2023 Author: Anita Thornton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-05-22 03:30
What parent has never been tempted to leave their child alone, at home or in the car, for a run of a few minutes? Maybe you have already done it. Is it wrong? What does the law say about this?
Your child is sleeping soundly. You take the opportunity to make a cake. Whoops! One egg is missing. The convenience store is around the corner. Total round trip time is approximately 4 minutes. What are you doing?
Are you waiting for baby to wake up, or take the risk of running there and telling yourself that, in the worst case, he will wake up and cry a little?
In Quebec, know that there is no legal age to leave your child home alone. But that doesn't mean you can do whatever you want. Me Méganne Fortin, a lawyer practicing in youth law and family law, argues that you should never leave a young child alone, at home or in the car. "Even if it's two minutes. We don't know what can happen to a child in two minutes. He may choke and will not be able to scream for help. He's super vulnerable,” she says.
These few minutes, which may seem so trivial,could have catastrophic repercussions. Indeed, imagine that your child, left unsupervised while fetching eggs, chokes… and dies.
Indeed, although there is no legal age for leaving your child alone at home, the Civil Code of Quebec provides for certain rules of conduct. Thus, in article 599, we can read: "The father and mother have, with regard to their child, the right and the duty of custody, supervision and education. They must feed and maintain their child. So you're escaping your duty of care by leaving your toddler alone at home…even if it's just for a few minutes.
In the car
And in the car, what about?
Your rogue three-year-old fell asleep on your way to the ATM. You have two minutes. Barely. Tempted to leave him dozing unsupervised? Think about it! On the website of the Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec, it says "whatever the reason, never leave a child unattended in a road vehicle". This instruction is supported by article 380 of the Highway Safety Code, which stipulates: "No one may leave unattended in a road vehicle in his custody a child under the age of 7 years ". Seven years is the age when, according to the civil code, a child is able to distinguish between good and evil.
A fine of $60 to $100 can be given to parentsculprits. "It's not a big slap on the wrist, but clearly, we want to make parents aware of the fact that a child under the age of 7 is vulnerable," says Me Fortin.
To go further
If you wonder at what age your child is able to stay home alone, you can consult these articles from Motherforlife.com that address the question:
Leaving your child alone at home: yes or no?
Safety advice for children alone at home
Children alone at home
