It is a crucial decision to leave your child home alone.
You want your children to be safe and secure when you are away, whether you go to work or visit the store down the street.
According to SafeKids Worldwide, 3.5 million children are hospitalized for wounds, burns, and poisoning, while approximately 20,000 children die in home accidents each year.
Over 40% of children are reportedly left home alone.
However, it is not feasible for you to accompany and keep an eye on your children every time, particularly if you are working parents. How can you ensure your children’s safety when you are not around? Don’t worry!
Here are some ways to ensure the safety of your little ones when you are not around.
Tell Your Kids Not to Open the Door for Strangers
You must teach the kids this simple yet important safety lesson, especially if they are not that mature. An unknown person could be the burglar watching for the right time to break into your house. As a result, you must teach your kids how to act when they interact with strangers approaching them at home. Tell them to…
- Make sure that the window and door are locked.
- Refuse a call from a stranger while also letting him know you are home. To make him aware of your presence, create noise and put on a light.
- When a police officer knocks on the door during an emergency, first set the door chain.
- If a stranger starts making threats or acts violently, call the police.
Be Careful About Their Social Media Posting:
75% of burglars reported in one survey that they use social media to determine if a homeowner is home.
According to the Pew Research Centre, more than 80% of children between the ages of 13 and 17 use social media.
To reduce the possibility of a break-in, it is obvious that your child shouldn’t tell anyone that they are home alone over Facebook, Instagram, or any other social media outlet.
Install home surveillance equipment:
Hidden home security cameras help you monitor via smartphone what your kids do or whether they are safe or not. Moreover, potential burglars are less likely to target houses that are under surveillance.
Keep Emergency Contact Information Nearby:
Provide your kids with some emergency contact numbers so they can call the right person for assistance. Besides, you can store a comprehensive list of emergency phone numbers in both your children’s and your cell phones. You can also display all the numbers in a visible place across your home.
Keep Harmful Objects Away:
Make sure your children cannot access unsafe goods. Store paints, knives, flammable liquids, medicines, and other items out of their reach or away from them.
Create Household Rules for Kids:
Creating a set of rules helps parents to teach their kids what conduct is acceptable and what is not. When kids are at home alone, this discipline is also helpful. Your child, for instance, can identify what he or she is not allowed to do while you are away. You can set the rules for using the TV, computer, video games, and other gadgets. Or you can keep them occupied with other activities.
Tell Them What to Do in Case of Fire:
According to the US Federal Emergency Management Agency, children younger than 5 have made up 52% of the deaths of children younger than 16 in fires.
While removing fire dangers and combustible items from your house might lessen the risk, it’s crucial to provide your kids with fire rescue training so they can handle fire hazards when they are home alone.
For your children to have the best chance of surviving the house fire, you must develop a clear fire escape plan and practice it with them. Install fire extinguishers in your kitchen and other high-traffic areas of your house.
Teach Your Kids First Aid:
Kids who are familiar with basic first aid are more self-confident and less likely to sustain injuries in accidents. You may teach kids this crucial life lesson playfully and engagingly. Describe the purpose of the first aid kit and its contents.
Install Smart Locks:
It should have a robust locking system from locksmith Phoenix on your doors and windows. Apart from this, you can consider having digital locks which can enhance safety and give you peace of mind. For example, your kids only have to enter the code or scan their fingerprints on a digital lock to unlock the door. This means if they arrive home when no one is there, they can easily and safely unlock the main door.
Best thing?
A digital lock from Locksmith Phoenix is linked to your smartphone app, letting you remotely control who has access to your property.
Conclusion:
With these little things, you can ensure your kid’s safety at home in your absence. However, make sure you comply with your state’s law regarding home alone to avoid any legal trouble. You can enroll your kids in school programs, community centers, youth organizations, and sports clubs to minimize excessive home alone.
