How to Keep Latchkey Kids Safe
"Latchkey kids" is the term assigned to children who arrive home after school to an empty house because mom and dad are still clocked in at work. While this certainly isn't the most appealing situation for most parents, it's a reality for those who must work and can't afford to pay someone to care for their child until they get home. If this is the situation in your home, take precautionary measures to keep your child safe while he's on his own.
Instructions
Show your child how to get home from school. If you carpool, make sure he knows who is picking him up from school. If he walks home, walk the route with him so he knows exactly how to get home. You might also find someone who can walk with him so he's not all alone on busy streets. Teach your child his full name, address, home phone number and your telephone numbers at work or for your cellphone. Your child also needs to know your and your spouse's full names and the exact names of your employers. If something were to happen, all of this information is essential should your child call 911, or if he gets lost and needs a police officer to help him find his way home. Enforce a rule that your child must call you as soon as he gets in the house and puts his stuff down. This gives you peace of mind that your child is home safely. You might also ask your child to check in at certain times so you know what he's up to and that everything is as it should be. Instruct your child to always lock the front door as soon as he gets inside. Request that he do this even before he takes his shoes off or sets his backpack down. Teach your child to never open the door when he's at home alone. You might also make a rule that your child shouldn't answer the phone. Having your child check in with you instead of you calling your child helps accomplish this goal. If you do allow your child to answer the phone when he's home alone, make sure he knows to never tell the caller that he's home by himself. Tell your child what circumstances exist that would bar him from going into the house when he gets home. If the door is ajar or left unlocked, tell your child to leave immediately and to go to a neighbor's house and call 911. The same rules apply if any of the windows in the house are broken or if anything else looks out of place. If your child sees any strangers lurking around as he arrives home, tell him to go to a neighbor's house and call the police. If he's in the house already, remind him to stay put, leave the door locked and call 911. Install a smoke alarm and carbon monoxide detector on every level in your home. Test the alarms so your child knows what they sound like. Teach your child to leave the house immediately if either alarm goes off. Tell him to go a neighbor's home to call 911 if either alarm sounds. Spell out the rules. Write them down for your child if you have to. A few good rules would include staying in the house until you get home, not inviting friends over to play, not using the stove or oven and staying off the computer. Set the television up with approved channels so your child isn't watching things that are inappropriate for his age. Outline rules about homework and approved activities, too.
