Tips for Working Parents

• If your children are to be in charge of themselves at home, talk about activities they can do and the routines they are to follow. Discuss family policies on entertaining and visiting friends and what to do when the phone or doorbell rings.
• Have children - teens too - check in with you at work or with a neighbor when they come home from school. Be sure they memorize your work phone number and give this number to a neighbor too. Post it next to the phone, along with numbers for a neighbor, police, and fire department. Let your kids know when you will be home.
• Check out baby-sitters and day care centers carefully. Ask for references and call them!
• Instruct children and baby-sitters not to give out any information about who is home, who is out, and for how long.
• Get together with your neighbors, PTA, Boys Club/Girls Club, and schools to provide after school activities as a alternative to leaving a child at home alone.
• Talk to your employer about employer-supported childcare options. These can range from an on-site day care center to summer day camps, information and referral services, and financial assistance.

For more information about crime prevention call the Rockville City Police Department Community Services Officer 240-314-8922.