Questions to ask your 'Latch Key Kid'

Peoria police are providing parents with some questions to ask their child to see if they are ready to go back to school.

The Peoria Police Department wants to make sure kids are ready for the responsibility of being a "Latch Key Kid." By discussing the following items with your child, you should get a good idea if he/she is ready to be alone or if you as a parent have more work to do.

See how your children's answers compare with the recommended answers below each question.

Question: You are at home alone and a stranger calls asking to speak to Mom or Dad. What do you say?

Answer: Mom and Dad are very busy. May I have your number so they can call you when they are free? NEVER tell anyone that you are home alone.

Question: A friend calls and asks you to come to his house, since his parents aren't home, either. What should you do?

Answer: Mom and I have a rule that I can't go anywhere without her permission. I'll be glad to play with you at school tomorrow. NEVER invite him to your house without your parent's permission.

Question: You drop a glass of milk and it breaks. What should you do?

Answer: Use a broom and dustpan to sweep up all the pieces of glass. Make sure you get every little piece. NEVER use your fingers to pick it up. If any liquid was spilled, clean it up with a mop.

Question: Your younger brother/sister has a can of some cleaning products in his hand. You are not sure if he/she swallowed some. What do you do?

Answer: Call 911.

• Mom should have the number taped to the phone.
• Follow their instructions exactly.
• Call Mom or Dad so they can come home quickly.

Question: You need to reach Mom or Dad at work. What is their work phone number?

Answer: Have the child memorize it and have it written down next to the telephone. Some times people forget things, like phone numbers, when in an emergency.

Question: You are playing on the front lawn and a stranger drives by very slowly and tries to talk to you. What do you do?

Answer: You:

•   Go into the house, lock the doors and look through the window. If the car doesn't leave, call 911 and tell the operator exactly what you saw. Remember the color of the car and what the driver looked like. Especially, try to remember the license plate number.

Question: A neighbor you don't know very well offers to take care of your little brother/sister for you if you will go to the store for them. They offer to give you some money. What do you do?

Answer: Tell the neighbor that your parents don't permit you to go to the store without their permission. NEVER break the rules that your parents make.

Question: When you get home from school, you don't have your key in your pocket. What should you do?

Answer: Go to a neighbor that you know well and ask if you can call your parents at work so they will know where you are.

Question: You smell smoke or the smoke alarm sounds. What should you do?

Answers:

• Call 911 and get out of the house.
• Wait for the fire trucks on the front lawn.

Question: The door bell rings and a person says he has a delivery for your parents. What do you do?

Answers: Ask him to leave it on the front porch. Tell him your Mom is busy and can't come to the door. If he says he needs a signature, tell him he'll have to come back later. Also, discuss what is to be done for other people who come to the door. There is no specific age at which children can be left alone, even though police recommend that no child under age 12 be left alone for long periods of time. However, several factors should be considered before you leave your child alone:

• How mature is the child?
• How trustworthy is the child?
• Do they have a safety plan?
• Is there a neighbor close by who the child can call on if something happens?
• Does the child know how to call 911?
• Do they know how to reach a parent quickly?
• How long is the child left alone? An hour after school before a parent arrives home may be fine, when all day may be unacceptable.
• Is the child expected to supervise younger children? If so, for how long?

This is a difficult situation to assess because some 10-year-olds may be able to handle certain situations that a 14- or 15-year-old may not be mature enough to handle.

Peoria's AM/PM recreation program runs Aug. 11-May 21, 2009, co-sponsored with the Peoria Unified School District, and is a solution for working parents in need of child care before and after school. AM/PM offers kingergarten through sixth-grade children a well-rounded program in a secure environment on all Peoria elementary school campuses. All sites are state licensed, and DES assistance is available for qualified participants.

For information, visit www.peoriaaz.gov and click on the Community Services Department, or call 623-773-7133.