These guidelines represent the minimal acceptable standards for the supervision of children. They have been developed by professionals in collaboration with the community. Remember, these are only guidelines. There may be situations when it is not safe to leave a child unsupervised.
Home Alone
Whenever any child is unsupervised or unattended:
- Consider a child's emotional, medical or behavioral needs that may affect the child’s judgment or decision-making.
- The child must be comfortable being alone.
- All youths, including teens, must have a safety plan worked out with the parent or caretaker including:
- How to access a parent or other responsible adult at all times (knowing the adult’s whereabouts and telephone number).
- What to do in case of an emergency.
- Guidelines for acceptable behavior.
- Youth must demonstrate the ability to follow the safety plan and make good decisions about personal safety.
Supervision Guidelines:
- 8 years and younger: Should not be left alone for any period of time. This includes leaving children unattended in cars, playgrounds and yards.
- 9 to 10 years old: Should not be left alone for more than 1.5 hours and only during daylight and early evening hours.
- 11 to 12 years old: May be left alone for up to 3 hours, but not late at night or in circumstances requiring adult supervision.
- 13 to 15 years old: May be left unsupervised, but not overnight.
- 16 to 17 years old: May be left unsupervised for up to two consecutive overnight periods.
Download the Supervision Guidelines PDF(PDF, 551KB)
Babysitting
Before leaving your children with a babysitter, have you:
- Informed the babysitter of your family's emergency safety plan and ensured that they are able to carry out the plan?
- Left a place and phone number where you can be reached?
- Reminded the babysitter to limit personal phone calls and not allow visitors into the home?
Babysitting Guidelines
- 10 to 12 years old: May provide care for other children up to 3 hours with the help of an adult.
- 13 to 15 years old: May babysit infants and children, but not overnight.
- 16 years and older: May watch children overnight.
Download the Babysitting Guidelines PDF(PDF, 88KB)
Arlington County Department of Parks and recreation offers Red Cross Babysitting Classes for youth throughout the year.
Hot vehicle deaths ARE preventable. An average of 38 children die in hot vehicles every year in the U.S. Don’t let your child become a statistic. Remember to A-C-T.
AVOID the risk by NEVER leaving a child alone in a vehicle, not even for a second, not even with the windows open. Even on mild days, the temperature inside a vehicle can rise 20 degrees in 10 minutes. When a child’s internal temperature reaches 107 degrees, the child can die.
CREATE reminders. Put something in the backseat near your child that you wouldn’t leave the vehicle without (cell phone, purse, wallet, or briefcase). This will remind you to check the backseat. When the vehicle is empty, lock the doors and keep the keys out of reach of children to prevent children from getting inside the vehicle on their own.
TAKE action. If you see a child left alone in a vehicle, call 9-1-1 immediately!
What is the Period of PURPLE Crying program?
The Period of PURPLE Crying program is an evidence-based shaken baby syndrome/abusive head trauma prevention program available since 2007.
- To support parents and caregivers in their understanding of early increased infant crying
- To reduce the incidence of Shaken Baby Syndrome/ Abusive Head Trauma
For More Information on Purple Crying Visit: National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome - PURPLE Crying
Unsafe sleep is the leading cause of non-natural infant death in Virginia, with Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID) accounting for approximately 3,500 deaths in the United States annually. You can help minimize the risk of sleep-related infant death by following simple, life-saving practices each time an infant is placed to sleep.
It is vital that everyone caring for a baby, including child care providers, grandparents, foster parents, and siblings, are aware and adopt the following practices when placing an infant to sleep:
ALONE on their back, but within the same room as their caregiver
APART from toys, blankets, pillows or other objects to avoid suffocation, and
ALWAYS in a separate safe sleep space such as a crib or bassinet, a drug- and alcohol-free environment
We all have an important role to play in keeping children safe. Let's work together to bring greater awareness to safe sleep practices, and ensure infants have a safe and healthy start in life. Learn more about safe sleep practices.
What is discipline?
