(HealthDay News) -- Younger children who are home alone after school until their parents get home from work should be prepared to handle an emergency or the unexpected.
The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests how to help parents prepare their children for being home alone:
- Make sure your child knows personal information such as his/her address and phone number, and the phone number where you can be reached.
- Make sure your child has a routine to follow so the child knows where and when to be somewhere.
- Your child should know how to use the telephone to call a neighbor or 911.
- Instruct your child to lock the door every day as soon as he or she comes home from school, to call you on arrival, and to check in until you get home.
- Teach your child not to go into the house if there is a broken window or open door.
- Make sure the child knows not to open the door while you're not home.
- Teach your child how to get out of the house if there is a fire, as well as some basic first aid.
