How to Teach Kids to Safeguard Their Belongings at Any Age #LSSS

This is part of a sponsored post series written as a compensated member of Master Lock’s Live Secure Safety Squad. 

As the chill of winter fades away, days get longer, and signs of life appear, we can finally breathe a sigh of relief that spring is here. And with spring and warmer weather, comes spring break! With many families looking forward to a relaxing getaway, spring break provides a welcome disruption from the routine of school and after school activities but it’s not a time to let your guard down when it comes to safety whether you’re staying close to home or heading far away.

To make travel easier, let kids take charge of their own belongings. Giving children age appropriate responsibility teaches them an important life long skill and allows them to take pride in caring for their stuff. Parents will find that it becomes easier to travel as kids get older, especially if there are systems put in place that makes them feel empowered as savvy travelers.

Preschool and Elementary Ages

Travel is always exciting for kids at the youngest ages and now is the perfect time to create a sense of pride in being in charge of their own luggage. A 22” carry-on size rolling suitcase is perfect for kids this age to tote through the airport.

If shopping for new luggage for your trip, let your child pick out the color of their own suitcase and a lock to go with it. Master Lock’s TSA Accepted Luggage Lock with Flexible Shackles not only come in a variety of colors but also allow kids to determine the combination of their lock. Just be sure to have them tell you the lock code they choose just in case!

Having a suitcase they choose with a lock in a favorite color makes kids want to take care of their luggage because they will have pride in having something that’s exclusively theirs. They’ll also be sure to help look for their bag when it comes off the luggage carousel when you arrive at your destination!

Tweens

Families who like to explore their surroundings using different modes of transportation should take a hint from bike riding loving tweens and incorporate a two wheeled adventure into their spring break plans. Tweens love the independence that comes with bike riding and experienced bikers are skilled at keeping their rides safe.

Whether bringing or renting bikes on your vacation, make sure that you have access to quality bike locks to protect your investment. A family favorite is the Python Adjustable Locking Cable. The 6 foot cable is long enough to loop around all four of our family member’s bike frames, securing them to a stationary object when we bike to a favorite local restaurant or for a day at the beach.

Teens and College Students

High school seniors and college students heading off on spring break adventures with friends need a way to secure their valuables when traveling because not all hotels have trustworthy in-room safes. A more reliable, portable, and affordable solution is to gift your teen a Set Your Own Combination Personal Safe. For under $30 (less than $16 from Amazon), this personal safe from Master Lock protects smartphones, cameras, gaming devices, cash, credit cards, jewelry, keys, passports, sunglasses or other small valuables in a durable and waterproof case with a foam lining. It includes a cable that wraps securely around a fixed object or can be used as a carrying handle.

College students who are looking to secure items in dorm rooms they’re vacating for spring break can place items in a Small Portable Combination Safe. Made of steel and available in red, blue, or black, this product from Sentry Safe has a cable that can be locked around stationary objects to secure small valuables while traveling. Available for $12.50 from Amazon, this is a worthwhile investment to have during the college years.

Both the Set Your Own Combination Personal Safe and Small Portable Combination Safe allow the owners to set your own combination for added security. While parents can’t insist that teens living outside the home use portable safes to secure their belongings.

As a member of Master Lock Live Secure Safety Squad, I also receive samples to facilitate my posts. All opinions are my own. Images courtesy of MasterLock.