Back-to-School Safety: Stay Connected With Ring

Back to school season brings new routines, earlier mornings, and after-school activities. It's a season of transition, and with transition comes the need to feel secure that your home is covered, when life becomes a bit busier. 

Whether you're heading to work after drop-off, managing a packed extracurricular schedule, or adjusting to a new normal where your kids get home before you do, Ring is here to help you stay connected with the following back-to-school safety tips.

How Can Ring Help During the Back-to-School Season? 

Quick Answer: Ring can help keep an eye on things during back-to-school season by giving you real-time visibility into what's happening at your front door, around your property, and inside your home, all from the Ring App, no matter where you are. 

Back to school season means your home's daily rhythm will shift, and adjustments will need to be made. The house may sit empty for hours. Packages may pile up on the porch, and kids may arrive home before you do. These changes can create gaps in your security routine, and Ring is here to help cover them. 

Here's how to use your Ring devices to stay connected during the school year: 

Get real-time notifications: The moment someone approaches your door, drops off a package, or enters a Motion Zone, you'll know. You'll get an instant alert on your phone, so you're never out of the loop.¹ 

Check in with Live View: Whether you're at the office or in the school pickup line, open the Ring App and see your home in real time. It takes seconds and delivers instant peace of mind. 

Set Motion Zones: Customize your Ring device's motion detection to focus on entry points like the front door, side gate, or driveway. Fewer unnecessary alerts mean you'll only be notified by the ones that matter most.¹ 

Use Modes to match your schedule: Switch between Home, Away, and Disarmed modes to control which devices are active based on your family's daily routine. Arm your system when everyone leaves in the morning and adjust when the first person gets home.² 

Coordinate with your household: Share access with family members through Shared Users so everyone stays in the loop, whether that's your partner, your older teen, or another trusted family member. 

Which Ring Devices Should You Set Up Before School Starts? 

Quick Answer: The best Ring devices to set up before school starts include a video doorbell, outdoor cameras, indoor cameras, and alarm systems, which provide full coverage of your home, so you can keep an eye on things from wherever you are. 

Not sure where to start? Here's a quick breakdown of how Ring devices can help provide coverage: 

Ring Video Doorbell: See, hear, and speak to anyone at your front door from anywhere with 2K or 4K video resolution. With Video Descriptions,³ your notification will let you know what’s happening, so you can tell whether it's your child arriving home from school or practice, or a delivery driver dropping off a package. 

Ring Outdoor Camera: Keep an eye on your driveway, backyard, or side yard with 2K video resolution and up to 6x Enhanced Zoom. Low-Light Sight means you get full-color detail, so you can clearly see what's happening during early morning drop-offs or after-dark pickups. 

Ring Indoor Camera: Check in on common areas inside your home with 2K resolution and up to 4x Enhanced Zoom. Verify that the house is secure, the door got locked, or that everyone made it home safely after practice.  

Ring Alarm: A full DIY security system ties everything together. Arm it when you leave, get alerts if a door or window opens unexpectedly, and pair it with professional monitoring for 24/7 coverage.⁴ 

The best part? All Ring devices work together in the Ring App, giving you a single view of your entire home's security from one place. 

How Can Ring Help Families with Busy Schedules Stay Connected? 

Quick Answer: Ring can help families with busy schedules stay connected with real-time notifications, Two-Way Talk, Shared Users, and Live View, so every family member can check in and stay aware of what's happening at home without being physically present. 

Back to school doesn't just mean new security concerns. It means less time together as a family. Ring bridges that gap in simple, meaningful ways.

Two-Way Talk: Forgot to tell your kid something before they walked inside? Talk to them through your Ring Video Doorbell or camera right from your phone. No call required. 

Shared Users: Give your partner, older kids, or trusted family members access to your Ring devices so everyone can check in and stay informed. 

Motion Alerts: Set up alerts for specific zones so you know the moment someone arrives at your front door or pulls into the driveway.¹ 

Modes: Easily switch between Home, Away, and Disarmed modes to control which devices are active based on your family's schedule.² 

How Can the Neighbors App Help Keep You Informed? 

Quick Answer: The Neighbors App can help keep you informed during the school year by delivering real-time safety updates from verified local agencies and your community, so you always know what's happening in your neighborhood. 

Your home security doesn't stop at your property line. The Neighbors App provides a broader view of what's happening in your community, and it's free to download and use.  

Here's how it can help during the school year: 

If you get a safety alert while your kids are home, you can have them reach out to their emergency contact or go to a neighbor's house until you arrive home. It's an extra layer of awareness that helps you feel connected to your neighborhood.  

New routines don't have to mean new worries. Ring gives you the visibility, connection, and control to stay on top of what's happening at home, so you can focus on everything else this season brings. Set up your devices, customize your alerts, and head into the school year knowing your home is covered.

Frequently Asked Questions 

Q: Do I need a subscription to use Ring devices?  

A: No. Ring devices work out of the box with real-time notifications, Live View, and Two-Way Talk at no monthly cost. Read our blog to learn about what features are free when you purchase a Ring device here.  

Q: Can my kids use Ring devices without their own account?  

A: Yes, you can add family members as Shared Users through the Ring App, giving them access to view Live View, receive notifications, and communicate through Two-Way Talk on your Ring devices. 

Q: Which Ring device is best for knowing when kids get home from school?  

A: A Ring Video Doorbell will send a real-time alert the moment someone approaches your front door or rings the doorbell. You can see and speak to them with Two-Way Talk from wherever you are. 

Q: Can I set Ring Alarm to automatically arm when my kids get home?  

A: Yes. You can set a daily schedule to change your Alarm Mode to "Home" at the time your kids typically arrive, which arms the sensors you designate in settings.² 

Q: Is the Neighbors App free?  

A: Yes, The Neighbors App is completely free to download and use, with no Ring device or purchase required. 

General disclaimer: Ring subscription features and services may vary by country. Not all features available in the United States will be available in every region. 

¹ Compatible Ring subscription required for video recording, person/package/vehicle detection, and certain notification features. Available for select Ring video doorbells and/or cameras. 

² Compatible Ring subscription required required for digital arming/disarming and certain other in-app features. 

³ Compatible Ring subscription required. Feature not available for customers in Illinois due to state-specific legislation. Video Descriptions availability limited to mobile devices with select primary languages. 

⁴ Compatible Ring subscription is required to enroll in Professional Monitoring. Service available in all 50 U.S. states (territories not included) and in Canada (excluding Quebec). Ring does not own its monitoring center. Smoke and carbon monoxide monitoring is not available for business or commercially zoned addresses. See Ring Alarm licenses at: ring.com/licenses. Additional fees may be required for permits, false alarms, or Alarm Verified Guard Response, depending on your local jurisdiction.  

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