Perhaps they should make daycare affordable then. Most of the parents who have latchkey kids do so because either they're a
dual income poor family or they're a single working poor parent who can't afford the cost of daycare. This is classism at its finest.
The MCFD often go after poor families who can't afford a lawyer, even though child abuse happens in all socioeconomic classes,
yet the wealthy and middle class families don't have their children apprehended. Sometimes it's a matter of paying for daycare or
putting food on the table. If they choose daycare and have to use a food bank, the ministry will take the child for "neglect",
often a code word for poverty. If they choose to put food on the table, they get them removed for the same reason.
If they're on welfare or disability, they're called out for being "leeches". Poor parents just can't win.
Jack - 9 years ago
MCFD has no problem leaving extremely vulnerable and depressed teens alone in some hotel, or placing children with known sex offenders. Yet instead of helping this single mom who is working hard to support and maintain her family, they cause her enormous stress and threaten her with the worst thing a human being could be threatened with - losing their children to the uncaring and probably negligent state.
Supporters of MCFD always claim "we're damned if we do (apprehend) and damned if we don't (apprehend)". But the truth is, MCFD has never, ever been held accountable. All the papers, reviews, investigations and so on have never, not once, made one person accountable in any meaningful way and have in fact only served to expand MCFD funding by enacting new laws and policies that always work in MCFD's favour and to parents' detriment.
Wanda - 9 years ago
I am 30 years old, so it was not that long ago when I stayed at home alone from the age of 8. My mother was a single parent, deaf and physically disabled to boot. She worked wherever she could find a job to prevent applying for welfare, which happened eventually anyways unfortunately. But this meant she either had to drop me off at school extra early, up to 2 hours early, or I would have to find my own way home since school days are typically 6 hours long and work days are typically 8 hours long. She put me in daycare when I was younger, but it came to a point where the money spent on daycare was needed more for putting food on our table. Obviously with a parent like mine, I was mature for my age. So when my mom figured I could look after myself, I did. If I had been an immature, irresponsible child I am sure she would have figured out another way. If I had kids that were as mature as I was, I would feel comfortable leaving them home alone. Safe plans can be agreed on between the parent(s) and child(ren), Walking home with friends, making a phone call to the parent when they arrive home, having emergency contacts, etc. It is certainly a case-by-case situation. I understand the lady from the MCFD that lives across the street expressing concern, its okay to ask questions, but make an educated decision before putting a family at risk of separation. There are many children that are in obvious dangerous situations/living conditions that need the attention, time and care from MCFD. In my opinion this family is making the right choice and should be left alone. If the government wants to mandate an age restriction of a child being at home alone, they need to pick up more responsibility when it comes to child care(daycare) and provide free child care. How is a parent supposed to pick up their child and go home when their work hours are longer than school hours? They work to provide for their family, don't make it harder than it already is.
Makoes - 9 years ago
Considering that there are no laws that make employers give hours to parents within daycare/school hours, parents often have to choose between leaving their child home for some time, or loss income.
I remember being home alone for hours after school while growing up because my Mom had to work to pay something called "Bills" and food cost something called "Money", and without getting the bills paid or buying food my mom said we would be something called "Homeless."
She also taught us from a very early age how to make our own food, clean our own dishes, wipe our own butts and use our own brains. She called it "Common sense". She waited until we knew how to look after ourselves before she started working. She also taught us which neighbors we could go to for help, or who to call, she also had friends call or check in on us to make sure we were alright.
Unfortunately we don't live in some magical land where every parent gets to pick what hours they can work so that they can be home when their kids are. We live in a world where employers can give what ever hours they want and parents have to "deal" with it or loose hours/jobs. There are no laws giving parents that protection.
So, you know what? if a parent has raised their child to have "common sense" and be home alone for a little bit so they (the parent) can provide financially for their family, let them!
Judy - 9 years ago
I am a 50 year old woman. Both my parents worked when I was growing up. My brother and I were alone after school from the time I started kindergarten. There were no cell phones, computers or call display. We had neighbours, a special number of rings on the phone that we knew we could answer, locks on our doors and COMMON SENSE. Something kids these days are lacking in a big way. We thought for ourselves and didn't rely on others or computers to figure things out. I'm still here and so is my brother. And so are my kids....who were raised to think for themselves and stayed home alone after school while I worked. Kids nowadays have too much "stuff" and not enough brains or responsibility. They'll never grow up at this rate.
