Virtual class. Students join a live Zoom class from home with a device and a camera. There are no class materials to bring and no hands-on kit.
Students learn how to take care of themselves when they are home without an adult, how to avoid the situations that go wrong, and exactly what to do when something does.
AT A GLANCE
| AGES | Ages 8 through 11 |
|---|---|
| LENGTH | Ninety minutes, taught in one sitting60 minutes, live on Zoom |
| TAUGHT BY | Certified teachers and registered nurses |
| COMPLETION | Safe Sitter® Safe@Home completion card |
SAFE HABITS AT HOME
Rules for the hours between the school bus and a parent coming home
Answering the door, the phone and a knock you were not expecting
Going outside, playing in the neighborhood and getting permission first
Online safety, strong passwords and protecting your privacy
Trusting your gut about a person who makes you uncomfortable
HANDLING EMERGENCIES
Staying calm and working the problem instead of panicking
Power outages, weather and other household surprises
Reaching a parent, and why every child needs a back-up adult
A safety signal for asking to be picked up without having to explain
When a situation calls for 9-1-1, and what to say
PREVENTING INJURIES AND BASIC FIRST AID
Where injuries happen most in a house, and why
Choking, falling, water and poison hazards
Allergies, and what an allergic reaction can look like
Sorting any injury by how serious it is and how urgent it is
Using a first aid chart to look up common injuries and illnesses
WHAT IS INCLUDED
A certified teacher or registered nurse as your instructor
A Safe@Home student booklet for every student to keep
All class materials brought to your home, school or meeting space
No class materials. A device and a camera for Zoom are enough.
A completion card, mailed or emailed after class
A NOTE ON READINESS
Finishing this class does not mean a child is ready to stay home alone. That call belongs to the parent, and it depends on age, maturity, experience and confidence. What the class does is give a child the safety training piece, plus the language to talk with you about the rest.
Maryland does set an age. A child under eight may not be left alone in a home or a car. Most families find the year or two after that is the right window for this class, when independence is new and the habits are still being formed.
Students who are ready for more, or who will be watching a younger sibling, can move on to our Safe Sitter® Babysitting course in grades six through nine.