It is important to remember that discipline is NOT just punishment. Discipline is more about teaching your children how to behave, not just reprimanding them when they do something wrong.
Why do children misbehave?
- Physical discomfort; tiredness
- Difficulty controlling impulses
- Testing Limits
- Frustration
- Desire for attention
Discipline means helping children…
- Build self-esteem
- Develop self-control
- Respect themselves and others
- Express emotions appropriately
- Become self-reliant
5 Discipline Basics:
- Set limits and guidelines
- Children are looking for their parents to provide a set of boundaries, including physical boundaries (like not crossing a street) as well as rules that respect others’ rights.
- Discipline consistently
- Children need consistent rules to help them learn what their boundaries are. You will have to enforce rules repeatedly as you raise a child—be sure to send your children the same message so you don’t confuse them.
- Begin discipline early
- Even a young child needs some sort of discipline to help them make decisions. And the longer you send a consistent message, the easier it is for a child to understand your expectations and develop self-control.
- Serve as a role model
- The BEST way for you to teach your children how to behave is by showing them through your own behavior.
- Spend time with your children
- The best way for you to model appropriate behavior is by spending quality time with them.
For more resources on discipline visit: https://scanva.org/
Download the Positive Discipline PDF in English(PDF, 177KB)
Download the Positive Discipline PDF in Spanish(PDF, 170KB)
It's important to talk to children about safe and unsafe touching starting at a young age. Follow these tips:
- Tell your child, "You are the boss of your body. If someone touches you in a way that makes you uncomfortable, say NO, get away, and tell me."
- Teach your child the proper names for body parts. This will help them feel more comfortable telling you if there is a problem.
- Explain that private parts are those that are covered by bathing suits and that they should stay covered. Say, "It's not OK for others to look at or touch your private parts, unless that person is your doctor or me."
- Let your child know that no one - not even someone they know or trust - should ask them to keep a secret and that it's never OK to keep secrets from you, especially if your child is scared or uncomfortable.
- Talk to your child about stranger danger. Teach them not to accept anything from or go anywhere with a stranger.
Download the Sexual Behavior PDF in English and Spanish(PDF, 266KB)
The Virginia Department of Social Services reports that a lack of proper supervision is a leading cause of drowning in children. Understanding the safety steps required to protect your children around any body of water they may encounter, especially during the summer months, is critical.
Docks
- Watch for tripping hazards on the dock and do not allow running on docks.
- Ensure that old boards are replaced and that there are no nails sticking up from the wood.
- Wear life jackets at all times (do not substitute water wings or other floatation devices for life jackets). Ensure that life jackets fit correctly and are up to date.
- Consider putting a gate at the front of docks and other forms of safety rails along the dock.
- Ensure that there is at least one throwable buoy on each dock.
- Know the depth of the water around your dock and do not allow diving from the dock.
- Put away all water toys and fishing equipment to prevent children from going to the water alone.
Pools
- Children need constant supervision by a safe and sober caretaker while swimming.
- Teach your child to swim as early as possible and contact local community agencies for information about lessons.
- Swimming pools should be surrounded by a fence.
- Children should be wearing U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets while swimming.
Beaches
- Do not go in the water with an open wound.
- Be aware that beaches have litter, sharp glass and other debris, and wear sand socks or water shoes for protection.
- Ensure that any child in the water is wearing a life jacket (do not substitute with water wings or other floatation devices), even if they know how to swim.
- Be aware of postings and notices regarding algae blooms and water conditions.
- Be aware of potential rip tides and teach children what to do if they encounter one.
- Ensure that all children are wearing sunscreen, even on cloudy days, and reapply often.
- Enroll children in swim lessons as soon as possible.
Boats
- Ensure regular maintenance of boats, especially for electrical and fuel needs.
- Turn off portable heaters and other appliances when not on board the boat.
- Everyone on the boat should wear life jackets at all times while on and near the boat.
- Wear proper footwear at all times to avoid slipping or tripping.
- Ensure that children are secure while on board and maintain safe speeds.
Download the Water Safety PDF(PDF, 2MB)