Pre-Teen Come Home To An Empty House After School? Here's How To Improve Safety

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As a parent, you probably do what you can to make the best possible decisions regarding your kids. Deciding to leave a pre-teen home alone while you're still at work can be a tough decision, but it could be the best one for you and your family. Your pre-teen might feel too old to go to daycare and could be embarrassed about it, and child care costs could be putting a huge damper on your budget.

Once you have decided that your pre-teen is responsible and old enough to stay home alone, you might decide that it's the right choice for your household. This doesn't mean that you aren't going to be worried, however. Luckily, there are a few steps that you can take to improve safety.

Set Strict Rules

As you pre-teen is getting used to being home alone, it can be smart to put some strict rules in place. For example, you might request that your child not leave the house until you or an older sibling gets home, and you might state that no other kids are allowed to be in the home when you aren't there. These rules can help keep your pre-teen safe and can allow him or her to get used to staying home alone without having to many too many decisions at first.

Make a Daily Phone Call

You might be worried about your child arriving at home alone, so ask that he or she calls you at the office or sends a text message upon walking through the door. This can provide you with peace of mind and will let you know that your son or daughter has arrived home safely.

Ask for Help from Your Neighbors

If you have neighbors who are home for most of the day, such as an elderly neighbor who is retired or a friend down the street who is a stay-at-home mom, you can ask for their help. Give them your contact information at work, and ask them to let you know if something seems amiss at your home. You can also let your child know that these people are good contacts in case something goes wrong while he or she is home alone.

Install Home Security Equipment

Installing home security equipment can provide peace of mind even when your child isn't home alone, but it's a great way to feel safe about your son or daughter being there without your help. Make sure that your child knows how to set and disable the alarm, and consider using a security monitoring service (such as Digital Security)that will be notified in the event of an emergency.

Leaving your pre-teen home alone can be stressful and can leave you concerned. However, if you follow these steps, you can help improve safety while giving your child a little bit of independence.

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