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Keeping Kids Safe in Crowded Places

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            Taking young children to crowded public places can be an exercise in stress management, especially if you are outnumbered or have kids who tend to wander off. I will never forget the feeling of realizing my child was gone while we were on a fun family outing. She was standing next to me one moment. I looked away, looked back, and she was gone. 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 will never forget that 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

            The best way to prevent your child’s getting lost in a public place is to prepare for the possibility as if it will definitely happen in the future. In an age-appropriate way, begin by talking to your kids about the dangers of strangers and getting lost. You don’t want to scare your children, but you do want them to have a healthy fear of getting separated from those they trust. And you need to give them the tools to help themselves if it does happen.

            Role play

            After you have discussed the dangers of getting separated, 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 children respond more quickly and confidently if the need arises.

            Memorize contact info

            If your child is 4 or older, you can teach important contact information, such as parent names and phone numbers. If your children are too young to memorize this information, consider writing it on their wrist or using a bracelet or necklace that has your contact information so you can be contacted in an emergency.

            Know safe people

            Let your children 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, firefighter, security guard or store employee), or it could be another mom with kids. Let your little ones know 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 make a nice memory, it will give you a photo of what your child is wearing that day. If your child does get lost, you will not need to remember what he is wearing or look for a current photo. You will already have one ready. You also are wise to talk to your kids about where you will meet if you are 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 resist strollers and will do almost anything to escape. For those who are resistant to riding 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 keeping their children close without relying on hand-holding. 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 children 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 don’t let it stop you from enjoying fun outings together. With a little preparation and some conversations with your kids, you should be able to enjoy outings and be safe too.

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Sarah Lyons is a part-time writer and full-time mom of six. She lives in Olathe.

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