Duplicating Keys vs. Using Spare Keys – Home Security Considerations for Families

With our kids finally heading back to school, most families are happy to get back into a regular rhythm with their children and teenagers. However, even with a steady routine on most days, we all know that unforeseen situations are bound to occur - and they may leave your kids in a situation where they’ll need to get into your home on their own.  

The decision to entrust your children and/or teenagers with a house key is a big decision, and so you may be on the edge about giving them their own copy. In this article, we’ll review a few high-level considerations about whether it’s time to entrust your child or teenager with their own set of keys, or to continue using a spare key as their primary way of home entry when you’re not around.

Ability to handle new responsibility

Age, maturity-level, and trustworthiness are not always the same thing when it comes to children and teenagers – and this isn’t a bad thing! Kids are absent-minded and often make mistakes an adult wouldn’t, even into their later teen years. You know your kids best, so your first consideration is based on their demonstrated abilities to handle responsibility and to remember important security measures. Are they prone to lose important items? Can they remember to put a spare key back in its place right after they use it? Depending on your answers to these questions, you may need to consider taking precautions to minimize the chance of losing their duplicated house key. Or, you may need to practice with your child or teenager how to properly use and put back a spare key.

Method of usual transportation

One of the other biggest considerations that will influence your decision whether or not to create a duplicate key for your children or teenagers is how they normally get to and from school/other outside activities. If you live nearby to a school, your child may walk to and from school on their own or in a group. If your child has friends nearby, you may have a regular carpool arrangement with another family. If you have an older teenager and a younger child, they may be responsible for dropping off and picking up their younger sibling(s). All of these regular circumstances may indicate that it’s time for their own copy of the house key.

Why? Because regular access of a spare key is a security risk, as intruders often scope homes for several days before break-in, looking for clues about where a spare key is hidden. Your child coming home at a regular time and getting the spare key out of its hiding place can be a real safety risk. Your spare key should really be used for any unforeseeable situations and could still be appropriate if the above situations do not describe your usual circumstances.  

Remote or keyless entry access

With technology becoming so integral to our lives, this is probably the first generation in modern history where keys are not necessarily needed for home access. Depending on your situation, you may have the opportunity to consider having your child use smart-home technology instead of a duplicated or spare key to access your home. There’s a plethora of solutions out there for your home, and which direction you choose will primarily depend on your budget and/or what other smart-home technology you already have installed.

From key duplication to smart lock installation, we have your residential locksmith needs covered. Learn more about our home locksmith services here!