Tips for minding your kids

by Jennifer Jordan (Subscribe to Jennifer Jordan's posts) Jun 7th 2008 10:00AM

Categories: Toddlers, Preschoolers, Kids 5-7, Kids 8-11, Teens & tweens, Health & Safety, Resources

Have you ever wondered what it would feel like to lose your child, to just be walking around out there when suddenly, bam, she's missing? Has it ever actually happened to you? I don't think any of us wants to relive the recent saga of what happened to the McCanns, yet this is the world in which we live. I can't even allow myself to imagine what that horror must feel like. I know now why my mother was so overprotective when I was a kid!

MomLogic feels the same way and has provided us with a list of good ideas to keep in mind. After a recent incident in upstate New York when a little boy went missing--but was then thankfully found--Pattie Fitzgerald of safelyeverafer.com compiled a list of tips we can all use to mind our little ones, whether we're on an out-and-out full-on family vacation or just a quick trip to the store.

Things like having a meeting place in case you get separated is always a good one I remember from my own childhood. I also noted with interest dressing your child in bright colors to make him or her easily identifiable in a crowd as well as the notion of telling a child to find another mom with kids to ask for help should separation occur. Another great and simple idea: make sure your kids know your cell phone number. One would guess at this point many kids actually have phones of their own, which, though annoying at times, could make all the difference.

I noted that the safety precaution my mom had to resort to when I was a kid (because I was a wanderer) is not one there. She had to harness me and clip it to her belt!

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Comments (8)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Cara 6-07-2008 @ 10:42AM

I read this one on ParentHacks: for younger kids, write your cell phone number on their tummies with a sharpie if you're going to a really crowded place like a festival or amusement park. Obviously not something you'd want to do every day, but for big things where it's easy to get separated.

My 2 1/2 year old son is very much a "darter" so we got him this really cute monkey backpack and the monkey's tail is long and has a loop on the end of it for an adult to hold onto. He actually likes wearing it because he just thinks he's got on a backpack and he feels like he's got freedom to walk on his own.

Judy 6-07-2008 @ 10:48AM

Obviously this will only work with little kids who don't really care what they are wearing, but if we are going somewhere really busy where I'm afraid there's a chance of getting separated, I dress my boys (ages 2 and 4) just alike. My reasoning is that we don't always remember what kids are wearing, and if one were to get lost and we had to give a description, I could just hold out the other one and say "He's wearing this."

I like those temporary tattoos with the cell phone number, too, although I haven't bought any yet.

Laura - DashinFashion.com 6-07-2008 @ 4:31PM

When I was a child I remember my older brother always got lost (he hid from us) and drove us all crazy. I'm always explaining to my girls that they shouldn't play hide and go seek in public.

I think a great tip is to put you cell phone number on your child's arm...or have your business card with them.

Also, if I can I try and avoid being in overly crowded places.

And of course, I never leave my kids alone.

Laura
Dashin Fashion - Online Guide to Children's Clothes Worldwide
http://www.dashinfashion.com
http://www.dashinfashion.blogspot.com
http://www.mykidsfashion.com

Debbie Morgan 6-08-2008 @ 12:49AM

These are all great ideas but they sort of depend on a “safe” person finding your child. I remember my youngest wandering away from me while shopping in a toy store. My husband was sitting outside the store and he didn't see her leave and start waking down the mall. HORROR when we couldn't find her. All I could think about was if she were found by some horrible person. Fortunately, another mom saw her walking alone and helped her back to us but what a scare. When I wanted to publish a web site I decided to offer products that would help people stay safe. I'm happy to say I found an electronic child leash that is great. The child wears the "sender" and the parent wears the "receiver." If your child gets out of range it beeps like crazy. I've sold quite a few…very inexpensive. They're great for trips to the mall and traveling on vacation.

Sandyone 6-08-2008 @ 8:14AM

And no website, how refreshing!! It's nice that you're not hawking your bracelet (your invention?), but please, give us the website!!

Thanks!

Debbie Morgan 6-08-2008 @ 10:08AM

Hi Sanyone, ParentDish apparently doesn't like it when I include my URL in my comment since I have the opportunity to place it in my profile. When I do, they do not publish my comment. I'm sorry if my comment sounded self serving but I feel strongly about getting these products into the hands of the people who need them. When you visit my site, you'll see that most of my products are on sale. I've greatly reduced the prices so they are affordable. The products that aren't on sale have very little profit in them for me anyway. If you click on my name, you will be given my web site address. I'm sorry for any confusion.

Joyce P. 6-09-2008 @ 11:47AM

Dear Jennifer and All;

I came onto this site from another group I am subscribed to and read your article, because I am concerned about the serious problem of missing and endangered children and adults.

We are working on a grass-roots effort to promote the use of Bloodhounds/scent-discriminating search dogs -- to help find missing children and adults! But we need thousands more signatures in support on our online petition in order to get it passed as a national law, and your help will be most deeply appreciated!

Can I get permission to post the information and links here? I have joined some online groups to help get the word out, but some people are MISTAKENLY calling it spam... when it definitely is NOT!! The first link I would like to share is to an online article that gives background information on the "Molly's Law" project; and the second link is to our online petition, which contains the Preface to "Molly's Law". Thank you for any kind assistance you can give.

Sincerely,

Joyce P.

P.S. -- We are NOT selling anything; we are NOT paid for our VOLUNTEER work with our search dogs; we are just trying to get this proposed law passed on a national level and desperately need ALL the help we can get! Thanks, ladies!!

pbhj 6-09-2008 @ 9:52PM

A tip I heard here (IIRC) is to tell your kid(s) to look for a Mum if they are lost. I think the assumption that the safest type of strangers to trust your child with are probably other mothers.

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