As students head back to school and families begin new routines, there's a lot to do to get everyone ready for a new year of academic and extracurricular pursuits. But staying connected to the goings on at home when parents are at work isn't always easy.

"This school year, as many school districts prepare for in-person learning – after 18 months of a hybrid or online schedule – families are adjusting: kids are getting used to coming and going from the house based on their own schedules, while parents are going back to the office as well," said Anna Bradt of Custom Alarm, a professional home security company based in southern Minnesota. "Our customers are focused on 'staying connected.' What's been important to them this year – more than any other start of the school year – is to receive notifications from the door lock and to video clips to see who is home."

Between stocking up on pencils and planning new schedules, don't forget to…

• 1. See when your kids arrive home
  
  There was a day when you hoped you’d get a text or call from your son or daughter when they got home from school – now you can know when they get home. With a professionally installed and monitored ProSeries security system, equipped with a video doorbell, you can stay in the know and watch as the kids come home. And with Alexa voice services, you can perform even more tasks simply by using your voice.
  
  "Our customers are very interested in the Total Connect App and the different notifications they can receive for specific situations. As families prepare to go back to school, right now they are really interested in cameras and the ability to view video clips," Bradt added.

• 2. Keep your kids comfortable - Don’t heat or cool an empty house
  
  Use your thermostat to help you conserve energy when you’re all away and to keep it comfortable when you are home by using geofencing or setting a schedule. And here’s a tip: if your kids are prepping for a big test or writing a paper, set your smart thermostat to 77 degrees Fahrenheit while they study. Because, according to a Cornell study, warmer workers perform better and 77 degrees Fahrenheit is the temperature that results in fewer mistakes – compared to setting the thermostat to 68 degrees Fahrenheit.

• 3. Automate lights and upgrade locks
  
  As homes become smarter, you have options to remotely adjust the light or even program certain lights to turn on at specific times. Each day becomes much easier if you wake yourself to a programmable smart light routine. Set your son or daughter’s bedside lamp to simulate the sun rising to gradually come to full light starting 15 minutes before their alarm goes off. They just might come to the breakfast table a little less grumpy.
  
  And as we enter new after-school routines, consider upgrading your front door lock to a smart lock. Each child can even have their own, unique code – so you can keep an eye on who is coming and going from your house.
  
  "The ProSeries Panel and Total Connect App have really helped our family eliminate some of the worries we previously had," said Custom Alarm customer Rebecca C., from Minnesota. "One of the great features our kids use is the Z-wave automation door lock. We went through three different locksets after our kids lost their keys to our front door. Now, using the Z-wave lock, our kids don’t carry a key, but now just enter a unique code on the door pad to open it. My wife and I then receive a notification to that they are home. Additionally, by using Total Connect cameras, we can get a clip to confirm that they are home by themselves and don't have any neighborhood kids in the home when we are not there."

To learn more about smart home automation, or to learn about ways to keep your family safe and comfortable this school year, contact a professional in your area.