Back to School Safety Tips

There is no "right" age for kids to start walking or biking to school alone or with a friend. Each family needs to consider the maturity of their child, how many busy streets have to be crossed, and if these streets have lights or crossing guards.

 

A big safety concern for parents is how to protect kids who are home alone after school. The favorite rule uttered by parents is: “Don't let a stranger inside the house.” It's a good rule, but should be reworded. “Stranger” is not a good word to use. Kids expect strangers to be “scary” when indeed they look like an everyday person and kids need to know that. Some of the greatest threats to a child’s safety can come from someone on the internet and NOT at the front door.

 

There are a few rules parents need to teach a child who is left home alone:

• Keep All Doors Closed and Locked: Instead of telling kids not to let a stranger in, the real rule needs to be: “Keep the doors closed and locked at all times.” Instead of filling your child's head with "don'ts"; simply tell them to keep all the doors to the outside (including the garage) closed and locked. If someone comes to the door, your child can communicate with this person through the door.
   
• Have a Check-In Time: Another thing parents should ask their child to do is call and let a parent or guardian know that the he/she has arrived home safely. Set a consistent time for the child to call you (or email/text, if allowed) each day. Give him/her 10 minutes (plus or minus to allow for a slow bus) or any other event that might occur and disrupt the schedule. You can start to worry if he/she doesn't meet this deadline. Find a trusted neighbor who is usually home around this time. If the parent can't be reached, make sure the child knows to call this person to check in. Grandparents can provide an excellent “assist” to parents, and might welcome a call from a grandchild to say he/she is home from school.
   
• Have a Plan: Parents need to remember that kids who are home alone are much more likely to encounter dangers such as fire from burning popcorn or falling down the stairs than being abducted by a stranger. It is very important that the family has a plan and knows how to react to different situations that may occur, including household emergencies. Run practice drills and make sure your child does not hesitate or deviate from the plan that you have enacted.
   
• Rules for Internet Use: Children need to know what is OK to do until mom or dad get home, and what is not. Getting started on homework, letting the dog out, having a snack, what friends can come over, what websites they can visit and which are off limits. These are decisions and rules that a parent or guardian should discuss with the child and decide on, before school begins. There can be structure to a child’s afternoon, even if no one else is home, leaving less opportunity for an unsupervised child to get into trouble.

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