Arriving home routine
You just got home and nobody else is there yet. There is an order to do things in, and it matters. Put these six steps into the right order.
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Look around
Do you see anything unusual — a broken window, a ladder leaning up against the house? Be alert and trust your instincts. Zoinks!
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Take your key out of your backpack and unlock the door
Click!
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Take a good whiff
Do you smell anything unusual? I’m not talking about your smelly socks, either! I’m talking about natural gas or smoke!
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Lock the door
Click!
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Call or text your parent or guardian to check in
“I’m home!”
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Unpack your backpack
Now is a perfect time to do your homework!
Maya gets home, checks around her, lets herself in, checks the air, locks up behind her, and puts her key straight back in the same spot — every step, in order.
Why this order
Look around before you touch the door. If something is wrong — a broken window, a ladder against the house, a door already open — you want to notice it from outside, not from inside the house. If anything looks wrong, do not go in. Go to a neighbor and call your parent.
Lock the door behind you straight away. Not after your snack, not after your homework. It takes one second and it is the single thing most likely to be forgotten.
Check in so somebody knows. One text is enough. It means an adult knows exactly where you are and when you got there.
One more habit
Always put your key back in the same spot. Make it a habit — the same pocket of the same bag, every single time — so that you don’t lose it or forget it. A key you can find in the dark is a key you never have to panic about.
