Start with the toys.
It’s never to early to start teaching kids about home security. From a young age their toys are a great training aide. When toys aren’t looked after and put away properly they can get lost or broken. This can be a great way to start introducing the idea of how looking after something helps it last longer. This doesn’t have to be a lesson which instills fear in our children but instead is about taking responsibility and allowing your child to take ownership of something. Toys are also a great tool for teaching them to be respectful of others and their property.
Show them the locks.
Take the time to show the locks around the house to your kids and explain how they work. The backyard gate that needs to be kept closed and locked to make sure that their fluffy best friend stays safe can be a great place to start. Let your child help you lock up the house before you leave. Eventually start to give them the responsibility of making sure a door or their bedroom window is locked. Encourage and support your child as they understand what each lock around the house helps keep safe.
Create routines.
Kids learn through repetition and reinforcement. They tend to mimic what happens around them and this is all part of the learning process. Start a night time routine that includes checking the doors and windows are locked before going to bed. Repeating this routine nightly will help create it to become a habit that your child forms. Supervise your child as they walk around locking doors and let them know they are doing a good job.
