Back to School Safety Tips

As you gear up to send your kids back to school this fall, take some time to go through basic security measures that will help keep your loved ones safe, whether at home, in transit, or in the classroom. In the hustle and bustle of going back to school, it’s easy to forget the simple routines that protect your family - use this simple checklist to stay ahead of the curve.  

1. Teach your kids to lock up as they leave for school. 

This one is a no-brainer, but it’s important to secure your home when you’re away. With a busy family coming and going, locking up is often forgotten or lost in the shuffle. To make it easier, Schlage smart locks offer an auto-lock feature – simply customize your delay time in the Schlage Home app and rest easy, knowing that your lock will engage whether you remember or not. Schlage smart locks also integrate with your smart home platform, so you can set up automated routines and voice control. For example, set up a routine so that when your middle schooler leaves for the bus, they can just say “Hey Alexa, I’m off to school,” and smart lights turn off, the thermostat adjusts, and exterior doors lock.  

No matter if you have a smart lock or mechanical lock, back to school is the perfect time to check your lock’s grading. The Schlage Encode family of smart locks and Schlage mechanical deadbolts are all rated AAA by the Builders Hardware Manufacturers Association. This means they are independently rated as best-in-class for security, durability and finish to protect what matters most.

The buddy system adds a level of safety and fun for going to and from school. And if your child is headed to a new school, finding a buddy ahead of time can help ease some of those first-day jitters. It’s also smart to help your child practice street safety while they wait for the bus and when they get off at the end of the day. Carefully watching traffic lights, using crosswalks and waiting for the bus stop arm to fully extend are all good reminders to help keep your student safe.

3. Understand school safety plans, including emergency procedures and prep drills.  

Partner with your child’s teacher to reinforce school safety plans at home. It is helpful to understand school-wide safety practices, as well as those specific to the classroom. Encourage your student to help make the school safer by not propping exterior doors for friends or opening those doors for strangers. Just like at home, trusted adults are the only ones who should be opening the door for new people. When the school holds drills for evacuation and lockdown, reinforce the importance of emergency preparedness. 

4. Make sure your child knows important emergency information.  

Help your child memorize their home address and parent/guardian phone numbers so that they are prepared for an emergency. You can also give them an emergency contact card to keep in their backpack, lunchbox or wallet. For students with a cell phone or electronic device, create emergency contacts for them to easily access.  

Communicating the expectation that your child should come straight home after school and arrive by a certain time will set a clear, safe routine. If your child likes to play outside with their buddies or jet off to an after-school activity, having them check in at home first will help avoid any windows of time when they are unaccounted for by an adult. Our smart locks offer the option of setting up a unique access code for each child with customizable notifications through the Schlage Home app, so coming home is easy for them – and you can have peace of mind that they are home safe and sound.  

6. Make sure your child knows to keep the doors locked when they are home.

Practice the rhythm of keeping exterior doors locked when you are home with your child. For older children and teens who may spend time at home alone, it is important for them to stay safe by locking up. As mentioned above, make sure your kids know not to open the door for strangers and be sure to communicate with them if anyone is expected to stop by. For trusted adults who may be coming and going, like babysitters or your house cleaner, our smart locks are the easiest option for keeping your home secure. By setting up a unique access code for trusted friends and guests, they can enjoy ease of access without putting any responsibility on your child for letting people in or out. And we love that you can easily check the status of your lock remotely, so you can lock the doors remotely, helping your kiddos stay safe.

With the excitement of back-to-school in full swing, we hope these family safety tips give you and your child confidence and peace of mind as you head into the new school year. A timely reminder from Paul Timm, PSP, Allegion Director of Education Safety, is that "We can all play a part in making things safer at home, in transit, and at school.” Be sure to follow the Schlage blog and our Instagram and Pinterest for more security tips.