Your child comes home from school at 3:00, but you don't get home from work until 5:00.
He's at home alone for two hours every weekday. What does he do until you get home?
Most likely, he gets a snack or talks to friends on the phone or computer.
Maybe he watches T.V. But since you're not there, you worry.
What you can do:
-Make sure your children are old enough and mature enough to care for themselves. -Teach them basic safety rules.-Know the three "W's": Where your kids are, What they're doing and Who are they with.Are they ready to be left alone?
Can your children:-Be trusted to go straight home after school?-Easily use the phone, locks and kitchen appliances?-Follow rules and instructions well?-Handle unexpected situations without panicking?-Stay alone without being afraid?Are there things you do not want your children to get into? Take the time to talk to them about the deadly consequences of guns, medicines, power tools, drugs, alcohol, cleaning products and inhalants. Make sure you keep these items in a secure place, out of sight and locked up, if possible.Teach your "home alone" kids:-To check in with you or a neighbor immediately after arriving home.-How to call 9-1-1.-How to give directions to your home, in case of emergency.-To never accept gift or rides from people they don't know.-How to use window and door locks, and the alarm system if you have one.-To never let anyone into your home without asking permission.-To never let a caller at the door or on the phone know that they're alone. Teach them to say, "Mom can't come to the phone/door right now".-To carry a house key in a safe place, (pocket, sock, necklace). Don't leave keys under the mat or on a ledge.-How to escape in case of fire.-To not go into an empty house if things don't look right - a broken window, ripped screen or open door.-To let you know about anything that frightens them or makes them feel uncomfortable.
