When both parents work outside the home, school-age children may be left unsupervised for a few hours, making them “turnkey” or “lock” children. They can learn to activate alarms, do chores, and follow routines, and parents can use technology to monitor them remotely. Organized programs can also provide support.
There are a significant number of families where both parents have jobs outside the home. This can create some logistical problems for school-age children. Sometimes a child may stay after school in a supervised program, or a babysitter may be hired to fill the gap between school hours and work hours. Quite often, however, a child may have to go a few hours unsupervised until a parent arrives home. Because this child has their own house key, they are often referred to as a lock child.
A turnkey child can be unattended for a few minutes or maybe a few hours. However, that doesn’t mean that the child is completely at the mercy of potential intruders. Conscientious neighbors may agree to guard the outside of the house, while the bolt-and-latch kid learns how to activate an alarm system or control the locks on doors. A child who is spending time at home unsupervised may also call a parent at work to check on their safe arrival from school. A typical turnkey guy is usually comfortable dialing 911 or running to a neighbor’s house during an emergency.
A turnkey child can also learn to prepare simple snacks after school or do some chores until a parent comes home. One of the best things for a turnkey child is a standard after-school routine. It’s perfectly normal for a child to feel anxious when their parents aren’t around, but a turnkey child may have to adjust to their absence very quickly. Having a routine, even if it’s just watching television or playing a video game, can provide a much-needed distraction for a turnkey child waiting for parental safety.
Some parents are now using technology to help with their latchkey child situation. Now it is possible to install special cameras in the house that provide real-time monitoring and remote viewing. Parents of a turnkey child can now access a secure website and observe their child from the workplace. There are also organized programs that provide support for both the key child and their parents. Some working parents may feel guilty about leaving their child alone and unsupervised, but the “child with lock” option is often the most viable solution for families with only a short gap between school and work schedules. Work.
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