Kids Home Alone? How to Ensure Their Safety While You’re Gone

Allowing your kids to stay home alone can help them learn how to be responsible for themselves. However, it is important that your children are safe while you are away. Let’s look at some proactive steps that you can take to accomplish that goal.

Don’t Permit Your Kids to Allow Strangers In the House

Your children should be taught to never let strangers into the house for any reason. It isn’t uncommon for kidnappers or other scammers to obtain entry into a home by asking to use the bathroom or to make a phone call. Potentially dangerous individuals might also pose as a police officer or a utility worker in an effort to gain access to your house.

Buy a Dog

In many cases, the presence of a large dog is enough to keep people away from your property. If someone does come to the door or attempt to enter the home, the animal can alert your child to that person’s presence. This can provide enough time to either escape the house or call for help from a safe location. It may also startle an intruder and cause that individual to flee the scene without causing property damage or physical harm to your son or daughter.

Use Smart Locks to Keep Your Home Secure

It may be a good idea to use products that prevent anyone from entering your home unless they know the passcode to unlock the front, side or garage door. It may also be possible to buy a lock that only works when it senses your fingerprint on the touchpad. Locksmiths in your area may be able to install or repair these items.

Have a Neighbor Keep an Eye on Your Property

A neighbor may be able to spot suspicious activity such as someone peeking in a window or lingering in your yard. In addition to keeping your kids safe from predators, this person might also be able to make sure that your children aren’t having friends over when they should be doing homework.

In today’s world, it isn’t uncommon for both parents to work evening and weekend hours. Therefore, you may have to choose between spending money on a babysitter or trusting your kids to look after themselves for a few hours each week. Fortunately, there are many strategies that you can use to keep your kids out of harm’s way while they aren’t being supervised by an adult.

By Ani Oakes
Freelance writer and web enthusiast