Last Updated on April 19, 2017
Whether it’s for Spring break, or your have to leave for a sudden appointment, there will be times where you’ll need leave your kids at home while you’re out. No matter how responsible or mature your child is, it’s only natural as a parent to worry and get anxious about your child’s safety while they are home alone. Showing your child that you trust them by leaving them alone will help them build confidence and gain a sense of independence, but that doesn’t mean that you have to be completely in the dark. Here are 3 ways that you can get over the anxiety and know that your kids are safe while you’re away.
Ask a Close Neighbor to Keep an Eye on Your Home
If you have a neighbor who works from home, you may want to consider asking them to keep an eye out for any strange activity around your home. It’s probably best if you have a relationship with the neighbor, and it’s even better if that person has their own kids. By explaining your feelings of anxiety to your neighbor, they will probably be willing to look out for possible red flags. If they see anything ask them to call your cell phone or work phone.
Program Your Security System
If you don’t have a close relationship with your neighbors, you can still watch over your home with a monitoring alarm. A monitoring alarm can be set to go off when specific doors in the home are opened, when fire alarms go off, or when there are intrusion attempts. When something out of the normal is detected, you can program the system so that alerts go to your phone in addition to going to a central station. This is sure to give you peace of mind and the feeling of control.
Ask Older Friends to Come Spend Time With Your Kids
Your teen is still your child, and they won’t like the idea of being babysat. If you want to strategically get a babysitter, ask your teen to invite one of their responsible older friends over. When you do this, you’ll be able to call the house and check up on everyone and you’ll still know that there’s an authority figure who will make the right decisions while you’re away.
If you’re child shows good judgement and knows how to follow the rules, it might be time to cut out daycare expenses and let them stay home. If you’re uneasy, these 3 tips will help give you reassurance that everything is okay and your children are safe.
