How to Train Kids on Keeping a Safe House

Security matters concern the whole family and can be unwillingly compromised by any of its members. In fact, children's innocence may be a hazardous thing in such dangerous times because they don't have the sense of threats and they don't have suspicious minds. On the contrary, their brains are like unrecorded tapes and it would be wise if you start filling them with information that could be proven necessary and useful under awkward circumstances.

Sometimes, we feel funny about talking to our kids about certain subjects and we hardly know how to explain the importance of avoiding a home lockout or that the streets are full with dangerous people. We hardly know how to touch hot issues and handle sensitive topics without making our kids fearing of their own shadow. Though, we don't have to scare them; just give them instructions calmly and let them understand that this is how families act.

Better a strict teacher than a sorry parent

• You must teach them to stay away from the keys, garage door remotes and any device related to the home's security. You must teach them that these are not toys and misplaced keys, for example, could put your family in lots of troubles.
• Fairy tales are made for more reasons than simply to entertain kids or put them to sleep. Use some to explain the meaning of not talking to strangers or answering the door to anyone, who knocks. Don't rely on the fact that your door latches are locked because they can use the keys at an earlier age than you would imagine.
• You must check the condition of the security dead locks often and keep the doors locked and the keys hidden to avoid seeing your kids stepping away from the house alone, but you must also tell them that this is dangerous.
• Keeping keys on every door of the house is natural, but you must teach children that locking themselves inside the bathroom is not prudent.
• You may use the best cabinet bolts to secure hazardous stuff, like medicine or chemicals, but you must not intrigue their curiosity. Show them what hides behind the cabinets and explain why you lock them. This initiative will make them indifferent on the contents of locked cabinets and keep them safer.