Back To School Security Tips

It is back to school time again. That has come to mean a myriad of things for us over the last year; however, as we regain and learn to navigate our “new norm” once again while most of our kids go back to school, I wanted to give you some quick tips on how to make your home and community work for you. Get those pencils and highlighters ready! Whether you opted for the multiple variations of in-person or at-home learning previously, there should be something for everyone - even if you are a full-time homeschooler now.

Your children have most likely had the entire summer to stay up a little late and sleep in. Schedules tend to go by the wayside and we relax, as we should; however, I always hated waking up my teen for that first day of school. I can still recall the utter look of disgust that would eventually turn into excitement when she saw her friends, but if looks could have killed…. Ouch!

Since I had the advantage of being a security professional while she was living at home, one of the things that I did was use our system to help me parent as much as I did to keep people out. I wanted to make sure that she was safe and inside. I have seen kids that have gone nothing short of “Hollywood” on their parents though. Please don’t fool yourselves and think you are smarter than you child - especially if he or she is tech savvy and there are multiple children working against you. Plus, they have a lot of free time and energy we don’t.

One of the most creative young ladies I have ever encountered, we will call Kelly. Kelly had parents that installed a state of the art, commercial system in their home. Kelly used baby powder to locate the laser beams in their system and figured out how to traverse them like a ballerina. When she wanted friends in, she deployed a mirror system which reflected the lasers back to themselves which is how she was ultimately caught. It takes a steady hand. Alas, this is why you can’t rely on your system alone. You need to know your children and have neighbors that are willing to tell every time they see someone at your home.

I grew up in a type of suburban utopia where we all knew one another. I had been in every house on the block and knew every resident, their family, and their pets. Did that make me a Welcome Ambassador or Nosey Nellie? Ah, I just love people. While we neighbored the part of Dallas with the highest crime rate in the city, our crime rate was the lowest in the city. The DPD had to dispatch two cars to every call back then because they had to have two Officers to watch the cars while two went on the actual call because the residents would fire bomb their squads. It was a war zone. It taught me the power of community though because that crime did not run into our neighboring area. Crime occurs everywhere, but when residents are actively involved and take ownership, criminals go somewhere else. That is the power of community.

On my block, my best friend lived directly across the street, so I had my second family. On each side of her, there was a Dallas Police Officer. They were cool guys who partied with the rest of the block; however, every time that I was at home sick (I had three surgeries my Sophomore year) if one of my friends came over, my mom’s phone rang at work. They didn’t know that they had been sent by my mom to take care of me, but they weren’t taking that chance. Of course I was irritated then, but I appreciate it as an adult. As a result, I built trust within the community and not just with my parents which led to pet-sitting and babysitting jobs as well. I guess being tattled on can have its advantages.

All we had when I was growing up were the motion activated lights because everything was cost prohibitive. The local punk was taller than Chewbacca and would reach up with one of his ape like arms and unscrew the bulbs, rendering them completely useless. When you put in motion activated lights, they need to be high enough that you have to change the bulb with a ladder. The great thing is that you can purchase solar panels for them now so you don’t even have to run electricity to them. He has teenagers now. You know what they say about payback….

Remember when your kid would get home, excitedly call, and tell you about their day? Ya, me neither, but I have seen it on tv. Please don’t mess with others’ fantasies. Now, we can know when they get home with a professionally monitored alarm. It will tell us and show us when they enter and exit, so we even know who they are with. Do they lose things often or “forget” to tell you that they are going places, but always take their phones? You can attach a Tile tracker to just about anything now. You can even place a Tile in their backpack and watch it traverse its way home. They can turn off geo-location on their phones, but the Tiles can be purchased as stickers, sewn in, and/or concealed.

As homes become smarter, you have options to remotely adjust the light or even program certain lights to turn on and off at specific times, in different colors, and at percentages. You can set your son or daughter’s lamp to simulate the sun rising to gradually come to full light starting fifteen minutes before their alarm goes off. They just might come to the breakfast table a little less grumpy. Hey, one can dream. You can also set it to come on in the evenings to ensure that you won’t walk into a cave instead of a house after extracurricular activities in the evening.

One of my personal favorites are the smart front door locks. Everyone in our household has their own code to open the door, so we know who has opened it, at what time, and we don’t have to mess with keys anymore. If we aren’t here or there is an emergency, we can give the code to 911 or open it on our smartphones as well. Then, you don’t have to worry about your child misplacing a key. Hiding keys is extremely dangerous. The smart locks keep your home secure and EMS loves them.

