{"id":320889,"date":"2025-11-07T15:13:07","date_gmt":"2025-11-07T20:13:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/?p=135311"},"modified":"2025-11-07T15:13:08","modified_gmt":"2025-11-07T20:13:08","slug":"home-alone-tips","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/home\/security-systems\/home-alone-tips\/","title":{"rendered":"Home Alone After School: A Safety Guide for Kids"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><em>This guide was created to help families prepare for a child being home alone. Use these tips, technologies, and our refrigerator-friendly Safety Guide for Kids to prepare your kids to stay safe when they\u2019re on their own \u2014 updated with 2025 guidance on laws, technology, and online-safety best practices.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For some families, there\u2019s no way around older kids being home alone after school. This isn\u2019t a new phenomenon, but what is new is a host of new technology and devices that make it easier for parents to keep track of and increase the safety of their children in the hours between school and when parents get home from work. About 7% of K\u20138 students spend time in self-care in a typical week (<a href=\"https:\/\/nces.ed.gov\">2019 federal data<\/a>), and roughly 7\u20138 million children are unsupervised after school during a typical week (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.afterschoolalliance.org\/AA3PM\/\">national survey<\/a>).&nbsp;And it goes way beyond just having a&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/home\/security-systems\/best\/\">home security system<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While there is no set or agreed-upon age for when is appropriate to leave kids home alone, the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.childwelfare.gov\/pubPDFs\/homealone.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">U.S. Children\u2019s Bureau<\/a>&nbsp;notes that most states do not specify a minimum age and instead apply child neglect standards based on the totality of circumstances. A few states do set ages by law \u2014 for example, <a href=\"https:\/\/mgaleg.maryland.gov\/mgawebsite\/Laws\/StatuteText?article=gfl&amp;section=5-801\">Maryland<\/a> prohibits leaving a child under 8 unattended unless supervised by someone 13+, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ilga.gov\/legislation\/ilcs\/fulltext.asp?DocName=032500050K3\">Illinois<\/a> treats leaving a child under 12 without supervision for an unreasonable period as neglect given the situation. Many jurisdictions rely on agency guidance rather than statute (for instance, <a href=\"https:\/\/cfsa.dc.gov\">DC CFSA<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/dfcs.georgia.gov\">Georgia DFCS<\/a> publish supervision guidelines), and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dfps.texas.gov\/Child_Protection\/Leaving_Children_Alone.asp\">Texas<\/a> explicitly states there is no minimum-age law.<\/p>\n\n\n  <style>\n    .myFinance-widget {\n    min-height: 670px;\n    }\n  <\/style>\n  <div class=\"myFinance-widget\" data-widget-id=\"7c9fe833-dde7-4eb5-b71f-d741b8cccd66\" data-campaign=\"reviews-non-monitored-security\"><\/div>\n\n<script async=\"\" type=\"text\/javascript\" id=\"myFinance-widget-script\">\n  !function () {function e() {var s = \"myFinance-widget-ad-script\";if (!document.getElementById(s)) {var e = document.createElement(\"script\"), n = document.getElementById(\"myFinance-widget-script\"), a = t + \"widget\/myFinance.js\";e.id = s, e.type = \"text\/javascript\", e.async = !0, e.src = a, n.parentNode.insertBefore(e, n);}var c = \"myFinance-widget-css\";if (!document.getElementById(c)) {var d = document.getElementsByTagName(\"head\")[0], i = document.createElement(\"link\");i.id = c, i.rel = \"stylesheet\", i.type = \"text\/css\", i.href = t + \"widget\/myFinance.css\", i.media = \"all\", d.appendChild(i)}}var t = \"https:\/\/static.myfinance.com\/\";document.attachEvent ? document.attachEvent(\"onreadystatechange\", function () {\"complete\" === document.readyState && e()}) : document.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\", e, !1)}();\n<\/script>\n\n\n<p>Here are some tips, technologies, and hacks to help parents keep kids safe when they\u2019re home alone after school.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">In This Article:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"is-style-blog-list\"><li>Prepare Before Your Child Needs to be Home Alone<\/li><li>Printable Safety Guide for Kids<\/li><li>Child Safety Technologies<\/li><li>Tips and Tricks To Prepare for Being Home Alone<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"prepared\">Prepare Before Your Child Needs to be Home Alone<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Is Your Child Ready?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Before you decide to leave your kids at home, consider their level of maturity. While some kids may do well being left alone, not everyone would be comfortable in this type of setting. Ask yourself these questions to determine if perhaps you need to make alternate plans \u2014 and, where applicable, confirm any state laws or agency guidance that may apply:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Timing:<\/strong>&nbsp;Is this recurring time home alone, or one-time? Will your child be home alone in the morning, afternoon or evening, and for how long?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Comfort level:&nbsp;<\/strong>Is your child scared of being home alone? If they need help, are they comfortable talking to adults such as neighbors or emergency responders?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Compliance:&nbsp;<\/strong>Do your children typically follow rules that you set? Do your children avoid telling you when something has gone wrong and they need help?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Responsibility:&nbsp;<\/strong>Are older children responsible for taking care of younger children \u2013 and if so, are they mature enough to take on this responsibility? Can your child accurately judge what is and isn\u2019t an emergency and can choose to call 9-1-1?