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Is your child home alone?
Survival Tips for Latchkey Kids

If a child is mature enough to handle self-care and if parents take steps to make it work, it doesn’t have to be a detrimental experience. The most important thing is to continually assure children that someone cares and is “there” even when they are physically alone. Here are some guidelines from KNEA that can help.  

Survival Skills

• Set appropriate house rules to provide your child with continuity and discipline.
• Structure the time your child is alone so that those hours are productive.
• Take time to share experiences and feelings with your child to strengthen bonds.
• Teach your children to answer the phone without letting a stranger know they are alone. Your child should also know who and what number to call if there is a problem.
• Have your children call you as soon as they gets home.
• Check back later with your child even if it’s just to say “hello.”
• Leave messages for your child to find. Reveal where an after-school snack can be found, remind him/her to change out of school clothes, say when you’ll be home or just “Hi! I’m thinking of you.”
• A key worn around the neck often means a child is going home to an empty house. The key should be pinned inside a pocket, purse, or backpack out of sight.
• Instruct your child to keep the door locked and not to admit anyone unless you’ve given prior permission. Teach your child not to go anywhere without getting your OK first.

Emergencies

• Teach your child to recognize emergencies and how to handle them. Your child should know how to deal with fires, break-ins, traffic accidents, broken bones and bleeding which won’t stop.
• Provide your child with an emergency kit and instruct him/her in its use. Include: flashlight and batteries, a portable radio, band-aids, gauze, calamine lotion, small scissors, adhesive tape, no-sting antiseptic spray (children are more apt to use it) and an elastic bandage.
• Your child should know enough first aid to deal with: animal bites, burns, broken bones, cuts and scrapes, insect bites, nosebleeds, and poisoning.
• Your child should also know how to call you, the neighbors, the police and fire departments, the family doctor and poison control center. Post these emergency numbers next to the phone along with your home address and phone number.

Making the Time Count

Your child can make her/his time alone productive by:

• Keeping a journal
• Writing a letter to a friend or relative
• Doing homework or chores
• Starting a hobby or collection
• Reading
• Taking care of the family pet
• Gathering recipes of food they would like to try
• Organizing his/her room
• Making out a schedule of TV programs to watch
• Drawing pictures
• Making hand or finger puppets and creating a “show” to put on for you
• Learning to sew
• Making a special greeting card for someone
• Keeping a scrapbook
• Making a seasonal decoration for the house
• Watering plants

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