Back-to-School Home Safety Tips for Families

The start of a new school year is always a great reminder of how quickly kids grow up. As they get older and start becoming more independent, it is smart to teach them about home and personal security.

This guide will give you some terrific tips. What they can learn depends on the age of your children. Even young children need to know how and when to dial 9-1-1.

Keep Private Things Private

The first thing you want to teach your kids is that certain information is private. If they answer the phone, they should know not to share personal information with callers. For example, they should never tell any caller that they are home alone.

Your children need to memorize the alarm code for your home alarm system and understand that it must be kept private. They need to practice turning the alarm on and off, and they should know how to get help if needed from the monitoring service.

Beware of Social Media

Don’t post your location on social media. For example, bragging about an upcoming vacation on social media is a good way to invite the burglary of your home while you are away.

Your children need to learn that social media is not always safe. They need to know how to tell a parent about anything suspicious.

Make the Best Use of Modern Technology

Home and personal security technology includes tracking devices, smart-enabled homes, and 24/7 on-call security monitoring.

Phone Trackers

If your children are old enough to have a smartphone, you will want to use blocking technology to limit access to the Internet to family-safe content. As a concerned parent, you will want to monitor your child’s mobile phone use and have a tracking device on the phone that tells you where it is at all times. If your child enters an out-of-bounds area, you’ll receive a notification on your phone. These trackers also help find a phone that is lost or stolen.

Smart Homes

Smart home technology is a clever way to monitor your home security. For example, it can be set to recognize the difference between a pet and an unauthorized intruder, and it can automatically notify your monitoring service if something is wrong.

24/7 On-Call Security Monitoring

For the best results, combine smart home technology with 24/7 on-call security monitoring from U.S. Protective Services in the Greater Cleveland, Ohio area (including Akron and the surrounding area).  Call us now at (216) 306-5379 or use our contact our team to get a quote.

Home Safety Tips for Kids

Here is a collection of ten home safety tips that kids can learn about to keep their home secure.

1.  Always close the garage door.
2. Turn on the lights when it gets dark.
3. Always lock the doors and windows.
4. Don’t leave keys outside or under mats.
5. Use the peephole before opening the door.
6. Don’t answer the door when you’re alone.
7.  Never open the door to strangers.
8. Know the neighbors you can trust.
9. Don’t leave toys, bicycles, or other valuable items in front of your home.
10. Don’t play near risky areas such as doors or gates that open onto the street.

1. Garage Door

A garage door creates a vulnerability, especially if it has an automatic door opener. Our security experts for residential alarm systems in Cleveland, Ohio, have a collection of remote controls that can open many garage doors. If the good guys have them, you can be sure the bad guys have them also. Thieves can enter the garage, shut the door, and use it as cover for further break-in efforts. A better solution is an advanced garage door system that requires a passcode to operate.

2. Lights

Lights that are on signify someone is home. You can teach your kids to turn on certain lights at night, or better yet, have an automatic system that adjusts the lighting.

3. Locks

Windows and doors need to always be locked. Perimeter security alarms will not engage when trying to set them if a window or door is left open.

4. Keys

What’s the point of having any security if you leave the keys in an accessible place? To improve home security, consider using a passcode system instead of keys.

5. Peephole

Use the peephole to see who is at the door before opening it.

6. Don’t Answer the Door

When your kids are alone, teach them not to answer the door.

7. Strangers at the Door

Make it clear to your children that if they are at home alone, they should never open the door for a stranger. This includes individuals who may appear “official,” such as maintenance personnel, police officers, or city workers. Instead, they should call you on the phone, so you can take appropriate action.

8. Trusted Neighbors

If you have neighbors whom you trust, teach your children that they are safe and can be treated like family.

9. Put Things Away

Teach your kids to put away their things, such as bicycles, scooters, skateboards, or other valuable toys, rather than leaving them unguarded in front of the house.

10. Risky Areas

Don’t allow children to play near gates or doors to the street to avoid them being easily abducted by a passerby.

Emergency Preparedness

In the event of a catastrophic disaster, having an emergency preparedness plan can save your children’s lives.

Create a Family Emergency Plan

Help your children memorize your address and phone number. Teach them how to call 9-1-1 in an emergency. Always keep your mobile phone charged in case of an emergency. Keep emergency contacts written down, up-to-date, and easy to access.

Safe Spots

Know where the safe spots are in your house. These spots may be different depending on the type of emergency. For example, having a secure, safe room may be the best place to hide in the case of an attempted break-in or home invasion. Teach your children how to quickly reach the safe room and practice staying quiet during an emergency.

Fires

Help your children learn and memorize escape routes from each room. For example, if there is a fire downstairs and the children’s bedrooms are upstairs, they may be able to escape from harm by going out the window to use a safety ladder to get down from the roof instead of trying to escape through the blaze inside the house.

Other Disasters

You want to be prepared for any disaster that might occur, such as flooding, power outages, and tornadoes. How you respond to each type may be different, so be sure to have a comprehensive plan in place to guide your actions.

Back-to-School Safety Starts at Home

As kids return to the classroom, it’s the perfect time to reinforce home safety habits and update your security practices. Whether it’s teaching your child how to handle emergencies, securing your home with smart technology, or ensuring your alarm system is monitored 24/7, these small actions make a big impact. By building awareness, practicing good habits, and partnering with a trusted provider like U.S. Protective Services, you’re giving your family the tools—and the confidence—they need to stay safe throughout the school year and beyond.

Contact Our Team for Your Security Needs