Latchkey Plans for Parents

What plans need to be made to ensure that children can stay home alone safely? - Latchkey Parent
Answer: If your children will be coming home from school to an empty house this year and spending some time alone, you will need to spend time preparing them for this big step. Do contact your children's schools to see if they have a "latchkey" program that will assist you.
Plans for staying home alone need to be made very carefully to ensure the children's safety, to handle emergencies and to set out the children's responsibilities. You should pose some real problem situations so that the children have the opportunity to come up with the answers. For instance, what would you do if: The power goes out? Your brother doesn't come home from school? A stranger rings the doorbell? You get in a fight with your younger sister? A telephone caller wants to speak to your mother? You miss the bus home from school? Children are more comfortable if they know exactly how they should handle a situation.