Home alone! – 7 home security tips on how to keep your kids safe

Did you know that 15% of all children between the ages of five and fourteen years old spend between 2-9 hours home alone weekly?  According to the 2002 Census survey this is true.  These children are three times more likely to be victimized than supervised kids.  It’s important for parents to take extra safety measures when it comes to their home security.  So what can you do to ensure your child’s safety?

Here are 7 tips your kids can utilize to keep them safe while their home alone:

1. It’s important your children know their full name, address, and telephone number.  Could you imagine being lost without a phone or contact information?  Just think how frightening this could be for a child.
2. In the event of an emergency, make sure your child knows how to dial 911.  Whether you child is home alone or not, this is always a good tip for your children to know.
3. If your child feels scared or frightened, it’s important that your child knows who to call.  For example, a neighbor, family friend, or relative.  This can prove to be vital when a burglar is lurking around your home.
4. It’s essential that your child has a phone number where you can be reached.  Your child might have a question that needs to be answered, or may just want to talk about their day.  It’s always good to stay connected.
5. Instruct your child to never answer the phone or door unless they know its family or a close friend.  Burglars are very cunning and convincing, so it’s good for your child to never open the door to anyone he/she doesn’t know.
6. Teach your children to never announce that they are home alone.  The last thing you need is the “Wet Bandits” from the “Home Alone” movie coming to terrorize your children, or vice versa.
7. If you have a home security system in your home, make sure you child knows how to properly arm/disarm the alarm system when entering your home.

Ultimately in the end you can never prevent a burglar from breaking into your home, but you can minimize the risk of your child becoming a crime victim.  Having your children practice these basic home security tips will in the end make them more aware of their safety and home protection, not to mention the tools they need to grow up and make good decisions.

This guest post was written by Kevin Raposo, a blogger for SimpliSafe.  Kevin covers issues related to home security, crime, safety, and consumer issues.  Kevin is a dedicated writer and musician, spreading the word through music and blogging.  SimpliSafe is a leader in the wireless home security field.

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