| How many children and young adults even use the | | | | sometimes necessary for a parent or caregiver that |
| family phone anymore? Many children now have their | | | | works to leave children at home alone, it is not |
| own cell phones. Additionally, texting devices either built | | | | advisable, especially for children under the age of |
| into the cell phone or as a stand alone device are | | | | fourteen. If you must leave your children at home |
| common. Nevertheless, there are a number of things | | | | alone, create a system where they contact you or a |
| to teach your children regarding proper phone usage. | | | | trusted friend or relative at pre-arranged times. |
| This discussion will primarily focus on the home phone. | | | | Additionally, if possible, ask a trusted neighbor to check |
| If your children are very young, do not allow them to | | | | on the children when you are at work. |
| answer the phone. Some of the reasons for this are | | | | Train those children that are allowed to answer a |
| obvious. They could hurt themselves with the phone | | | | phone to never tell the caller they are alone. In addition |
| receiver or cord. They could damage the phone or | | | | teach them to never tell the caller who else is at home. |
| cord. A caller may have a hard time understanding | | | | A better solution is to purchase a phone with caller ID. |
| them. They may have a hard time understanding the | | | | If the child does not recognize the name it is better to |
| caller. A less obvious reason is that the caller may | | | | let the answering machine take a message. |
| believe the child is home alone. This in itself could | | | | Unfortunately, there are unscrupulous people that use |
| create numerous problems. | | | | the phone as a means to gain access to your children, |
| If a child does answer the phone, train them to never | | | | yourself and your home. The less a caller knows the |
| tell anyone they are home alone. Although it is | | | | better. |