It’s never too early to teach your children home security
It’s hard for a parent to feel comfortable leaving their children home alone. But you can be rest assured knowing your home surveillance system and security cameras are there to keep them safe. You can even monitor them while you’re away.
Not sure if your child is old enough to stay home alone? Here are some handy age guidelines to keep in mind:
- 7 Years Old And Younger: These children are too young to be left alone for any period of time. They should never be left unattended in cars, playgrounds, backyards, or even inside your home.
- 8 To 10 Years Old: These children should not be left alone for more than an hour, especially at night. If you plan to leave your 8 to 10-year-old home alone, make sure it is during the day.
- 11 To 12 Years Old: These children are capable of being left alone but should not be left home alone at night. It is recommended to leave them only for around 3 hours at a time.
- 13 To 15 Years Old: These teens are safe to leave unsupervised but probably not for an entire night.
- 16 To 17 Years Old: This is the age where they can be left at home alone for longer periods of time. They are old enough to take care of themselves and capable of taking care of any issues that may occur. Additionally, they likely have a cell phone and can get in contact with you if need be.
Here are some safety tips to go over with your kid whenever the time does come to leave them by themselves:
Tell Them To Lock The Doors
Even if you have a home security system, you should always remind your children to lock the door as soon as they’re in the house.
Never Open The Door To Strangers
This rule applies even when you’re at home. Your child should never open the door for anyone that they do not know. Remind them to always look through the peephole or window before opening the door for anyone, even if they are expecting someone. This includes anyone with delivery as well.
Talk About Telephone Rules
It’s important to teach your children how to communicate on the phone. Most importantly, they must never tell anyone that they are home alone. Teach your children to tell whoever is on the phone that you are busy and to take a message, even if you aren’t there.
Use Social Media Responsibly
Social Media is becoming more and more common among younger children. It is important they never post about being home alone. Teach your children to be cautious with what they are sharing online.
If They Leave The House, They Need To Tell You Where They’re Going
Many parents are okay with their children heading over to a neighbor’s or playing in the neighborhood. However, you need to teach your children to call you when they reach their destination and whenever they plan to leave where they are. This is important because if something were to happen, you would have an idea of what your child was doing and where they were.
Teach Them About Fire Safety
If you plan to leave your child home alone, make sure they are old enough to understand fire safety. Let them know that if they see or smell smoke, to immediately leave the house and call the fire department. Find a trusted neighbor that they can go to in case of an emergency such as this.
Talk to your kids about staying safe in your home. Make sure they know what to do in case an emergency does happen. The more you teach them about safety, the better off they’ll be when left home alone.