Many parents want to keep their children safe, but they don’t want to go overboard and completely restrict their children’s freedom. Improving security is a fine line between doing enough and going too far, a matter of finding the right balance and doing what makes the most sense. Explore the following three ideas to consider enacting to help improve your home’s security.

Install Smart Lights and Cameras

Sometimes, you may not be near where the kids play because you’re running an errand or you’re visiting a neighbor’s home down the street. When they are older, you can leave your kids alone for a short time, but you may find that you’ve stayed away longer than you expected. Children don’t always think about turning on lights as the sun sets and dusk settles.

Smart lights connect to your home’s Wi-Fi network, giving you the ability to turn on the lights wherever you are. A camera lets you check in remotely to make sure the lights are on, the kids are where you left them, and no one is around your home who shouldn’t be there.

The best part of this arrangement is that turning on the lights gives your kids an alert that you’re watching even though you’re not home. You can give them a bit of security knowing that mom or dad is checking in even though they may not realize you’re monitoring them. 

Get to Know Your Neighbors

Today’s lifestyle has people coming home at night and not going back out to visit with their neighbors. It’s far easier to come home, turn on the TV or computer, and not bother with socializing further. However, you miss out on the chance to learn about your neighbors and open up lines of communication. If your neighbors know who you and your kids are, they’re far more likely to keep an eye out for you and your family. In the event your children have an emergency and you aren’t home, they will know which neighbors they can go to for help.

It’s better to get to know your neighbors and build bridges within your community than ignore them. You never know who will step in and give you help when you need it most.

Install a Fence

“Good fences make good neighbors.” The observation comes from Robert Frost who felt that fences were necessary to keep livestock from getting onto other people’s properties. While your kids aren’t livestock, they may not always pay attention to where they’re at, and they could wind up trespassing on someone’s property. 

Before you have to deal with issues flaring up with bad neighbors, installing a fence in your yard is a reasonable solution for you and your children. You don’t have to worry about them wandering, your neighbors don’t have to deal with unwanted people on their properties, and your kids can stay safe. 

The above ideas offer ways you can improve your home security without going overboard. Use common sense, talk to your kids, and do what you can to protect them from harm.