POWER OUTAGE for Central Menlo Park due to a vehicle collision at Ravenswood and Laurel St. Please AVOID the area. The outage may affect air conditioning/heating/fans, medical equipment, and electronics. Estimated time for power restoration is 2 p.m. MORE details at https://pgealerts.alerts.pge.com/outage-tools/outage-map/.
Published on August 21, 2023
With more parents headed back to the workplace, this may be the first year that some parents are leaving their children home alone after school for an extended amount of time. California, like most states, does not have a law that says a specific age a child needs to be to stay home alone-this decision must be made by the parents. Allowing a mature and well-prepared child to stay home alone for the first time can boost confidence and promote independence for the child but can be a bit scary for the parents.
• Having friends over • TV and computer rules (set parental controls) • Kitchen and cooking guidelines • Not opening the door for strangers • Answering the phone • Not telling anyone they are home alone
Set up a schedule for calling. Make sure your child knows when you’re available and when you might be unable to answer a call. You might have your child call in as soon as they get home, especially if they are coming home to an empty house, or set up a time when you will call home to check-in. The goal is to figure out something that is convenient for the both of you.
• Important phone numbers • Flashlights, in case of a power outage • Any medications they take regularly • A fire extinguisher • A first aid kit