Heather - 9 years ago
As someone who works with kids, under 10 - absolutely not. These are typically the same kids that don't have homework done, want to socialize in class, or are interested only in screen time, writing and discussions typically fall around games, levels completed, TV show updates, or the latest and greatest YouTube video. Socialization at this age is important, maturity, and more importantly developing their brain to think critically and rationally in most situations. We can prepare them, but they are still working towards having that portion of their brains engage, as are some adults. :)
AR - 9 years ago
I believe most parents would make the proper decision on whether a child is capable of being home alone or not. However there are those parents that simply don't have common sense or perhaps feel taking the risk is worth not paying the child care. It's for these parents that the law unfortunately needs to get involved. As Dee mentioned above, do some research on understanding a child's brain and ability to reason; no matter how mature the child may seem sometimes their brain is just not ready to handle being left home alone.
cindy - 9 years ago
Wow, children love to have security - especially after being away from family for 6 hours. I can only remember how I felt knowing that after school I could go home, see my mom, have a snack and go out and play again for a while then come home to dinner on the table at 5:00. Don't forget your children are the future and if they lack this simple sense of security, they won't be able to provide it for anyone else.
Geoff - 9 years ago
I agree that under 10 is too young but the parents should be deciding if their child is mature enough to be left alone and for how long. Not being allowed to leave a minor home alone under the age of 16 is absurd. Especially since 15 is about when they start getting part time jobs but they can't stay home alone?
Mel - 9 years ago
I think the wording of the poll is what made the votes more skewed. It should have been worded "Should a child under age 10 be allowed to stay home alone?"
Dee - 9 years ago
I was shocked at the poll percentages. Then again maybe not, when I think about how children are raised today. I am going to guess that 80% of those who said the parent has the say, have never read or studied child psychology or have any understanding of a childs brain and ability to reason. I will not go into all that here, but parents really should do some research on the topic and not expect so much from a child nor should they put so much responsibility on a child so young.
Perhaps they should make daycare affordable then. Most of the parents who have latchkey kids do so because either they're a
dual income poor family or they're a single working poor parent who can't afford the cost of daycare. This is classism at its finest.
The MCFD often go after poor families who can't afford a lawyer, even though child abuse happens in all socioeconomic classes,
yet the wealthy and middle class families don't have their children apprehended. Sometimes it's a matter of paying for daycare or
putting food on the table. If they choose daycare and have to use a food bank, the ministry will take the child for "neglect",
often a code word for poverty. If they choose to put food on the table, they get them removed for the same reason.
If they're on welfare or disability, they're called out for being "leeches". Poor parents just can't win.
MCFD has no problem leaving extremely vulnerable and depressed teens alone in some hotel, or placing children with known sex offenders. Yet instead of helping this single mom who is working hard to support and maintain her family, they cause her enormous stress and threaten her with the worst thing a human being could be threatened with - losing their children to the uncaring and probably negligent state.
Supporters of MCFD always claim "we're damned if we do (apprehend) and damned if we don't (apprehend)". But the truth is, MCFD has never, ever been held accountable. All the papers, reviews, investigations and so on have never, not once, made one person accountable in any meaningful way and have in fact only served to expand MCFD funding by enacting new laws and policies that always work in MCFD's favour and to parents' detriment.
