You might remember hemming and hawing about when the right age to leave your kids alone at home was. But now that they’re getting more independent, should they have their own set of keys so they can come and go as they please without needing to depend on you? There’s no perfect rule to this, but we have outlined a few things to take into consideration before asking your locksmith in Craigieburn to copy you a new set of keys.

Make it easy to keep track of

Establish where your kids will keep their key. On an elastic in their school bag? Do they have a key ring on their phone case? Wherever it is, make sure they understand the importance of always keeping it in the same place so they don’t lose it. And if you have multiple keys to multiple doors, only give them a key for one. If you have multiple keys for multiple entrances, you may want to think about installing a single key system. This involves rekeying all of your doors so you can have one key that accesses all entrances to the house – making it easier to keep track of for all household residents.

Set the security ground rules 

The main rule here is making sure your kid doesn’t give the key away to anyone else. Emphasising the importance of this is important to make sure that no one else has unexpected access to your home. You may also want to think about if you have any other trusted family members or neighbours that you could give a spare key to in the event of any issues. It’s important that you don’t take this decision lightly either – make sure this is someone you are close to. Lastly, if they’re entering the house when you’re gone, it’s safe to say that they’re leaving it as well. Make sure you instil the importance of always locking the door behind them, no matter if it’s to the corner store or for a few hours.

Other security options to consider asking your locksmith in Craigieburn about

There are other options for giving your kid a key. If they don’t need daily access to the house when no one is home, a key lockbox could be a great option. This is a lockbox, usually near the front door, that requires a code to access it. The spare key is kept inside the key safe. This is a great security measure to take in the event of any sort of lost key. There are also keyless locks if you are worried about your kids taking a physical key out into the world and losing it. 

If you have any questions about a single key system, a key safe, or keyless locks don’t hesitate to give your locksmith in Craigieburn a call. We’re happy to walk you through your best options and provide recommendations on what’s best for your given situation. You can reach us at 1300 045 397 or leave us a message HERE.

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