The Back-to-School Security Checklist: 5 Ways to Keep Your Home and Family Safe

The back-to-school season is a whirlwind of new backpacks, sharpened pencils, and the return of a structured routine. It’s an exciting time, but for parents, it can also bring a fresh wave of worries. New schedules often mean an empty house during the day or kids arriving home on their own for the first time.

Ensuring your home is secure and your children are safe doesn't have to be complicated or expensive. It's about establishing simple, smart routines powered by modern technology. To give you one less thing to worry about, we’ve created this simple checklist to boost your peace of mind this school year.

Your Back-to-School Peace of Mind Checklist

Here’s a quick overview of our 5-step plan. Read on for a deeper dive into how to implement each step easily.

Step	Security Focus	Kangaroo Solution	Benefit for Parents
1	Safe Arrival Confirmation	Entry Sensor	Get an automatic notification the moment they're home safely.
2	Screening Unannounced Visitors	Doorbell Camera	See who's at the door so your kids don't have to open it.
3	Deterring Daytime Intruders	Motion Sensor + Siren	Get alerted to unexpected movement in an empty house.
4	Smart Emergency Monitoring	Security Camera (Sound Detection)	Receive alerts if smoke or CO alarms go off when you're not home.
5	Discreet Visual Check-ins	Security Camera + Entry Sensor	Get a quick, reassuring visual that everything is okay.

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Step 1: Automate the "Safe Arrival" Confirmation

The moment your child walks through the door after school is a big moment of relief. But relying on a "I'm home!" text—which can be easily forgotten in the excitement of dropping a heavy backpack—isn't always foolproof.

A simple, peel-and-stick Kangaroo Entry Sensor on your main entry door provides an instant, automatic notification to your phone the second the door is opened. You’ll know the exact moment they’ve arrived home safely, no texting required. It’s the ultimate "welcome home" confirmation for your own peace of mind.

Step 2: Screen Visitors So Your Kids Don't Have To

A critical after school safety rule is teaching children not to open the door for strangers. But this can be confusing when a delivery driver or a neighbor stops by.

With a Kangaroo Doorbell Camera, you (and not your child) become the virtual gatekeeper. You’ll get an alert with a photo of who is there, allowing you to see if it’s a friendly face or a stranger from anywhere. This empowers you to decide on the next steps, taking the pressure and guesswork completely off your kids.

Step 3: Deter Intruders in an Empty House

An empty house during the day can be a target for opportunistic thieves. While old tricks involved leaving lights on timers, modern empty house security is about knowing for certain that your home is undisturbed.

Placing a Kangaroo Motion Sensor in a main hallway or living area acts as your eyes when you're not there. If motion is detected during school and work hours, you'll get an immediate alert. You can then trigger the siren on a paired device to create a powerful, audible deterrent that makes it very clear the home is being monitored.

Step 4: Turn "Dumb" Alarms into Smart Emergency Alerts

You have smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, but what happens if one goes off when you're at the office and your child is home alone? They might panic or not know what to do.

Kangaroo's Security Cameras have a built-in sound detection feature that can recognize the specific frequency of standard T3 and T4 alarms (the sounds your smoke and CO detectors make). If an alarm sounds, Kangaroo sends an alert straight to your phone so you can take immediate action and be the calm voice of reason for your child.

Step 5: Do a Discreet Visual Check-In

Especially with older kids, you want to respect their independence while still having the ability to confirm everything is okay without being intrusive.

Placing a security camera in a neutral, common area like the kitchen or living room (never private spaces) is the perfect solution. With Kangaroo's free plan, the photo snapshot triggered by the front door's Entry Sensor can give you a clear visual of who has arrived home, providing confirmation and context in a single, simple alert. It’s a quick glance for your peace of mind, not constant surveillance.

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Get Your Peace of Mind for the New School Year

The back-to-school season is about setting your family up for success. By implementing these simple security routines, you can eliminate worry and focus on what truly matters. Kangaroo was designed to make home security simple, accessible, and affordable for every family.

Ready to build your family's custom security plan?