4 Rules Your Children Should Follow to Stay Safe at Home

Leaving your children at home by themselves is always a little nerve-wracking at first, but it doesn’t have to be an awful experience. Some may relish the newfound freedom and possibly take the moment for granted, but most want some kind of structure or guidelines in order to protect themselves when the parents are not around. Yet, what should those rules look like, and how do you know if they’ll be effective in keeping your loved ones safe? Here are a few we suggest that should give you a good start.

Have a Check-in Time and Keep It

One of the best ways to know your child is safe (without sounding like the nagging parent that checks up on them all the time) is to implement a thirty-minute rule: every thirty minutes, have them text you letting you know that everything is safe. You can also apply this to when they arrive or when they leave so you can keep an eye on their whereabouts.

Have an Emergency Plan

Regardless of how old your child is, they should always have a plan in case something goes wrong, whether that’s calling a neighbor that can be there in a moment’s notice, or having a safe room that they can retreat to. Make sure your family practices it every so often so they are ready for any occurrence if the time comes.

Use the Peephole

Burglars thrive on anonymity, so make sure that your child knows exactly who is on the other side of the door before they open it for anyone. A peephole, like those that A Carolina Lock Smith can drill into your door, is a low-cost, effective way to allow your child to view the other side of the door without them knowing if anyone is home. However, be sure to remember to keep a stool or chair next to the door for the little ones in case they can’t reach to see out of it..

Keep Them Occupied

The last thing you want is a child left home alone that has absolutely nothing to do; rest assured, they will find something to get into, and it may not be pretty. A fire could be started accidentally or something could break and someone gets hurt, or any number of other things. To reduce the possibility of something like this from happening, give them a to-do list to complete before you arrive home.

There’s nothing wrong with a child that is of age to be left alone in a house by themselves, but it can be a stressful time for everyone involved. With a few rules and a little communication, however, you can rest easy knowing that your home, and your child, are safe.