For many families, having a parent or older sibling around when a child gets home from school just isn’t possible. Before allowing a child to stay home alone, however,
talk with her to make sure she feels comfortable being there without a trusted adult. Age is not always the deciding factor in whether a child is ready for this step, so consider her maturity level when making your decision.
If your child is prepared to be home alone after school or during the summer, here are some safety tips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC):
- Set rules for your child to follow when she is home alone.
- Make sure your child knows how to contact you at all times. Also leave contact information for a neighbor or close relative in case she needs assistance and is not able to reach you.
- If your child walks home from school, ask her to walk with friends and to avoid taking shortcuts. Tell her that if she is ever followed or approached, she should run in the opposite direction to a place where a trusted adult can help.
- Help your child determine the best place to keep her key so it is hidden and secure. Never put a name or any contact information on the key.
- Ask your child to lock the door as soon as she gets inside the house and then call you to check in.
- Tell your child not to open the door for anyone who is not a trusted adult and not to tell anyone who calls that she is home alone.
For more information, check out the NCMEC web site.
12 Comments on "The Key To Keeping Kids Safe When Home Alone"
tammy
how can i keep my 5 year old son safe from bad ppl
he will talk to anyone and now i have a 10 weeks old girl
please email me
brandon
im a 8yr old … when I turn to a adult how can i keep my kids out of danger if i have any that is please answer……this is my dads email becuse i do not have one………
Carolina
i think that wat u do is awsome and thanx 2 u if anybody boy or girl who is ma friend or boy friend try 2 hit me its gonna b poppin
Ramona
My 16 years old son just started going on this website into the evening. He is very trusted. Can you give me some some tip on how I can monitor him while he on this website, his cousin told him he should check this out and I don’t want my child to get involved in something that he not ready for, I would like to keep out of any danger before it become a problem.
Thank you Can you please e-mail me.
Mary
I am a mom who has two teen kids home alone in the evening for a few hours. There are several rules they MUST follow… Do not answer the door for ANYBODY (if they do not have a key they do not need to be there)… Do not answer the phone (if it is important they will leave a message)… Call mom’s cell and check in every hour. I also have emergency numbers and 3 safe houses (places my kids can go in case of fire, break in, or if they are not feeling safe for some reason at home alone) . This has helped my kids feel safe and stay safe and I wanted to share it with AMW and all it’s readers. STAY SAFE KIDS!!!
jc
Hi , I have a dog and when she barks should i see if somethings wrong or someones at the door ?
David
hi im 13 years old and i had a question, what should i do if for example, lets say someone i dont know is at the door…its only common sense not to open it when im home alone…but what if they don’t leave? they just continue knocking on the door?
yvonne
my children are ages 13,9, and 7. they have a habot that when ever we are out in public they must go to the reqstroom. i ahve never let them go into the mens restroom unless my huband is with me. but now that my oldest is 13 he refuses to into the womens facility w/me. with all the ugly things happening to children, how can i help my 13 year old be safe and is there a time frame i should give when i wait by the door?
Melenee
David..
that is scary…. u should call your parents or the cops.. or even a neighbour to check and see what the person wants.. he could be a child predator so dont open the door.. !!
Desiree
My children are 13,9 and 3. My oldest stays at home sometimes with her siblings . One thing that we tell her to do is never open the door, always pretend that an adult is at home and never say that they are at home alone. They all know the emergency numbers and the closest neighbor.
I feel if you keep your children informed about what to do in case of an emergency, that will keep them safe.
Jenny
jc dont worry about your dog but if it scares you call a neighbor or a family member who lives close by and is approved by your parent or gardian to check if there is anyone there.Remember ask your parents first.
Ruby Bradley
I have six great/beautiful grandbabies, we are alway teaching them on safety, with your help, it’s really working… Thank You!!! You really make a differents!!!!!!!!!! Ruby
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