Safety Tips For Leaving A Child Alone At Home
Children can't be expected to care for themselves; even family courts don't take kindly to parents who leave children unattended at home. In fact, such an issue may come up during child custody hearings. Therefore, before you leave your kid alone at home, make sure they will be safe for the duration of your absence. Here are some of the things you can do before leaving a child alone at home:
Ensure They Have Important Information At Hand
The child should memorize important information they can use in an emergency. Here are some of the essential details to include:
- Their full name
- Their address
- A phone number for the parents
- Emergency numbers
- Parents full name
Some of the information may be difficult to remember, so it's advisable to write them down and post the list in an easily accessible area. That way, even if something were to happen, the children would be able to call for help.
Teach Them How to Lock the House
Open doors or locks invite criminals to come and have their pick of your house's contents, and there is no telling what they would do once they get into your house. Therefore, teach the child how to work the locks on all the windows and doors. Teach them also how to arm and disarm your home security system.
Designate a Safe Neighbor for Them
It's advisable to teach your child not to go to other people's homes. Even your neighbors may not be that good, especially if your neighborhood is big and you don't know some neighbors well. However, if you trust one or two people in your neighborhood, tell your kids about them. Those are the people the child can run to in case there is an emergency and they can't or shouldn't get into your house.
Practice Emergency Plans
Your child is safer at home if they know what to do in case of an emergency. Therefore, practice emergency plans with the kid until they understand what to do in case of an emergency. They should know what to do in case of a fire, flood, tornado, burglary and other threats common to your area.
Lock Up Dangerous Items
Children are inquisitive by nature, so even your well-behaved kid might start rummaging through stored items while you are away. To reduce the risk of accidents, lock up dangerous items that might cause injuries. Examples of items to lock up include fuels, power tools, and pesticides.
For more information on how leaving your child alone and unprepared could hurt your case, contact professionals like Campbell, Dille, Barnett & Smith, P.L.L.C.