Today, it is not uncommon for both parents to have full-time jobs, and for children to come home from school and let themselves into the house. This can be an effective way of allowing a child to enjoy some independence and build up a sense of responsibility, but there are some security, and safety, risks associated with giving a child their own key. Here are a few things that you should think about. Of course, find the right locksmith in Houston TX to provide you with the right keys to give your children.

Issues With Children Handling Their Own Keys

There are two issues that are associated with kids handling their own keys – well, two major ones anyway. Both of these are issues that adults face as well, however, children are naive and have less experience with the level of responsibility that comes with being a keyholder. This increases the risk:

Losing the keys: Even an adult may sometimes misplace their keys. Kids are more likely to lose items, though, because they are more easily distracted. You can keep keys on a lanyard or a clip, to prevent them going missing, but they may still lose them even so.

Key Visibility: If a key is left lying around, then someone may be able to copy it and break into the property. If a child uses a key that is kept somewhere outside the house (such as under a rock in the garden), then there is the risk of that key being found if the child discloses it to neighbors, friends, or others.

Reducing the Risk

There are some ways that you can reduce the security risk of allowing your child to handle keys, for example:

Use an electronic keypad: Instead of giving out keys, use an electric keypad. Make sure that the code is changed frequently, and consider assigning different codes to each person that needs access to the house.

Use a camera: Have a security camera set up to monitor the property. If you see that your child brought someone home that may have seen the key code, then change it as a precaution.

Make your child memorize the code: Children can be forgetful. Make your child memorize the code, rather than write it down so that no-one finds it. Memorize the code yourself, and tell your child to call you if they forget it.

Some children are responsible, but not all are. Today, thanks to electronic security, you have options for keeping your home secure. A couple of decades ago, all parents could do was give their child a key on a lanyard, and hope that the lectures about safety and security sank in. Now, there are other options that can be used to ensure that your home is safe and secure, while you can still allow your child – and other people such as dog walkers – access to your home when you are not around.

Please feel free to call or contact Pop-A-Lock Houston with any questions you might have. Also, visit our blog for more related articles!