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.reviews.com\/uploads\/2019\/09\/16174003\/A-Safety-Guide-for-Kids-1024x602.png\" height=\"602\" width=\"1024\"  alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-135335\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"guide\">An Emergency Plan Ahead of Time<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>One of the best ways to prep your child to stay home alone is to have an open and honest discussion with them. Before the big day comes, sit down with your child and go over what to do in an emergency. Even better, have them write down the answers to these questions themselves so they\u2019re sure to remember. Want a printable version of these questions? Reviews.com has created&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/assets.reviews.com\/uploads\/2019\/09\/17051515\/Kids_safety_doc-11.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">a refrigerator-friendly PDF here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"is-style-blog-list\"><li>Information that 9-1-1 would need to know<\/li><li>Child\u2019s name and nearest cross streets<\/li><li>Trusted neighbors and friends to reach out to in an emergency<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"technologies\">Child Safety Technologies<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Smart Home Camera<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>A&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/home\/security-systems\/best-cameras\/\">smart home camera<\/a>&nbsp;is one way to help keep your kids safe and give parents some extra peace of mind. \u201cParents today are living in an interesting time: teeter-tottering with how and when to use tech to keep tabs on their children,\u201d says Ben Nader, general manager of video solutions at&nbsp;<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ooma.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">Ooma<\/a>, which makes smart cameras. With DIY home security cameras increasingly making their way into homes, Nader says parents can use these cameras to keep tabs on their kids\u2019 whereabouts. Certain cameras, such as Google Nest cameras, are even unrolling features that allow cameras to&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/support.google.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">detect familiar faces<\/a>, and many newer models run person\/cry detection on-device to reduce cloud dependence and speed alerts. When comparing brands, look for strong privacy and security practices (such as published update policies and 2FA), which regulators in the UK and EU are increasingly requiring (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\">UK PSTI<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/eur-lex.europa.eu\/eli\/reg_del\/2022\/30\/oj\">EU RED cybersecurity<\/a>), and be aware that biometric features like face recognition can vary by region under evolving AI rules (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.consilium.europa.eu\/en\/press\/press-releases\/2024\/05\/21\/artificial-intelligence-act-council-gives-final-approval\/\">EU AI Act<\/a>). For brand-by-brand privacy insights on baby monitors and home cams, see independent evaluations like Mozilla\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/foundation.mozilla.org\">Privacy Not Included<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Smart Doorbell Camera<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>A doorbell camera is another option. \u201cParents tell their kids not to answer the door, but kids tend to ignore this rule when the uninvited guest might be a friend,\u201d warns Justin Lavelle, chief communications officer with<a href=\"https:\/\/www.beenverified.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">&nbsp;BeenVerified<\/a>, an online background check platform. \u201cWhile peepholes are a safety precaution, they do not prevent strangers from seeing your child through adjacent windows, nor can some children reach the peepholes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He recommends a smart doorbell camera or<a href=\"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/home\/security-systems\/best-video-doorbell\/\">&nbsp;video doorbell<\/a>&nbsp;that detects movement approaching your front door, or someone ringing the doorbell, and sends a notification to you. This allows parents to stay on top of visitors to the front door while they\u2019re away and kids are home alone. \u201cNest, Ring, Swann, and Arlo are just a few of the many brands offering such surveillance devices that connect to your smartphone via Wi-Fi and app,\u201d he says. \u201cSome smart doorbells even have a feature that allows homeowners to communicate with their surprise house guest from a remote location.\u201d&nbsp;When choosing, consider whether AI detection happens locally or in the cloud, whether end-to-end encrypted modes are available for video (for example, ecosystem-secured options like <a href=\"https:\/\/support.apple.com\/en-us\/HT210538\">HomeKit Secure Video<\/a>), and make sure account security features like 2FA and clear update timelines are in place (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\">UK PSTI<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/foundation.mozilla.org\">privacy evaluations<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">GPS Watch for Kids<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>While a smart camera is great when kids come home from school, they don\u2019t offer much for the time between a kid leaving school and getting home. A GPS watch for kids gives parents additional visibility into a kid\u2019s journey home. These watches typically include GPS\/location history, geofenced safety zones, SOS buttons, \u201cschool\u201d or do-not-disturb modes, and tightly controlled calling\/messaging to parent-approved contacts \u2014 many require a monthly cellular plan (often in the $5\u2013$15 range). Families sometimes choose a mainstream smartwatch configured with a parent-managed profile (e.g., <a href=\"https:\/\/www.apple.com\/watch\/cellular\/\">Apple Watch with Family Setup<\/a>) for deeper integration, with the trade-off of higher price and daily charging. Sten Kirkbak, co-founder of<a href=\"https:\/\/www.myxplora.