Don’t Get Lost In A Crowd

Whether going to a sporting event, a parade, carnival, or even just shopping at the mall, you will very likely be taking your kids along at some point. But a crowded place can be a dangerous place if a kid gets lost. So it’s really important that your kids know what to do in case they get separated from you. National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) offers a few helpful suggestions for how you and kids can make sure you do the right thing when in a crowd situation.

• Make sure your kids stay with you at all times. They should always ask you or the adult in charge before going anywhere, and never go without you.
• Always pay attention to where your kids are going, even accompanying young kids to the bathroom.
• Have a strategy incase you are separated, pick a rendezvous spot. Talk to your kids about who they can talk to if they need help, i.e, a police officer or store employee.
• Take the opportunity to practice “what if” exercises with your kids when you go out to public spaces, to help reinforce in them what to do in a potentially dangerous situation.

If a child loses sight of you in a crowd, they can become disoriented and start to panic. It’s important that you go over these simple tips with them to help teach them how to be prepared in case they get lost. If your child knows what to do, they are less likely to panic and can find a way to return to you quickly and safely. Check out the NCMEC site for more information on how to talk to your kids about crowds.