Keeping Kids Safe in a Crowd
BY SARAH LYONS
I will never forget the time I realized my child was gone while we were on a fun family outing. I was torn between staying with my remaining children and running off to search for her. Luckily, my older son spotted her and was able to quickly bring her back to our group. She was safe, but I’ll never forget the feeling of my heart dropping. After that experience, I knew we needed to come up with a plan to keep the kids safe when we venture out to public places.
PREPARE.
In an age-appropriate way, start by talking to your kids about the dangers of strangers and getting lost. While you don’t want to scare your child, you do want them to have a healthy fear of getting separated from those they trust.
ROLE PLAY.
Role play some of the possible scenarios. What would they do if they were lost, who would they ask for help, what would they do if a stranger asked them to come with them? Acting out these scenarios will help your child respond quicker and more confidently if the time arrives.
MEMORIZE CONTACT INFO.
If your child is four or older you can start to teach them important contact information such as their parents’ names and phone numbers. If your child is too young to memorize this information, consider writing it on their wrist or using a bracelet or necklace that has your contact information so they can contact you in an emergency.
SAFE PEOPLE.
Let your child know that if they are lost they can find a “safe person” to ask for help. This could be anyone in a uniform (police officer, fire fighter, security guard, or store employee) or it could be another mom with kids. You can let them know that they can identify a mom because she has a stroller, many kids with her, or is carrying a baby.
TAKE PRECAUTIONS THAT DAY.
When you set out for the day, take a picture of your child. Not only will this be a nice memory, it will give you a photo of what your child is wearing that day in case your child does get lost. It’s also wise to talk to your kids about where you would meet if you were separated. Pick a spot that is easy to find, centralized, and unique such as a statue, fountain, tower or flagpole.
KEEP THEM CONTAINED.
The easiest way to keep kids from wandering off is to have them ride in a stroller, cart or wagon. This may not work for every child. Some kids resist strollers and will do almost anything to escape. For kids that are resistant to riding in a stroller or are too old, have them hold your hand or the side of the cart. Some parents may also find a backpack harness works best for their child because it keeps them close without relying on them to hold a hand. When I had a lot of small children I used a walking rope that had several handles my kids could hold and walk along with me. You can also have older children hold hands with younger children. Any tool that keeps your child safe and close to you in a crowded place is worth trying.
Taking your kids to crowded public places can be stressful, especially if you are outnumbered, but you shouldn’t let it stop you from enjoying fun outings with your kids. With a little preparation and some conversations with your kids, you should be able to enjoy outings and be safe too.
