intends to be away from the home.
To look for after school care or if your child is ready for self-care, call Community Connection for Child Care at 661-861-5200. Children who stay at home need to be taught the skills and knowledge needed to deal with the new responsibility. The American Red Cross offers basic trainings for youth to learn safety information, first aid procedures, and skills to respond to emergencies. The Bakersfield Police Department provides workshops to school age children on how to use the 9-1-1 emergency system.
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