Lock And Step: Three Steps To Making A Plan With Your Latch-Key Kid
Posted on: 7 February 2017
If you are the parent of a latch-key kid, you may be concerned about anything going wrong while your kid is at home alone. If you need to trust your child to be left at home alone for a few hours before you get off work, you will need to go over some ground rules. One of the plans that you will need to make is a plan with a locksmith. If your child loses their key on their way home, you will need to have a contingency plan so that neither of you panic. Here are three steps to a plan of a lost key.
Have a neighbor on standby
One of the best things to do when kids are staying at home alone for any length of time is to have a neighbor on standby. Ask a neighbor that you are close with if your child can come to them if there is an emergency. Let them know the times that your child will be home alone so that they can be on the lookout in case your child comes to knock on their door. If your child forgets their key, let them know to go to this particular neighbor's house and call you.
Have a locksmith that you trust
It is best to have a locksmith on standby that you already trust to open your home lock. Well in advance of your child needing the door unlocked, call the locksmith that you plan to use and explain the situation. Present the locksmith with your identification and allow them to make a copy. Also write down contact information for you, your neighbor, and your child. This way if they ever need to come to your home, they will be able to come when your child or neighbor comes and call you to make sure to get clearance.
Retrace your child's steps
Once you get home, you and your child should retrace your steps to make sure that you look for the key. If your child walks home, retrace their steps from the house back to school. At school the next day, they should look in their locker, desk, and any other place that the key may have been left. Once the key has been found, place the key inside of a drawer as a spare so that you do not have to keep getting new keys made for your front door.
For more tips and information, talk with a locksmith service in your area, such as Yearsley's Service LTD.
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