As a parent, you want your home to be a safe haven for your family. Unfortunately, home security in Calgary can get compromised one way or another. With the warmer months approaching and school being out soon, it’s a good time to teach your kids about home security if you have yet to explain it. Learn how to approach this topic with your child with these five common tips for home security in Calgary and more here. 

Best Age to Teach About Home Security in Calgary to Kids 

No specific age is considered best to teach children about home security. However, as soon as children are old enough to understand basic safety rules, such as crossing the street safely or not talking to strangers, they can begin to learn about home security. Generally, children as young as five or six can start learning about home security basics. Using age-appropriate language and concepts is important when teaching children about home security. For example, younger children may respond better to visual aids or games that teach basic safety rules. Older children may be ready to learn about more advanced topics, such as alarm systems or security cameras.

Essential Tips For Kids About Home Security in Calgary 

Tip #1: Lock Doors & Windows

Whether your kid is out with friends or out for the summer, it’s important to teach them to lock all doors and windows whenever they leave or go to bed. Making sure to also lock doors and windows on the first and second floors, it’s a great security measure kids can do to prevent break-ins and keep unwanted intruders out. Consider alarm systems in Calgary with window and door sensors, which can alert you when a door or window is opened.

Tip #2: Explain Your Alarm Systems

When it comes to teaching about alarm systems in Calgary, the appropriate age to do so may vary depending on the child’s level of maturity, understanding, and proactivity with basic security measures. Generally, children between the ages of 8 and 12 may be ready to learn. From there, you can explain how an alarm system works by demonstrating it to them and letting them practice using it under supervision. Also, explaining to your child what they should do if the alarm system goes off is important—for example, staying in a safe location and calling for help. Practice emergency scenarios with your child, such as a fire or break-in, so they know what to do in an emergency.

Tip #3: Be Wary of Strangers

The all-too-common phrase ‘stranger danger‘ exists for a reason. Kids can be friendly and naive by nature, which could leave them vulnerable to potentially dangerous individuals. Teach your kids to be wary of strangers, whether at home or in public. Explain to them that they should never open the door for someone they don’t know or let them into the house. Encourage them to always ask for identification from anyone who claims to be a utility worker or delivery person.

Tip #4: Be Aware of Your Surroundings

Teach your kids to be aware of their surroundings at all times. That includes being mindful of strangers and suspicious activity. You can start with simple concepts and gradually increase the complexity. Point out potential hazards, play “what if” games, encourage listening skills, and role-play scenarios to help your child develop situational awareness. By teaching your child to be aware of their surroundings, you can help them stay safe and confident in different situations. Also, encourage them to trust their instincts and seek help if they feel uncomfortable or unsafe.

Why Teaching Home Security Basics to Your Kids Matters

The main takeaway is the importance of involving your children in home security and safety discussions. It can help them feel empowered and give them a sense of responsibility for their own safety. Encourage your children to ask questions and express any concerns they may have. Teaching your kids about home security from an early age can instill good habits and help keep them safe. Knowing that your family is protected, even when you’re not at home, will give you peace of mind. 

Supreme Security is here to help you with all your professional security needs. Proudly serving the people of Calgary since 1985, Supreme Security supplies our community with commercial and private property protection with top-notch technologies to keep your properties secure and safe. Supreme Security is licensed and bonded, and our technicians are fully trained and certified to give you quality service. Professionalism and prompt security installation are a given when you hire our ULC-certified services, and Supreme Security will provide you with access to the latest security equipment to protect your property. Supreme Security aims to maximize the safety of our community with great customized package deals and even greater service.

As the holiday season approaches, you may consider taking a few days away from home. One of the biggest priorities on your pre-departure checklist should be home security. Some might not take home security seriously due to the cold weather. However, according to the Calgary Police, there has been a 22% increase in property crimes over the past five years.

Based on those statistics, winter is certainly not a deterrent from potential theft. In which case, you want to deter burglars from breaking in by taking some extra precautions. A few safety measures to help ensure no one is hiding inside when you return that could cause danger to you and your family.

One guaranteed solution is to find an alarm system in Calgary and install it in their home. This way, it can trigger an alarm to send the police and remove any intruder. Beyond an alarm system, there are extra security measures you can take to protect your home from crime while on vacation this winter. 

Check out a few ways down below!

Security from Shovelled Sidewalks

Winter means an unpredictable amount of snow, especially if you live in Calgary. An un-shovelled driveway and sidewalk indicate to intruders that you are away for the holidays, making your place an easy target. There is less chance of burglars getting caught when you are not around, and they know it.

Before you get out of the city for the holiday season, make sure you take the target off your home. Shovel the driveway before you leave and ask a neighbour or family member to shovel your drive for you while you are away. Something as simple as having someone regularly cleaning off the snow on your property could save itself. Burglars wandering around the neighbourhood looking for an easy break-in will see someone at your home and take you off their hit list.

Keep Your Packages Secure

Around the holiday season, many long-distance relatives send gifts by mailing them out. However, if gift packages are left unattended while you’re gone for a long time, it can entice a burglar to pick them up for themselves. Items left around your home signal that you aren’t around, and your residence becomes a pick-and-pull for thieves. 

Do you have a package scheduled for delivery while you are away? Make sure to let your neighbours know you will be gone and ask them to watch for your parcel so they can keep it for you until you return. According to several news sources, theft of packages is at an all-time high. So, consider holding off on deliveries while you are on holiday. 

Someone to Check Your Home

Do you have a trusted friend or family member living nearby? Ask them to check on your home while you are gone. They can let you know if they notice anything suspicious – like footprints in your yard. They can also ensure you lock all your doors, switch lights on or off, and put away anything you left lying out. Make it appear that someone is home. 

Alternatively, finding the right home security camera in Calgary can offer you peace of mind if none of these options are available. From it, you can check in from time to time at your home. In addition, some can provide motion detection and intruder alerts, which can be better than a neighbour’s watchful eyes. These security measures can go a long way without worrying about triggering your alarm system at all.  

To secure your commercial and private properties, hire Supreme Security today. Supreme Security has been Calgary’s reliable security service provider since 1985, and we aim to continue to keep our community secure. Utilizing the newest and very best modern security technologies, Supreme Security’s fully trained and certified technicians will install these technologies in prompt time. Amid times of uncertainty, let Supreme Security provide you with safety and protection. To learn more about Supreme Security, call us at 403-242-7777 or visit our website https://supremesecurity.com/