As a parent, the start of a new school year means preparing your kids and your home for varied schedules, independence and safety. As a working parent, you may not be able to be home when your kids return from school. However, you want the assurance of knowing they arrived safely and locked the door after they entered the house. Fortunately, as family situations have changed and the number of kids coming home to an empty house has increased, technology has progressed to the point that it can make your home safer and give you peace of mind when your kids are home alone.
Cameras
Having a home alarm monitoring is like having an extra set of eyes that can supervise your children when you are not there to watch over them. Live stream cameras give you a view of what type of activity is going on within your home during your absence. Knowing that they are being watched is a major incentive for not breaking house rules when parents are not at home. This includes rules such as no friends allowed inside, or only those that you have approved, whenever you are not there. A camera is also a good way to see if your child is following the very important rule of not opening the door to strangers.
Lighting
Home automation can be very beneficial in situations where you are not at home in the evening. If you are still at work or at a meeting when your child comes home from a game, a club meeting or some other evening activity you do not want them to come home to a dark house. Automation systems give you the opportunity to control the lights, thermostat, locks and other devices so that your home can accommodate your individualized schedules.
Before school starts, you should sit down with your kids and discuss the house rules with them. Explain the security measures you have in place to make the house a safer place for them. Discuss with them the importance of being aware of their surroundings and not entering the house if something does not seem right. Remind them that they can call 911, if necessary. Also, be sure that they understand “stranger danger” as it applies to someone at the door or someone they encounter when they are away from home.
