Knowing what to do when your child gets lost and more importantly teaching your child what to do when they get lost, are just as important as teaching them to look both directions before crossing the street. However, many parents do not think about the negative implications this could cause if they don’t enlighten their children of the importance of knowing what to do when they get separated from their parents.
I recently taught my Sunday School class this topic from the book “Parking Lot Rules & 75 Other Ideas for Raising Amazing Children” by Tom Sturges. Below are my notes, a couple of thoughts are from me but all topics and main points come directly from his book.
No Lost Children
Approximately 800,000 children are reported missing each year.
95% of children never carry personal identification.
How you can prevent losing your child in the future, and if you do, what you can teach your child to help you find them.
- Remember a time when you and your child became separated from one another in a public place.
o Remember the fear, the thoughts that went through your head?
o What should you do first?
o Where should you look?
o Where would they have gone?
o Should I have security close the doors so no one exits with my child?
- What we’re going to talk about today are the things we can do to help us find our child faster.
- THE JOHN ELWAY RULE
o Have your child wear one whenever you’re going to large public places (airports, amusement parks, etc.)
o NFL jerseys are made to be seen from the top row of an enormous stadium in the middle of a rainstorm.
o The bright colors are hard to miss – makes them easy to spot
o First thing security is going to ask you is “What were they wearing?”
- STAY WHERE YOU ARE AND FLY LIKE AN ANGEL
o We teach our children to look both ways before crossing the street, not to talk to strangers or to get into strange cars. We teach them all these important precautions so we should also teach them how to be lost.
o By knowing what to do if they get separated from us will help them to be more aware of the fact that they can get lost which will hopefully help keep this from happening.
o Important to teach your child what THEY should do if they get lost.
o FIRST, have them stop where they are. They shouldn’t go looking for a security guard, or someone who looks like another parent. They should STOP once they recognize they are lost and not go anywhere.
o SECOND, they should draw as much attention to themselves as possible by waving their arms up and down like an angel trying to fly.
- It’s not a time for them to worry about being embarrassed.
- If anyone asks what they’re doing they can say that they are waiting for their parent to come back.
o “The parental instinct is a very strong and effective mechanism that constantly updates and tells you where your child is, almost like sonar on a submarine.”
o THIRD, trace your steps and go back from where you came. Hopefully you’ll quickly find your child wearing an NFL jersey flapping their arms waiting for you to find them.
o FOURTH, once you find your child, whether it’s been ten seconds or ten minutes, resist the urge to scold or punish them. Rejoice that you have found them safe and unharmed!
o Imagine how they felt being lost: panicked, terrified, alone.
o And teach them to flap their arms and fly like an angel!
- WALK BIG AND TALL
o When going to crowded places, we as parents should dress as loud as possible as well.
o Good reason to wear those unfashionable loud shirts or bright, flowing polka dot sundresses that would never get out of the closet otherwise!
o Repeatedly remind our child why WE are dressed that way.
o “Even if this takes us to the point of silliness, it is all for a good cause if it will help our children know where we are at all times, particularly in crowded places.”
- MATCHING WRIST BANDS
o If you’re traveling in a large group it would great to have matching wrist bands to be able to easily identify people in the group.
o If your child gets separated from the group another person might quickly see who they could grab and send to your child.
o Write your phone number on their wristbands so their safe return is as quick as possible.
o Bands can be worn on wrists and ankles to provide an extra layer of visual security.
- DOG TAGS
o A tag with limited personal information to help your child find you
o Great to be worn in large crowded places or on trips that last several days.
o Can be worn on a lanyard under their clothes. You don’t want them to be vulnerable to predators by letting them see part of their name, etc.
o By wearing them under their clothes it acts as a continuous reminder that they could get lost and to be more aware of where their parents are. Plus they feel secure in knowing that they have a tool they can use to help them be found as quickly as possible.
o You can make one or order one from www.NationalEmergencyID.com
o Information to be included on their homemade tag:
- First initial of first name, last name spelled out
- Date of birth
- Several phone numbers
- Blood type
- Any medical emergency information that may need to be know by EMS
- If there is a good way to attach a hotel business card to it that would be helpful also.
o It’s also a good idea for you to have a tag/card yourself of your child. You can laminate it and put it in your wallet. Here’s what to include:
- On one side include:
- Child’s name
- Height
- Weight
- Hair color
- Eye color
- Date of birth
- Distinctive features (wears glasses, birth marks, etc.)
- Medical emergency information
- On the opposite side attach a recent photo of your child and laminate the two sides together
o You may be thinking “I already KNOW all this stuff, why should I have it written down??” The reason is that if your child is lost and you have to report it to the authorities you will not be clear-minded and may forget some important information. Here it is all written down including a photo. STRESS FREE!
- THE CABOOSE RULE
o The reason many children get lost is because they lag behind due to being tired, having shorter legs, and just can’t keep up.
o Then they become distracted by something and the next thing you know they aren’t with you.
o The Caboose Rule assigns an adult in the group to bring up the rear, making sure all kids are ahead of them and not left behind. The other adults ahead are responsible for the kids ahead of them.
o A shepherd does not lead a flock – he follows it. He can keep a better watch on his animals and any harm that might befall them by watching from behind. He can anticipate when one of them is about to lose its way and he can step in to rescue it.
- ANONYMOUS CLOTHING/ANONYMOUS CARS
o DO NOT put a child’s name on their clothes when they’re going to large crowded places. This leaves them vulnerable to predators.
o When they’re lost chances are they will be terrified and guilty and not thinking straight at all. Many of the ‘DANGER FILTERS’ will be shutting down so “a friendly man who reaches for him will probably seem like a nice person simply because he knows your child’s name.”
o DO NOT put your child’s name on a sticker on the window of your SUV. This places the youngest members of your family in the greatest danger.
o THE WORLD IS DANGEROUS ENOUGH AS IT IS. LET YOUR CHILD BE ANONYMOUS WHEN THEY ARE OUT IN IT.
- YOUR CHILD HAS TO KNOW WHERE YOU ARE
o Make it your child’s #1 job to know where YOU are. They have to keep their eyes on you, not the other way around.
o Train them. When they do not do this, then return them to the shopping cart explaining why.
o Love and Logic example
o Start this as early as possible, once they learn to walk!
o This will encourage your child to know where they are at all times and to know where they need to be
o “It will likewise raise her level of self-awareness and acuity to danger.”
o The residual effects are that as your child gets older their level of vulnerability increases thus their need to be self-aware increases as well.
- KEEP ‘EM WIRED
o When your children are old enough to walk around an amusement park or mall without you, be sure to equip them with a cell phone or walkie-talkie.
o Speed dial one number to your phone so they can call you quickly and easily if needed.
o If your children are too young to carry a cell phone then teach them your cell #. Teaching it to the tune of a song like “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” will help them to remember your number.
- BUDDY DIVING
o It’s a well known rule in the world of scuba diving that no one dives alone. You dive in pairs with a buddy so you can help each other out in emergencies. They stay within arm’s length never letting their buddy out of their site.
o This is a good idea for older children, once again, in an amusement park or large crowd setting.
o Have them go in buddy pairs always staying within arm’s length of each other.
o This can also work when taking a large group of children somewhere together like a museum, etc.
{ 0 comments… add one now }
You must log in to post a comment.