Your home should always be the safest place for your child. No matter what other comforts it may provide, a an unsafe home isn’t suitable for children. How can parents improve home safety for kids? Find out below. 
Ways to improve home safety for your children
These four tips can help you keep your child as safe as possible in your home.
Keep Doors Secured
It is so easy to get passive about home security, but the little things matter. We often get lazy about locking doors and windows, but these simple steps go a long way toward protecting our kids. Many perpetrators access a home through an unlocked door or window, so stay on top of security by starting with locking the home. Lock EVERYTHING when away, and double-check all infrequently-used doors and windows.
Use a Security System
You can’t be everywhere in the home at once, but home security systems can. Their very presence is often enough to deter intruders and scare away those who attempt to make access, and they can notify authorities instantly. The evidence they provide can also identify perpetrators. In addition, a system can also alert you to unwanted visitors when you are at home. The door alarms and video functions can be your eyes and ears for the kids, letting you know if they go outside while you are out of the room.
Use Remote Functions
A complete security system provides remote access to the home, permitting you to arm and disarm it, monitor security cameras, and perform other functions via smartphone from wherever you might be. It’s the perfect setup for families with latchkey kids, giving parents peace of mind about their kids’ safety until they can get home from work. You’ll know when they get home, who else is around, and whether the security system activates for anything–instantly.
Monitor Phones & Social Media
One of the easiest ways for criminals to access your children is through their social media. Spend time with your kids explaining the hazards present in the various platforms. Teach them to decline any connection requests from unfamiliar people. Require them to give you access to their accounts so you can monitor their activity. Keep the dialogue open and positive, but also firm. It’s important to keep their gadgets free from hacking, too. Consider things like CUJO to help monitor attacks on your network AND control the time your kids spend online with parental controls.
Protecting your kids is always on your mind. These steps are simple enough for anyone to implement in the home. They’ll help your kids be safer at home, even when you can’t be with them in the room–or even in the house.
Author bio: Lizzie Weakley is a freelance writer from Columbus, Ohio. In her free time, she enjoys the outdoors and walks in the park with her three-year-old husky, Snowball.