Of course, every door and window is sensored, we have cameras inside and outside with motion detectors, panic alarms, glass break sensors, geo-fencing, and just about everything else you can think of with a monitor in virtually every room of the home, but since I was in security I naturally love this stuff. It is like candy to me. It was part of my job to maintain it in my career. I understand that it is a little much for others and they find it intrusive; however, a little can be a big help. It is about what makes sense for your family, your budget, and strategic placement for optimal use. I prefer systems that you can always add on to later that do not require contracts and are WiFi based.

If you don’t have a system, a great place to start is with a doorbell camera. The last thing you want your child to do is open the door for anyone that you don’t intend. Doorbell cameras allow you to “answer” the door without even being at home. They are also an excellent crime deterrent because they record. Porch Pirates hate them too. You will be able to see your children enter and exit as well. In the event that there is a crime in the neighborhood, your camera could also capture valuable evidence for the police. You should register all of your cameras with the Little Elm Police Department Video Crime Watch.

Please remember. Secure your Wifi. Once your security system is on your WiFi network, everyone with access to your WiFi can access your security system. Do NOT give your password to anyone. If you are forced to give it to someone for repairs, change it immediately. I suggest having two networks in your home. You can have one for the adults that run the system and one for children that has parental blocks and controls.

There is also, plain, old common sense that we all too often don’t follow through on:

Rule #1 - Know Your Name, Number, Address, & Your Parents’ Info

This was my dad’s favorite. By the time I was two, I recall reciting my full name, address, phone number, and my parents’. He told me that if I was ever lost or kidnapped, I would need to know. Luckily, I didn’t, but he made it a fun game and I loved the attention from Daddy.

Rule #2 - Don’t Talk To Strangers

Not all strangers are bad or will harm your child, but why take a chance? There are so many cases of kidnapping that are increasing by the day. Kids are lured by strangers by either a a tempting treat or a plea for assistance looking for their puppy. While they are more likely to be taken by someone they know, it isn’t worth the risk.

Rule #3 - Bad Touching

Every child should know the difference between a good touch and a bad touch. I define areas that are bad as “bathing suit” areas or anything that makes the child feel uncomfortable. There are a lot of child appropriate YouTube videos on this subject. It will most likely happen from someone you know, so your child needs to feel comfortable and know it isn’t their fault.

Rule #4 - Don’t Climb a Wall or a Fence

Tell them clearly that they are not supposed to climb any wall or a high area to fetch anything. They can call for help if required. You never know what may be on the other side and they could be injured or fall. One of the highlights of our week in our home is when our neighbors show up to fetch their ball.  There is nothing like the sound of laughing kids playing.

Rule #5 - Playing with Fire

Keep matchsticks, gasoline, paint thinner, alcohol, fireworks, lighters, candles, and other potentially incendiary devices away from their reach. Your child should know he is not allowed to play with fire at any time. Keep age appropriate snacks that are no to low prep available for after school. Induction cooking is the safest method.

Rule #6 - No Sharp Objects Allowed

Kids should be kept away from the kitchen or objects like knives, blades, saws, yard tools, etc.

Rule #7 - Emergency Situations at Home

Have tornado and fire safety plans.  Then, practice.

Rule #8 - Never Go Out Alone

This rule is essential as some kids are curious and love to do things alone which includes stepping outside for a bit. This can happen to virtually anyone. I have found an eleven month old child on the side of the road. I have been in multiple search parties for curious tots as well. I was even an offender myself, but the police scared me silly and brought me home. They threw me in the back of a squad car and told me that it would “go on my permanent record”. I didn’t know if they meant a 33, 45, or 78, but I had this vivid image for years of a 45 in a file at the station with my name on it.

Rule #9 - If You Get Lost, Do Not Panic

A child may get lost when you are out shopping. Train children to handle the situation so that they don’t panic. You should be much more traumatized than them. They should stay where they are, try and ask help from another mom nearby, or go to a counter and inform the personnel that they are lost. If you did #1, they will be able to find you quickly.

Rule #10 - Have A Plan

Have a backup plan for everything and a safe word. Stuff happens. Traffic on 380 is awful. People have accidents. Maybe even you. You may need someone else to pickup the kids. How do they know it is really okay? You have made a plan and given that person the safe word. They are also on the list with the school as an authorized person to pickup your child. What if you have a medical emergency? What then? What should your child do? I am the unofficial “Block Mom”. The kids on the block know that I am virtually always home and here, ready, and available to help if they need me. I have snacks, movies, toys, games, and the means to locate their parents in an emergency. If I am not here, someone else is. #RetiredLife

Your children should be taught these basic safety rules but make sure it is taught in a manner which they can understand. You want it to be a fun experience that they can enjoy while they learn as well - like me with my dad. You may also use safety videos, comics, books, and coloring kits. The important thing is to create an environment where your child can open up to you and share everything. Get to know your SRO. They are a wealth of knowledge. I loved “Officer Friendly” when I was a kid and I am still friends with him forty years later.