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">&nbsp;XPLORA<\/a>&nbsp;a European maker of GPS watches for kids, points out certain watches can also specify geolocated safety zones. \u201cIf the child enters or leaves the area, the parent will be notified,\u201d Kirkbak says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Tracking Apps<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>In lieu of getting a GPS watch, Lavelle recommends downloading a tracking app. \u201cHaving a tracking app installed on a smartphone will let you know your kids\u2019 exact location; thus, if there is any trouble (like taking the wrong turn home), you can give them the help they need.\u201d If your kids are old enough to have smartphones and they\u2019re responsible enough to keep up with them, this is one of the most inexpensive ways to monitor their location. Built-in platform tools like <a href=\"https:\/\/support.google.com\" target=\"_blank\">Google Family Link<\/a> (Android\/ChromeOS) and Apple\u2019s parent-managed watch profiles can simplify location sharing and contact controls. A few such kid-tracking apps include&nbsp;<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.footprints.net\" target=\"_blank\">Footprints<\/a>,&nbsp;<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.angelsense.com\/protect\/gps-tracker-comparison\/?utm_source=google&amp;utm_campaign=Search_Child_US2&amp;gclid=Cj0KCQjwv8nqBRDGARIsAHfR9wALwl4GTHU_i5DE57DFS220kGom2t_R_5zXRiSO6cioR7YvSsmf-SAaAiDmEALw_wcB\" target=\"_blank\">AngelSense<\/a>, and&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.life360.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Life360<\/a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Computer Monitoring Software<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Kids often come home from school and jump on the computer \u2013 and the Internet \u2013 to start doing homework. However, the Internet can also pose risks if kids are unsupervised when using it. Online harms like grooming and sextortion are a growing concern, with law enforcement warning families to stay alert (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ic3.gov\/Media\/PDF\/AnnualReport\/2023_IC3Report.pdf\">FBI IC3<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Also, you don\u2019t know who they may be interacting with online. \u201cChildren are susceptible to trusting strangers they meet online and giving out personal information,\u201d he says. The <a href=\"https:\/\/consumer.ftc.gov\/topics\/protecting-kids-online\">FTC\u2019s guidance for parents<\/a> covers privacy settings, reporting tools, and how to coach kids to spot scams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Instead of older, discontinued tools, start with built-in controls (Apple <a href=\"https:\/\/support.apple.com\/en-us\/HT208982\">Screen Time<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/support.google.com\" target=\"_blank\">Google Family Link<\/a>) to set content filters, app approvals, time limits, and communication limits. If you need more, reputable third-party options like Qustodio or Net Nanny add stronger web filtering and cross-platform management; independent reviews regularly compare these choices (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\">Wirecutter<\/a>). Lavelle also recommends parents set timers for how long kids can play games on the computer, to limit eye strain and balance online time with more active time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWith the number of children and teens online growing year after year, instances of cyberbullying, sexting and online threats continue to flourish just as quickly,\u201d says Titania Jordan, chief parenting officer at&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bark.us\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Bark<\/a>, a parental internet monitoring company.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Smart Locks and Home Security Systems<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>A&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/home\/security-systems\/best\/\">home security system<\/a>&nbsp;can help protect kids from intruders, and also detects smoke and carbon monoxide leaks. However, kids who are home alone will need to know how to disarm the system to reduce false alarms, and also communicate verbal passwords to the alarm company. If law enforcement is routinely dispatched to a home for no reason, it could result in penalties and fines depending on local ordinances. In 2025, look for systems that support verified alerts and faster dispatch (video analytics and <a href=\"https:\/\/tma.us\/asap\/\">ASAP-to-PSAP<\/a>) and that clearly document cybersecurity (for example, the FCC\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fcc.gov\">U.S. Cyber Trust Mark<\/a> and default-secure practices like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cisa.gov\">Secure by Design<\/a>). For accessories like locks and sensors, growing <a href=\"https:\/\/csa-iot.org\">Matter\/Thread<\/a> support improves interoperability, while some ecosystems offer end-to-end encrypted video modes for privacy (<a href=\"https:\/\/support.apple.com\/en-us\/HT210538\">HomeKit Secure Video<\/a>). Professional platforms increasingly use AI to reduce false alarms (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.alarm.com\">Alarm.com Video Analytics<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"tips\">Tips and Tricks To Prepare for Being Home Alone<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Daily Chats<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>While technology can help keep kids safe when they\u2019re home alone after school, communication is also crucial. For example, Kirkbak recommends quick morning chats before school. \u201cThese chats are a great way to ensure your kids know where they need to go when the bell rings,\u201d he says. \u201cThese briefs help reinforce the message that good communication between kids and parents regarding each other\u2019s whereabouts, is important.