Tips For Keeping Kids Safe When Home Alone

September 13th, 2023

There comes a time in every parent's life when they need to decide when it is safe for them to leave their children home alone in Youngstown. In doing so, some safeguards need to be in place to ensure that the kids are safe.

Today, we will go over some tips for keeping kids unharmed when they are at home on their own in OH.

Emergency Plan

There should always be some kind of emergency plan in place for the household. To come up with one, start by walking inside the home and taking note of any safety risks that may need to be addressed. All the smoke detectors should have fresh batteries and be fully operational, and there has to be clear pathways to every exit of the home.

All relevant phone numbers need to be posted where the kids can find them quickly and easily. Those include numbers for a close neighbor or family member, the parents' workplaces, and other emergency contact details.

Having a child care emergency checklist on hand is also ideal if you ever need the services of a babysitter or nanny.

Check In Regularly

When leaving kids home alone, it is also important that you check in with them regularly to make sure everything is going well. Make a plan for you to call your child or vice versa at certain times, or see to it that you leave messages for them.

Regular check-ins help children develop good daily routines. They are especially helpful if the kids will be home alone for a short while after school while you are still at work.

Phone And Door Safety

If you have a landline, then you should instruct the children not to answer the phone for just anyone when they are on their own. Have them check the phone's caller ID before picking up. If they do not recognize the name or the number, they should ignore the call.

If someone knocks on the door, the kids need to avoid answering it as well when they are the only ones in the house. For such cases, a doorbell camera is a great idea. It allows parents to see who is at the door and talk to the person themselves, even when they are in the office.

Stay Home

Tell your child to stay inside when they get home until you return or unless there is some kind of emergency. They have to be well aware of the risks if they choose to go out without parental permission.

Home Security System

The best way to protect your children when they are home alone is by having a high-quality security system installed. You will then have the added benefit of security cameras and other features to help keep them safe while you are away.

For more information on home security features you can have in your Youngstown home and around the property, contact your local security experts today. We can walk you through what would be best for your home and make sure you have all the protection you need whether you are home or away.