Are Your Kids “Home Alone”After School? (NAPSA)—It’s important to teach your children about afterschool safety. According to the U.S. Departments of Education and Justice, the gap between parent’s work schedules and their children’s school schedules can result in kids being homealone after school for 20 to 25 hours each week. In addition, the Department of Education says 19 percent of kindergartners through eighth grades spend time before or after school in self-care at least once a month. So how do you keep yourchildren safe? Try these experttips: Secure Home—Consider installing locks that use numbered combination pads to open the door, instead of keys. This can keep kids from getting locked out should they lose their keys. For instance, Kwikset’s Powerbolt 1000 is a keyless entry system that can replace a door’s existing hardware. It has a touchpad that is easy for young children to use with over 390,000 security code combinations. The lock runs on four AA Alkaline bat- teries with no wiring necessary. Know The Facts—Be sure your child knowstheir full name and address and how and when to make an emergency telephone call. Also, your child should know your full name, the exact name and numberof the place you work eS (a Installing locks that open using a touchpad —rather than a key— can help keep kids from getting locked out. and your cell phone number. In addition, give your child the name and numberof a friend or neighbor who you trust and tell your child to contact that person in an emergencyif you can’t be reached. Take A Look Around—Tell your children to always be aware of their surroundings. If they think they are being followed home, they should run to a previously designated safe place. If they can’t get to it, they should seek help from an adult. Kids should also know to do a quick check of the housebefore they goin. For more information on home safety, visit www.kwikset.com.
