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Latchkey Children
Latchkey Children
“Latchkey” children:
Are those who must stay at home alone taking care of themselves for some part of the day
Often feel lonely, bored and scared
Should have a clear understanding of why they must be left alone and what they may and may not do so that they have a decreased risk of injury and victimization
Promoting Self-Care Skills
Parents should focus on setting rules and limits, increasing levels of responsibility and communicating basic safety information. Discuss the routines they are to follow — household chores, pets to tend, homework, family policies on visiting friends or having friends visit them and what to do when the phone or doorbell rings.
Parents are encouraged to teach their children:
To memorize their name and address, including city and state
To memorize their phone number, including area code
To use the phone to make emergency calls when needed
To check in with you, a neighbor, or other trusted adult immediately after arriving home
To never go into your home if there’s an open door or a broken window
How to work your home’s door and window locks and to lock them when they are at home alone
How to answer the doorbell and phone when they’re home alone
Not to go into anyone else’s home without your permission
To avoid walking or playing alone outside
That a stranger is someone neither you nor they know well
That if they feel they’re being followed, either on foot or by a car, to run to the nearest public place, neighbor or “safe house”
To tell you if anyone asks them to keep a secret, offers them gifts or money or asks to take their picture
To always tell you if something happened while they were away from you that made them feel uncomfortable in any way
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