I am 30 years old, so it was not that long ago when I stayed at home alone from the age of 8. My mother was a single parent, deaf and physically disabled to boot. She worked wherever she could find a job to prevent applying for welfare, which happened eventually anyways unfortunately. But this meant she either had to drop me off at school extra early, up to 2 hours early, or I would have to find my own way home since school days are typically 6 hours long and work days are typically 8 hours long. She put me in daycare when I was younger, but it came to a point where the money spent on daycare was needed more for putting food on our table. Obviously with a parent like mine, I was mature for my age. So when my mom figured I could look after myself, I did. If I had been an immature, irresponsible child I am sure she would have figured out another way. If I had kids that were as mature as I was, I would feel comfortable leaving them home alone. Safe plans can be agreed on between the parent(s) and child(ren), Walking home with friends, making a phone call to the parent when they arrive home, having emergency contacts, etc. It is certainly a case-by-case situation. I understand the lady from the MCFD that lives across the street expressing concern, its okay to ask questions, but make an educated decision before putting a family at risk of separation. There are many children that are in obvious dangerous situations/living conditions that need the attention, time and care from MCFD. In my opinion this family is making the right choice and should be left alone. If the government wants to mandate an age restriction of a child being at home alone, they need to pick up more responsibility when it comes to child care(daycare) and provide free child care. How is a parent supposed to pick up their child and go home when their work hours are longer than school hours? They work to provide for their family, don't make it harder than it already is.
Considering that there are no laws that make employers give hours to parents within daycare/school hours, parents often have to choose between leaving their child home for some time, or loss income.
I remember being home alone for hours after school while growing up because my Mom had to work to pay something called "Bills" and food cost something called "Money", and without getting the bills paid or buying food my mom said we would be something called "Homeless."
She also taught us from a very early age how to make our own food, clean our own dishes, wipe our own butts and use our own brains. She called it "Common sense". She waited until we knew how to look after ourselves before she started working. She also taught us which neighbors we could go to for help, or who to call, she also had friends call or check in on us to make sure we were alright.
Unfortunately we don't live in some magical land where every parent gets to pick what hours they can work so that they can be home when their kids are. We live in a world where employers can give what ever hours they want and parents have to "deal" with it or loose hours/jobs. There are no laws giving parents that protection.
So, you know what? if a parent has raised their child to have "common sense" and be home alone for a little bit so they (the parent) can provide financially for their family, let them!
I am a 50 year old woman. Both my parents worked when I was growing up. My brother and I were alone after school from the time I started kindergarten. There were no cell phones, computers or call display. We had neighbours, a special number of rings on the phone that we knew we could answer, locks on our doors and COMMON SENSE. Something kids these days are lacking in a big way. We thought for ourselves and didn't rely on others or computers to figure things out. I'm still here and so is my brother. And so are my kids....who were raised to think for themselves and stayed home alone after school while I worked. Kids nowadays have too much "stuff" and not enough brains or responsibility. They'll never grow up at this rate.
As someone who works with kids, under 10 - absolutely not. These are typically the same kids that don't have homework done, want to socialize in class, or are interested only in screen time, writing and discussions typically fall around games, levels completed, TV show updates, or the latest and greatest YouTube video. Socialization at this age is important, maturity, and more importantly developing their brain to think critically and rationally in most situations. We can prepare them, but they are still working towards having that portion of their brains engage, as are some adults. :)
I believe most parents would make the proper decision on whether a child is capable of being home alone or not. However there are those parents that simply don't have common sense or perhaps feel taking the risk is worth not paying the child care. It's for these parents that the law unfortunately needs to get involved. As Dee mentioned above, do some research on understanding a child's brain and ability to reason; no matter how mature the child may seem sometimes their brain is just not ready to handle being left home alone.
Wow, children love to have security - especially after being away from family for 6 hours. I can only remember how I felt knowing that after school I could go home, see my mom, have a snack and go out and play again for a while then come home to dinner on the table at 5:00. Don't forget your children are the future and if they lack this simple sense of security, they won't be able to provide it for anyone else.
I agree that under 10 is too young but the parents should be deciding if their child is mature enough to be left alone and for how long. Not being allowed to leave a minor home alone under the age of 16 is absurd. Especially since 15 is about when they start getting part time jobs but they can't stay home alone?
I think the wording of the poll is what made the votes more skewed. It should have been worded "Should a child under age 10 be allowed to stay home alone?"
I was shocked at the poll percentages. Then again maybe not, when I think about how children are raised today. I am going to guess that 80% of those who said the parent has the say, have never read or studied child psychology or have any understanding of a childs brain and ability to reason. I will not go into all that here, but parents really should do some research on the topic and not expect so much from a child nor should they put so much responsibility on a child so young.