With the Christian celebration of Easter on April 16 drawing closer, it’s important to keep your loved ones safe.
Many children will be enjoying a fun-filled holiday break at home over the long weekend and Easter Sunday. “Kids will be at home with a caregiver, domestic worker or possibly by themselves. Now is a great time to teach them about staying safe at home during the holidays,” said Theunis Kotze, general manager ADT Inland.
Here are five top security tips for your children this Easter holiday:
- Teach your children the importance of keeping entry and exit doors locked. Remind them that no one is to enter the property without your say-so.
- If you have an alarm system in your home, show your children how to activate and de-activate the system, as well as how and when to use other security devices such as panic buttons.
- Always keep a list of emergency contacts near the telephone or on the fridge, within your children’s reach. This list should include all emergency contacts including the 10111 number, yours and your spouse’s numbers and any contact that you deem necessary.
- If your child regularly walks to a friend in the neighbourhood, walk the route with them before they take the trip on their own. Teach them to let you know when they are leaving and when they arrive. Explain that it is better to walk a somewhat longer route down familiar streets where there is more activity, than taking short-cuts across fields or deserted areas.
- Since your children will be home for the holiday, chances are they’ll be watching more television or spending more time online. Ensure that the ‘parental control’ setting is on and privacy settings are as high as possible. Teach them that they should never post any personal information online such as an address, email address or mobile number and if they see something online that makes them feel uncomfortable, unsafe or worried, they should leave the website straight away, turn off their computer and tell someone immediately.
“It’s also important to ensure they know that a caregiver or domestic worker is in charge while you are at work. They should also know that they can call you at any time if they feel unsafe or can press the panic button. Empowering children to be safety-savvy is a great gift,” Kotze concluded.
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