Parenting Vivian | 05 Apr 2010 01:15 am
Keeping Your Children Safe While They Are Alone
Working parents have a lot to think about when it comes to keeping their family protected especially the children who are the ones that are vulnerable. The majority of Americans and people around the world are a part of the workforce and has to sometimes leave their children home by themselves.
There is much anxiety, worry, frustration or even fear involved in leaving a child or children on their own, when school lets out. Sometimes, child care arrangements with neighbors and relatives break down or there simply are not many alternatives.
What can you do?
Make sure that your children are ready to care for themselves
Make sure you have an security alarm system
Teach the child or children how to turn on and turn off the alarm security system.
Teach your children basic safety tips and rules
Know where you children are, what they are doing and who they are with
Check on your kids
?Work out a kind of telephone code that will let them know that you are the one who is calling them. For example, tell them to listen for four rings and then you would hang up and call back immediately.
Are you ready? Can your children…
Be trusted to go straight home after school?
Easily use the telephone, locks and kitchen appliances?
Follow rules and instructions well?
Handle unexpected situations without panicking?
Stay home alone without being afraid?
Have a certain maturity?
Talk it over with them, and listen to their worries and ideas. Work out rules on having friends over, household chores, homework, and television. Remember, staying at home alone can build a childs self esteem, sense of responsibility, and practical skills. Your child can be afraid and you do not know so make sure you have a lengthy discussion to find out if this is the case.
Teach your home alone children
How to call 9-1-1 or your areas emergency number or call the operator?
How to give directions to your house in case of an emergency?
To check in with you or a neighbor immediately after arriving home
Turn on the home alarm system as soon as they get home
To never accept gifts or rides from people they do not know well and who you did not approve of
Come home straight after school. Do not linger on the streets
Walk in a group of other children or with another school mate. Never walk alone
How to use the door, windows, and locks
To never let anyone into the home without asking your permission
To never let a caller at the door or on the phone know that they are alone
?To carry a house key with them in a safe place; inside a shirt pocket or sock. Do not leave the key under the door mat or on a ledge.
How to escape in the case of a fire
To not go into the house or apartment if things do not look right such as a broken window, ripped screen or opened door
To let you know about anything that frightens them or makes them feel uncomfortable.
Your children are depending on you for their safety and protection. Be sure you get a home alarm system, electronic bark dog alarm, door alarm, window alarm or hidden wireless camera. It will be more comforting to you.
Steve Lane is a freelance writer of informational websites on personal self-defense and home security products including high tech surveillance. He is one of the leading writers on home security and personal self defense products in the country.
He started “Self Defense Shop” in 2004 to help people prevent crime in their lives. “Self Defense Shop” is an Internet business specializing in hard to find and unique self-defense and home security products that help people protect themselves, their family, home and business. His website includes self defense products like pepper sprays, stun guns, personal alarms, and self defense training DVDs.
His business is poised to meet the needs of security conscious consumers who want to protect their families, home and business in increasingly dangerous times with growing crime rates.