7 Things to Teach Your Child to Do if They Get Lost

Few ideas strike fear in the heart of parents as quickly and universally as the mere thought of their child becoming separated from them or getting lost. While it’s a lesson that parents fervently hope is never needed, one of the most important skills that youngsters can learn is how to properly handle a situations in which they become lost. Here are seven of the tips that you should help your child to memorize, in order to keep them as safe as possible until assistance arrives.

1. Look For a Mom with Kids– While teaching kids about “stranger danger” is important, these lessons can backfire if she’s separated from you in a public place. Fear of speaking to any and all strangers can make them hesitant to seek help; instead of instructing your child to never speak to strangers, you should make sure that they understand that police officers and rescue workers in recognizable uniforms, as well as moms with young children, are sources of assistance rather than danger.
2. In the Woods, Always Stay Put – On hiking expeditions and camping trips, kids that panic and start to frantically seek a safe place can make it even more difficult for rangers or rescue personnel to find them. Teaching your child to find an open spot on a clearly marked trail to in order to be easily found is fundamental outdoor safety.
3. Find Your Meeting Place – When visiting a shopping mall, amusement park or other high-traffic public places, you should always make a clear plan for kids to follow in the unlikely event that they are separated from you. Choosing an easy to find, central location as a designated meeting spot is advised.
4. Get to a Safe Spot – If you’ve taught your child to stay put, rather than trying to find a designated meeting place, it’s important to clarify that they should find the closest safe place. She should know that it’s okay to move out of traffic or other hazardous situations.
5. It’s Okay to Yell – Kids should know that shouting, even in libraries or other quiet places, is okay if they’re lost or even if they simply can’t see you.
6. Use Their Cell Phone, But Have a Backup Plan – While today’s kid is almost certain to have a cell phone, kids should know exactly how to use it in case of an emergency, but also understand that there are some situations in which a limited signal can render it useless. Parents should never teach their kids, or assume themselves, that cell phones are infallible; instead, instruct kids to use them first, but to also have a backup plan if it isn’t working.
7. Know Your Real Name and Phone Number – A lost child that approaches a police officer, security guard or other trusted authority figure should be able to confidently recite your first and last name, along with your phone number. Simply saying “my mommy” or “my daddy” will not provide emergency workers with the information they need to locate you.

In addition to teaching your children the proper procedures to follow if they’re lost, you should also teach them never to wander away from you in public. Older kids should be well-versed in the buddy system and other preventative measures.

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