Helping Your Child Stay Safe While Home Alone

Kids have stayed home alone for decades. The term “latchkey” kids was created in the 1940s during World War II. Because of the absence of men due to the war, many women were forced to work outside the home for the first time, leaving kids to fend for themselves after school. During this period of time, a kid would often hang their house key from their neck for safe keeping, which led to the creation of the term “latchkey kids.”

Today, many families are two-income households or single-parent families, meaning “latchkey kids” are just as prevalent today as in the 1940s, and it is a situation that often times cannot be avoided. If you are planning to leave your child alone after school for the first time this year, consider the following tips to keep your kid safe while on their own:

Make sure they are old enough

According to the National SAFEKIDS Campaign, children can be left alone once they reach the age of 12. However, a child’s maturity level must also be considered. You as the parent are the best judge of your child’s ability to handle being alone for a few hours. To determine maturity, ask them questions such as, “What would you do if a stranger came to the door when you were home alone?” Based on their answers, you will be able to gauge if they are ready for the responsibility of self-care. If you find your child lacking in maturity, you may have to place them in after-school care until you feel they can safely stay home alone.

Make a plan

Once you have determined your child is, in fact, able to stay home alone, then you need to come up with an “after-school” plan. For example, communicate with your child about expectations regarding video games, TV time and homework. Make a schedule stating what your child should do when they arrive home, and how much time they are to spend on each of their activities.

Make an effort to communicate

A simple phone call can work wonders when dealing with an anxious child (or mom or dad.) Call your child he or she should be home, and ask how the day went and what kind of homework he or she has to do. This call reminds them you care, you will be home soon and, most importantly, that you are just a phone call away.

Maximize your child’s safety with a security system

In days gone by, parents could expect their neighbors and acquaintances to look after the best interests’ of their children. Unfortunately, times have change, and protecting our children should be one of the most important goals when preparing them to stay home alone.

You can maximize your child’s security by installing a security system, such as those sold at Lifeshield.com and similar providers. A good security system will allow the child entrance into the home, and then lock securely after he or she is safely inside. Some systems today even have a camera feature that allows parents to physically see their child come through the door after school. If you live in a bad area, or even if you are just nervous about leaving your child alone, a security system can help you feel more in control, and give your child an added sense of security while home alone.

About the Author:

Randi Cork: Randi is a mom and grade school teacher who blogs about parenting, the environment and green living

Photo courtesy of https://mashable.com/2012/08/27/tech-latchkey-kids/

Photo courtesy of https://www.examiner.com/article/unlocking-the-door-to-successful-latchkey-kid-parenting