\u201d These kinds of conversations can help kids understand they shouldn\u2019t make spontaneous decisions to stop off at a friend\u2019s house without asking for permission or communicating their plans. Many families also find it helpful to co-create and revisit a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthychildren.org\">family media plan<\/a> that covers device rules and check-in expectations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Baby Steps<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Also, if this is the first time your kids are staying home alone, you may need to ease them into the process. \u201dSince processes like deactivating the internal alarm might be too stressful to begin with, maybe consider turning that off for the first couple of days, until they have built up more confidence,\u201d Kirkbak says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-style-blue-quote\"><p>\u201cYou might also consider small things, like keeping some lights on in the hallway to avoid a completely dark house on return, or perhaps leaving on the radio and leaving out a little surprise, to help create a more welcoming and homely atmosphere for a child to come home to.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p><cite>Sten Kirkbak, co-founder of&nbsp;<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.myxplora.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">XPLORA<\/a>&nbsp;a European maker of GPS watches for kids<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Have a Backup Plan<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>In addition, it\u2019s a good idea to have a backup plan. For example, even if you use smartphones or smart watches, consider what would happen if your kids lost their devices. One way to address this is to print physical copies of phone numbers that can be posted on the fridge or put in your kids\u2019 backpacks, so they will always have a way to contact someone in the event of an emergency.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Know Your Neighbors<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"is-style-blog-list\"><li>It could also be a good idea to make sure your kid knows to go to a trusted neighbor who can provide assistance when circumstances merit.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n  <style>\n    .myFinance-widget {\n    min-height: 670px;\n    }\n  <\/style>\n  <div class=\"myFinance-widget\" data-widget-id=\"7c9fe833-dde7-4eb5-b71f-d741b8cccd66\" data-campaign=\"reviews-non-monitored-security\"><\/div>\n\n<script async=\"\" type=\"text\/javascript\" id=\"myFinance-widget-script\">\n  !function () {function e() {var s = \"myFinance-widget-ad-script\";if (!document.getElementById(s)) {var e = document.createElement(\"script\"), n = document.getElementById(\"myFinance-widget-script\"), a = t + \"widget\/myFinance.js\";e.id = s, e.type = \"text\/javascript\", e.async = !0, e.src = a, n.parentNode.insertBefore(e, n);}var c = \"myFinance-widget-css\";if (!document.getElementById(c)) {var d = document.getElementsByTagName(\"head\")[0], i = document.createElement(\"link\");i.id = c, i.rel = \"stylesheet\", i.type = \"text\/css\", i.href = t + \"widget\/myFinance.css\", i.media = \"all\", d.appendChild(i)}}var t = \"https:\/\/static.myfinance.com\/\";document.attachEvent ? document.attachEvent(\"onreadystatechange\", function () {\"complete\" === document.readyState && e()}) : document.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\", e, !1)}();\n<\/script>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This guide was created to help families prepare for a child being home alone. Use these tips, technologies, and our refrigerator-friendly Safety Guide for Kids to prepare your kids to stay safe when they\u2019re on their own \u2014 updated with 2025 guidance on laws, technology, and online-safety best practices. For some families, there\u2019s no way [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":345,"featured_media":135324,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1286],"tags":[],"post_author":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v20.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Home Alone After School: A Safety Guide for Kids - Reviews.com<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"A guide to Home Alone After School: A Safety Guide for Kids\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/home\/security-systems\/home-alone-tips\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Home Alone After School: A Safety Guide for Kids - Reviews.com\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"A guide to Home Alone After School: A Safety Guide for Kids\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/home\/security-systems\/home-alone-tips\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Reviews.com\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/Reviewscom\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-11-07T20:13:07+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-11-07T20:13:08+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/kid-safety-1024x683.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1024\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"683\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Reviews Staff\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@Reviews\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@Reviews\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Reviews Staff\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"10 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/home\/security-systems\/home-alone-tips\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Home Alone After School: A Safety Guide for Kids\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/\",\"name\":\"Reviews.com\",\"description\":\"Your Guide to the Best Services\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Home Alone After School: A Safety Guide for Kids - 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