Holidays are a time for family, friends, and celebration. We have a few simple tips for you to ensure that the holiday spirit rests upon your home and family throughout the season.
If you are looking to protect yourselves from anyone wishing to steal the joy (among other things) that comes this time of year, we’ve got some ideas for you:
Use caution when posting to social media! Don’t make any posts revealing that you’ll be away from your home for an extended amount of time. This gives any watchful eyes knowledge of when they can get their Grinch on!
As tempting as it is to share photos on social media of your beautiful tree with all the trimmings and gifts tucked neatly into place, don’t. You never know who’s making their Christmas list with the goodies stacked under your tree!
Now that you’ve secured the digital world let’s look at the physical. Keeping your curtains or blinds closed at night will keep anyone scouting the area from being able to see what is in your home. (For extra caution, keep them closed during the day as well.)
If you’ll be gone, do what you can to give your home the appearance that it is occupied. Channel your inner Kevin McAllister and create an elaborate dance party with mannequins and a train set. Ok, you don’t have to go that far, but do put lights on timers, leave a car in the driveway, and stop your mail so that it doesn’t pile up. You could also enlist the help of a trusted neighbor to check on the home and help keep sidewalks clear of snow while you are away.
We all struggle with the pile of cardboard that comes Christmas morning! As tempting as it might be to stuff everything into one of the big boxes and leave it outside to deal with later, avoid doing that. Scrooges scout those boxes (they especially love new televisions) and plan their targets based on the boxes they see sitting outside of homes. You’re best bet is to break those boxes down so they fit into the cans, or immediately take them to the recycling center.
Finally, if you have cameras, make sure they are working properly and are activated while you are away from the home, or at night.
If “what” is sitting under your tree it worth protecting, then “who” is sitting around the tree is a million times more deserving of that protection. We know that some of our previous ads might have you thinking about having some tough conversations with your kids. How receptive your children are to these topics largely depends on the relationship you’ve built with them. The holidays are a great time to build on those bonds. Giving your time and attention to the people you love goes a long way in being able to offer that security.
Your kids will be home and that likely means they are spending extra time on games and phones. Take a moment to get to know exactly what games they are playing and who they are talking to. (Even if it’s not really your thing, play it with them for a little while, it might just be an eye opener.
At some point during their break, try to have at least two conversations about online safety with your kids. I once heard someone say, “If your kids don’t roll their eyes when you bring it up, you aren’t talking about it enough.” If you decide to take the advice about playing with your kids, that’s a great time to talk about online safety. Look for ways to work in tips and tricks to be safe while actually in those situations.
Ask your child questions about themselves and then just take the time to listen. By staying quiet and letting them talk, you can learn a lot about them! Need a list of great conversation starters that work for any age? I’ve got you covered, just click here.
Make it a goal to spend at least one good quality afternoon or night with your family. What you do is entirely up to you; game night, road trip (paired with the challenge to not use devices), craft day, an afternoon sledding (if we ever get snow) whatever floats your toboggan!
Safety, security, and healthy relationships begin at home and extend out to those around you and into our community. Our hope is that this holiday season brings your family and friends closer than ever. From all of us at the Safe Communities Coalition, Fort Dodge Community Foundation, and United Way, have a very Merry Christmas and joyous holiday season!
