Home Security For Children

When it comes to home security for children, knowing how to react in emergency situations can mean the difference between life and death. Kids today are very smart, more so than we give them credit for being. But that doesn't mean they're still not vulnerable to the dangers existing inside and outside of the home. Threats in the form of sexual predators, drugs, and gangs, among other things, can be found anywhere, putting children at great risk every day. Unless they are shown the proper ways to handle the above problems, chances are they will not deal with these emergencies effectively. Here are some tips and suggestions parents should take the time to do or pass on to their children:

1. Choosing safe routes - Depending on your living situation, your child may or may not walk to and from school and other nearby areas alone. It is extremely important they are aware of traffic and how to navigate through it unharmed. Have them avoid dimly lit, isolated places. Remind them to come straight home and to make sure an adult knows where they will be at all times.
   
   
2. Teach them the basics - The most overlooked aspect in home security for children is taking precautions against intruders. Check the locks on the doors and windows before leaving home and when returning. Also, teach children how and when to call 911. Younger kids should know their phone number and address for this purpose.
   
   
3. Keep weapons locked away - If you own firearms, take care to secure them. Do not leave guns loaded. Store weapons and ammunition separately in a locked area. Make sure these are not in an easily accessible part of the house.
   
   
4. Don't open the door - This is the most crucial point in home security for children. Kids know not to talk to strangers in public, but being in their own environment makes them less cautious when answering the door. This is especially true if a visitor announces him/herself as the police, an inspector or otherwise. Unless it is a known family member, tell them to keep the doors locked.
   
   
5. Do not give personal information - Computers have become a big part of our lives, especially the former. Children though are not as aware as we'd like them to be about the dangers on the Internet. Therefore, they are more likely to give out their phone number, address, age, name, etc. to people posing as their friends or even peers their own age. Try to keep computers in areas where you can monitor their usage. Help children understand that there are people out there trying to take advantage of them, be it through identity theft or worse still.
   
   
6. Come up with a plan of action - It's necessary to always be prepared for the worst. Creating a family plan will minimize chaos and confusion in the event of a true emergency, whether it be a fire or home invasion. Discussing this in advance and practicing it with children ensures a greater chance of everyone getting to safety. If you have installed a home security system, show children how to hit the panic button to alert others of the emergency. Choose a meeting point outside of the home and decide which order of neighbors you should go to for help. The most important thing to remember is to get out. Do not fight with intruders unless it's to escape. Nor should you go back for your belongings. Material possessions are not worth getting hurt over in either case.

These are just some of the things we can do to protect our youth. Unfortunately, we no longer live in times where doors can be left unlocked and children can go out on their own for hours at a time. Home security for children is of the utmost consequence to safeguard them against those looking to prey on their vulnerability.