Back to school home security

As we say goodbye to the Christmas season and send the kids off to school once more, it’s especially important to take home security seriously. From teaching youngsters about how to leave and enter the home safely, to installing a security system that’ll keep your family protected around the clock, here’s everything you need to know about optimising home security during term time. 

Set up a family group chat

In instances where more than one child is heading off to school and they are of an age where they have their own mobile phone, it might be good idea to set up a family group chat. This way, you can check in with everyone to see whether they’ve arrived at school or home safely, and important information can be shared easily over text or Whatsapp. For example, letting the kids know you’ll be getting home from work late. 

Lock up!

It might sound obvious, but forgetting to lock up is easy to do during the school rush. Set up an alarm system to easily secure your home when your family leaves for the day, and make sure to share the security code with the kids. Remind them not to share this with anyone. 

If your children get home from school whilst you’re still at work, remind them to keep all doors and windows locked to prevent a break-in. For an additional layer of security, you could also install an Entry Sensor or Glass Break Sensor which will trigger the alarm if someone tried to break-in, even if the SimpliSafe system is in “home” mode.  

Teach your children about the importance of home security

Always communicate the importance of home security to your children. Educating them early could provide that extra layer of protection if they are home alone, and they can take these vital bits of information with them into later life. 

Make sure that they know how to operate your home’s security system by practising entering and exiting. This will give the kids and you the confidence that this process can be completed safely. Practice makes perfect, after all! 

Front door safety

You could also teach your kids about the importance of front door safety, reminding them that they shouldn’t answer the door to anyone if they’re home alone. They should be made aware that individuals who appear ‘nice’ on the outside might not always have good intentions. 

If someone does come to the front door, this is where your emergency contact will come in handy as they can suss out the situation. Ensure that your kids have a number they can call in this scenario. 

Install security cameras

Setting up both Indoor Cameras and Outdoor Cameras around your home is beneficial for various reasons, but these security devices can also be used to check whether the kids got back safely. With remote monitoring, you can keep an eye on your home wherever you are through the SimpliSafe app, receiving immediate alerts when motion is detected. In the instance that you can’t be there to confirm an emergency, those on our professional monitoring plan can rely on our monitoring centre to contact the local authorities if needed. 

Emergency contact

Rely on an emergency contact who can tend to your kids when you can’t be there to help - this could be a trusted neighbour or a family member who lives close by. Set up multiple PINs on your SimpliSafe Keypad to ensure that they can arm and disarm your security system should they need to enter the property.  

Keep valuables hidden

Keeping your valuables hidden is a given, but the importance of this should also be communicated to your children. Again, if they’re home alone, the risk of a break in could   increase if an expensive computer or gaming device is on show. If the device can’t be moved out of view, tell them to keep the blinds closed. 

We understand the importance of keeping your family and your property safe, which is why we’ve developed an advanced, bespoke security system. Start building a system that’s based on your needs today by contacting a friendly member of our team.