Back to School + Afterschool Safety

It's that time of year for Louisiana – and the nation's – parents:  Back to School!  And for some households, that means a percentage of children will become proverbial "latchkey kids" for a least a few hours in the evenings after school.

A 2009 study conducted by Louisiana After 3pm found that 23% of Louisiana's K-12 children "are responsible for taking care of themselves after school", along with another 15% who are looked after by an older sibling.  Since 2004, The Afterschool Alliance has seen a steady increase in school-aged children who are on their own after the school day ends and until a parent returns home from work, even with an increase in available afterschool programs.

That some children will be home alone for a few hours after school in this day and age is a given, but there are things a parent can do to make sure their child is safe until they get home.  KidsHealth recommends creating house rules, such as:

• Should the child call mom or dad as soon as they get home?
• Are they allowed to watch TV, DVDs, and videos, or play computer games? If so, which ones and for how long?
• Should homework be done first, even before chores?
• Can friends come over? If so, how many?
• What can they eat if they want a snack?
• Can they go outside, and if so, where?
• Which appliances can be used? (microwave, computer, etc.)
• Which chores need to be done and by when?

In addition, KidsHealth recommends that your children know the following when staying home alone:

• How to dial 911
• Their home address and phone number
• The name, location, and phone number where both parents work
• The name, phone number, and address of a trusted neighbor
• The name, phone number, and address of another emergency contact person, such as a grandparent or family friend

Alarm Center has an additional solution for parents concerned about their children after school.  Our new feature, iAlarm, will send an email or text letting you know that the system has been disarmed – when the children come home – and rearmed.

Parents can feel safe knowing their children have made it home safely and are securely protected inside the home by a monitored alarm system.  Learn more about iAlarm from our blog post "Alarm Center Security Introduces iAlarm" or by visiting our website and trying out the iAlarm LIVE DEMO.

[Call Alarm Center Security today for a FREE quote on a security system for your home or business - 1-800-97-ALARM - or visit our website to see if you qualify for a $0 down installation - alarm.net]