http://www.wisetosafety.com/safety/home-safety.html Home safety takes on a different meaning when you have children that are old enough to come home on their own. All "latch-key" kids should be well-versed in home safety. en-us Wed, 31 May 2006 08:07:52 EDT Wed, 31 May 2006 08:07:52 EDT Weblog Editor 2.0 Home safety for Latchkey kids The first step in the providing your child a safe environment when you are not at home with them is to properly evaluate their maturity level. Be sure that they have not only reached the right age to be left alone, but that they have also reached the proper level of maturity. When you have decided that they can take care of themselves after school until you get home, all of the issues of home safety must be addressed and discussed so that your child has the confidence and knowledge needed to handle and avoid certain situations. Do a thorough check of your home in order to determine what things could present a problem to overall safety. For instance, store fire arms properly, there should be no chance that they end up in the hands of a child. Alcoholic beverages should also be well out of reach and sight of children. Be aware also of the potential risk to home safety that some appliances present, such as those that operate with gas. If you have a no cooking rule, make sure that there are enough snacks on hand so that they are not in any way tempted to do their own cooking. Discuss the route that your child should take home each day and make sure that they always take the same way home. When they arrive at home they should get into the habit of always calling you to check-in. This way you have a very good idea about where they are in the time between school and home, which is an important aspect of their safety. Children who rely on themselves to get home each day should not make any stops that their parents do not know about. Tell them how important it is to come straight home after school. They must know fire safety tips in case a disaster happens and you are not home or in the room. Put together alternate plans when weather safety is an issue so that neither you nor your child is caught off-guard by a storm. Setting the home safety bar high Once home, there should already be established rules that are to be followed. After they get into the home, they should be sure to keep all doors locked - it is a good idea to make a rule that no one is to allowed in, not even friends. If someone calls for the parents, teach children to say that you cannot pick up the phone or anything besides letting the caller know that the child is alone. Make sure that all of the rules and guidelines are discussed and clear to ensure child safety in the home. Encourage your child to openly talk about any reservations or problems that they might have about being alone. Keep the conversation always open as new circumstances often call for new guidelines and rules of home safety . Make sure that you do not leave out such things as pool safety and backyard safety as they pertain to the situation of being home alone. many parents simply make the yard and the pool off limits to children while they are away, but they should still know the basics of the safety issues in those areas. Wed, 31 May 2006 08:07:52 EDT http://www.wisetosafety.com/safety/fire-safety.html Fire safety is there just to make sure your skin stays cool and dry. en-us Wed, 31 May 2006 08:29:47 EDT Wed, 31 May 2006 08:29:47 EDT Weblog Editor 2.0 http://www.wisetosafety.com/safety/weather-safety.html Weather safety - the best time to plan for weather safety is well in advance! en-us Mon, 03 Oct 2005 13:00:41 EDT Mon, 03 Oct 2005 13:00:41 EDT Weblog Editor 2.0