At Home Alone Class

Is your child ready to stay at home without a sitter for short periods of time? Gorton Community Center is pleased to introduce the At Home Alone class where your child will learn the necessary information and skills needed to be home by themselves or with their siblings without an adult present.

This comprehensive class will help arm your child with the knowledge and education he or she needs to be home as safely on their own as possible. Led by a registered nurse from Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital, an officer with the Lake Forest Police Department, and the American Red Cross, this class will start a dialogue between you and your child to ensure you – and they -- are ready for the responsibility of being home without an adult.

Gorton’s safety experts will cover topics such as basic first aid, door and window safety situations, kitchen and fire safety, and what to do if your child smells smoke or gas. They will discuss how to respond when someone calls, severe weather procedures, and escaping the home in an emergency. They will also receive hands-on experience learning how to operate a fire extinguisher and learn how to check to make sure a smoke alarm is working properly.

Your child will take home strategies on how to communicate effectively with parents to make general house rules, and with brothers and sisters to curb sibling rivalry.

At Home Alone is Saturday, March 14 from 10 a.m. to noon, and is best suited for children ages 10 and up. The fee is $35.

There is no law in Illinois that states when the “right age” is to leave a child unsupervised. Parents hold the responsibility of making the ultimate decision concerning their child. Please go to gortoncenter.org for more information and to register.

Gorton Community Center is a privately-funded, not-for-profit 501c3 organization which operates in partnership with volunteers and the City of Lake Forest to enrich the lives of its residents through cultural arts, education and charitable service. Gorton relies on the generosity of residents and businesses to help fund programs, services and building improvements offered in the historic building owned by the city. The gathering place in the heart of our community where people connect, converse, learn, listen, play and perform.