Alert 360 shares back-to-school safety and home security tips to help families protect children and stay connected throughout the school year.

TULSA, OK, UNITED STATES, September 7, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Back-to-school is a smart time to review your home’s security so that children stay safe at home all year long. Alert 360, one of the largest home and business security companies in the United States, has announced easy home security steps to protect young students before and after school.

“At Alert 360, we don’t just focus on protecting property,” said Richard Ginsburg, Alert 360 CEO. “Our home security systems are designed to help keep loved ones safe. This time of year especially, we focus on ways to help ensure young students stay safe while coming and going.

“With school starting, families often have a change in routine and homes are empty during the day. School activities also leave homes vacate in the evenings. Thieves know this and take advantage of empty homes, families on the go, and children arriving home alone in the afternoon. Now is not the time to be lax about home security.”
Alert 360 recommends the following back-to-school security tips:

• Identify a trusted neighbor or emergency contact if things don’t go as planned. In addition to a neighbor, consider a nearby relative or co-worker. Keep contact information for school representatives handy, such as a child’s principal or the bus/transportation department.

• Teach children to stay aware when arriving home. If something looks off, such as a torn screen, open door, or broken window, they should not enter and should go to a neighbor to call you or authorities. If your home is protected by a monitored alarm system, make sure your child knows what to do if the system sounds and a security alarm dispatcher calls.

• Teach front door security Remember that even “bad” guys can look nice or impersonate professionals we should trust, such as utility workers or emergency personnel. Anyone can be convincing, with stories of lost pets or car trouble. For these reasons, enforce a strict rule of never opening the door to anyone. Have your child call you or a neighbor if someone comes to the door. Front door security cameras and doorbell text notifications can help you confirm who stopped by.

• Keep all doors closed and locked. As experts in home security, Alert 360 focuses on front door security, where bold thieves and door-to-door scammers go first. Studies have shown that many home break-ins occur through the front door. Thieves will try the front door first, to see if someone is home. Basic front door security tips include keeping your door locked even when you’re home. In addition to teaching your child to never open the door to anyone they don’t know, Alert 360 suggests steps that create the appearance your home is occupied, such as using smart lighting, entertainment systems, and a video doorbell, with two-way voice.

• Schedule a check in. It’s easier than ever for a child to call, send a text, or wave to a security camera. Set a time for this check-in to happen every day. Homeowners with wireless home security installed and an alarm monitoring app can have notifications sent that show video of a child entering the home or when a door is opened or closed.
• Establish a routine. When everyone knows what to expect and what’s normal, it helps maintain safety. Outline together the route home, normal arrival time, and check-in routine. In the event of an emergency or a lost child, knowing the routine can help authorities.

• Discuss kitchen safety and more. Keep in mind potential hazards such as falls or burns. Discuss safe food options and make a plan for having healthy snacks available, within easy reach. Consider the ages of your children before allowing heated snacks to be prepared. Fall is an ideal time to test smoke detectors so they are ready in an emergency.

• Plan for emergencies and any unforeseen situations. Make sure your children know your address and what to do during an emergency or unexpected event. Role play situations and steps they should take if a storm approaches, power goes out, you are late arriving home, etc.

• Protect sensitive areas. Keep in mind areas of your home that require extra security whether you are home or not. Sensitive areas include medicine cabinets, liquor cabinets, gun safes, and pools. Indoor and outdoor security cameras can help keep an eye on these areas. Home security system alerts will notify you if someone has accessed these areas. A monitored security system will also notify an alarm dispatch center, which is crucial if you miss a notification or cannot call for help.

• Install keyless entry and smart locks. If your home security system includes a key-free deadbolt lock, it can be controlled with a mobile app. This ensures stronger front door home security and that a child will never be locked out. Smart locks also allow you to check the door is locked once a child is safely inside or leaves for school.

• Talk to your children about their responsibilities. Remind them that others will be watching out for them but they need to watch out for themselves too. Drivers can be distracted, so your child needs to stay alert and aware of surroundings. For example, make eye contact with drivers before crossing a crosswalk, and avoid headphones or playing on a device going to or from school.

“We know that parents with remote home security options, including smart locks, two-way voice devices, and video cameras, rest a little easier, having the ability to stay connected, peek in, and receive visual verification of their children’s safety,” said Ginsburg. “Following these tips also can help keep everyone safe and should become a part of your back-to-school checklist.”

To help with back-to-school security, Alert 360 has a limited-time offer for a free video doorbell or indoor security camera for new residential customers. Visit Alert360.com for details.

Heather Mann
Alert 360
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