Children's Safety

Do you and your child know what to do if they get lost?  I can only imagine as a parent the panic and trepidation one would feel if they lose a child in the mall, at the park, etc.  

PrettyLoaded.Org is one of my favorite safety tip sites!  They have done it again with some great safety tips for your children when you are out in the public.  

First and foremost, you need to know where your child is at all times especially under the age of 8.  Do not trust they will stay right by your side just because you have told them as they get easily distracted.  

1) Discuss a location to meet should you get split up.  Make sure they know the name of the location and have them repeat it.  Also, need to be easily understood by others.  

2) Teach your child that if they are lost to find a woman dn preferably a woman who has children with her.  Inform your child to NEVER go outside or to a different location with a stranger - even if they say then know where their parents are at.  

3) Educate your child to scream.  He is not my father or she is not my mother if the stranger is trying to take them outside or to a different location.  If they scream NO - typically it is just thought of as a disciplinary action.

4) Go to an employee or service desk to have them announce a description of your child that is missing over the intercom.  Do not wait too long to do this!

5) Dress your child in brightly colored clothing so it is easy to spot them.  

6) Be careful and at an arms-length with little ones around elevators because the doors can close before you can get to them.  

7) Put a harness on your very young child if the location is crowded.  

8) Invest in a wearable GPS tracker for your child.  
Here is a link:  10-wearable-tracking-devices-keep-children-safe

Remember when your child recoiled from someone?  There may be a reason for this and you need to trust their instincts and honor those instincts as well as teach them!

I know summertime can be a little bit different than the holidays as we are out at the parks a great deal more vs. being inside at the mall.  However, many of these same tips still apply.  No matter the situation, please prepare and review with your children each and every time!  

​Be Safe!  

The following tips are simple and can be taught to your child in less than five minutes. Some recommendations are age dependent:

1. Discuss a location to meet should you get split up. Make sure they know the name of the location and have them repeat the name to you. The location needs to be easily understood by others. Examples: fish tank, service desk, kid’s park etc…
2. You need to know where your child is at all times if he/she is under the age of eight. Do not trust that your child will stay by you just because you told them. Children get easily distracted and it is normal for them to wander off. It’s hard to shop and watch at the same time, so you may need someone else along to help.
3. Teach your child that if they are lost to find a woman and preferably a woman who has children with her.
4. Inform your child to NEVER go outside or to a different location with a strangereven if the stranger says they know where the parents are located.
5. Educate your child to scream, “He is not my father or she is not my mother!”, if someone tries to take him/her outside or to a different location. Most onlookers will not stop to help a child if they are only yelling, “No, no!”, because it appears to be a disciplinary problem.
6. Go to an employee or service desk to have them announce a description of your child that is missing over the intercom. It is very important to know exactly what your child is wearing. Do not wait too long to do this.
7. Dress your child in brightly colored clothing so it is easy to spot them.
8. Be very careful and at an arms-length with little ones around elevators because the doors can close before you can get to them.
9. Put a harness on your very young child if the location is crowded.
10. Invest in a wearable GPS tracker for your child. A list of trackers is loca.
11. Avoid exposing your children to negative television news coverage. Our media actively reports on the increasing acts of violence in our world and children’s exposure to violent news stories can cause unnecessary chronic fear that is very unhealthy for a developing child.

The following tips are simple and can be taught to your child in less than five minutes. Some recommendations are age dependent:

1. Discuss a location to meet should you get split up. Make sure they know the name of the location and have them repeat the name to you. The location needs to be easily understood by others. Examples: fish tank, service desk, kid’s park etc…
2. You need to know where your child is at all times if he/she is under the age of eight. Do not trust that your child will stay by you just because you told them. Children get easily distracted and it is normal for them to wander off. It’s hard to shop and watch at the same time, so you may need someone else along to help.
3. Teach your child that if they are lost to find a woman and preferably a woman who has children with her.
4. Inform your child to NEVER go outside or to a different location with a strangereven if the stranger says they know where the parents are located.
5. Educate your child to scream, “He is not my father or she is not my mother!”, if someone tries to take him/her outside or to a different location. Most onlookers will not stop to help a child if they are only yelling, “No, no!”, because it appears to be a disciplinary problem.
6. Go to an employee or service desk to have them announce a description of your child that is missing over the intercom. It is very important to know exactly what your child is wearing. Do not wait too long to do this.
7. Dress your child in brightly colored clothing so it is easy to spot them.
8. Be very careful and at an arms-length with little ones around elevators because the doors can close before you can get to them.
9. Put a harness on your very young child if the location is crowded.
10. Invest in a wearable GPS tracker for your child. A list of trackers is located here.
11. Avoid exposing your children to negative television news coverage. Our media actively reports on the increasing acts of violence in our world and children’s exposure to violent news stories can cause unnecessary chronic fear that is very unhealthy for a developing child.