*This is a guest post by Supercircuits.
Home is supposed to be the safest place in the world for children. Unfortunately, it can become unsafe fast with an intruder or house fire. Life-changing events like these have the possibility of causing some unrest and heightened emotions between the whole family, regardless of your age. Some homeowners may feel that unsafe in their homes that they decide to look into residential security companies to see how they can provide improved safety to your home and the people in it, so events like this don’t happen again. For children, this can be a scary experience. You can cut some of the danger by teaching your child how to be safe at home If you’ve been putting off speaking to your child about home safety “until they are older,” remember that danger may not wait until then. Prepare your child now. Teaching your child about home security is a combination of talk and show.
Talk to Them About Home Safety
Whether your child is four or twelve, the first thing you must do to teach them about home security is start a conversation. If you’re lucky, your child may been introduced to the subject in school. If they haven’t, don’t fret. Simply, explain that there are bad people in the world and they need to worry about their safety, even at home. Don’t be too elaborate; you don’t want to scare them. Then, start showing them how to be safe.
Show Them How To Be Safe
Showing your child how to be safe is even more important than talking to your child about home safety. Safety at home begins with teaching your child the fundamentals of being safe. They can’t disregard their safety, because they feel safe.
Security Systems
Your security system is your child’s first line of defense. An easy-to-use, good security system should be the first thing you get to keep your child safe, if you don’t already have one. If you reside in an individual home with a gate, then you can have a gate entry system installed. If any unforeseen circumstances arise, you can be aware of who is entering your home while you are gone and warn your children accordingly. Teach them how to use it to enter the home and the panic password for emergencies. Then, let them key in the password when you come home from buying groceries or picking them up from school. Show them about the other features of the system, such as police and ambulance buttons on the pad. If your child can’t reach it, have the device reinstalled.
Doors and Windows
Explain to them about how unlocked doors and windows are easy entry points for “bad people” and instruct them to keep them locked or shut at all times. Show them how to lock the doors and close/lock windows.
Precautionary Measures
Teach your child to never open the door to strangers even if you’re home and to never open it when you are not home unless it’s a family member. If your child is old enough to answer the phone, inform them to never tell anyone they are home alone, even their friends. Put emergency numbers on speed dial on your home phone as well as all cell phones.
Emergency Plan
Develop an emergency plan. Use a map of the house and surrounding areas to show how they would escape in the event of a fire or home invasion and how to proceed in a medical situation.
Put It Into Action
If you have already discussed home safety and home security measures with your child then show them how to be safe. It’s time to roll play. Draw up a scenario and have your child run through what they have just learned. Role playing with your child will prepare them for the emergency and they’ll be ready when the safety of the house or family members is threatened.
When you take the time to teach your child about home safety, you potentially save their life and make a harrowing situation less stressful for them. After all, knowledge is power and teaching them to be safe in their own home, will prepare them for other less safe venues.
About Supercircuits
Supercircuits is the security industry’s trusted leader for cutting-edge security technologies and surveillance solutions-from HDcctv/HD-SDI and IP video surveillance solutions, to hidden cameras and wireless and IP-based access control systems. Supercircuits has over 23 years’ of experience in the security industry and offers customers the largest selection of fully-integrated, high quality surveillance solutions available today. Learn more at http://www.supercircuits.com/, and connect with them on Twitter, at Facebook, Google+ and LinkedIn.