I thought of sharing few tips with you. I lost my daughter yesterday while working on my yard. Usually she is good at telling me where she is going for example that she is hot and she going inside or that she wants to run a little. Yesterday my daughter failed to do so, and suddenly she was gone when I looked up...vanished in the air so the speak...panic set in etc...We had a happy ending luckily and I found my daughter at my neighbor's house visiting her dog.
I have cut and pasted an article here to quote PreventingLostChildren.org site. It teaches parents well how to prepare and teach their children in case of an emergency. At the end you'll find website that give you further information.
-Page 1 of 2 @2007 The Center to Prevent Lost Children. All rights reserved. www.PreventingLostChildren.org “Don’t Talk to Strangers and Other Parenting Myths” “Don’t Talk to Strangers and Other Parenting Myths” No doubt, parenting is tricky. Parenting information changes all the time plus everyone feels compelled to give their personal, often contradicting, opinions. Unfortunately, even some of the basic “rules” of parenting can’t be trusted. Here we discuss four such myths that can make life or death differences.
MYTH #1: I am a careful, watchful parent and my kids are well behaved so they will never get lost. It happens to virtually everyone: 7 out of 10 children will experience being lost at least once in their lives1. 90% of families will be impacted and the traumatic memories of these incidents will forever remain in the minds of both the parent and child1. We teach our children to be curious and independent but then we scold then for getting accidentally lost. Therefore, it is actually good parents that realize this is a common situation. They proactively teach their children that getting lost can be dangerous and they all know what to if it happens. While most incidents result in safe returns, both children and adults often retain traumatic memories for the rest of their lives.
MYTH #2: Don’t talk to strangers. When a child gets lost, he/she may be too scared, too young, or simply unable to communicate to assist an adult that is trying to help find the child’s caregiver. One of the best safety practices is to tell your child to find another mommy if he/she gets lost. There is an important difference in empowering your child to ask a stranger for help versus having a stranger approach your child unsolicited. Mommies are easy to identify and find in most family venues – plus mommies are usually eager to help (and least likely to harm) a distressed child.
MYTH #3: Don’t put identification outside of your child’s clothing. Safe identification includes a cell phone number that is visible and easily accessible on a child. If the child is lost, another person can quickly call to reunite the onsite caregiver. Do not hide the information in a shoe or in the child’s clothing. You do not want a stranger undressing your child to find such a clue. Even if your child knows their home phone number, you don’t want to continuously be dialing your home voicemail to see if there is any information about your lost child. Many parents worry about having a child’s name visible. Even though most children will willingly give a stranger their name, there are dozens of other ways that a predator can lure your child away. However, putting the child’s address is actually very dangerous because in the wrong hands, your home can become a target. Whether going to a mall, to a ballgame, or to school, young children should always have safe identification visibly on them.
MYTH #4: My entire family dresses in the same color when we go to a crowded place. It may be cute but it is rather ineffective to put your family in the same colors unless they are very bright. A small child can be much more easily spotted if they are in bright green or bright yellow. Wearing such colors (hats, shirts, jackets, etc.) can make it easier for you to see them. If you need to get other people’s help to find a lost child, the bright colors make it easier for them too. It is more helpful to describe a child’s physical attributes (hair color, eye color, height, weight, etc.) when you can also note that they are wearing a unique color. Keep that clothing as a special outfit for when you do venture away from home. This will help you remember what the child is wearing should you need to recall that under stress.
These four parenting myths are just some of the unfortunate bad parenting advice that has been passed down for generations and not been updated given new technology and information. Realize that these myths can be very harmful to your child and be a smart parent by preparing yourself and your family. With less effort than it takes to put on a seatbelt, teach your children not to get lost and what to do in case it happens.
About The Center to Prevent Lost Children (CPLC) The Center to Prevent Lost Children (CPLC) provides parents, grandparents, teachers and other caregivers critical information that prevents children from getting lost – and helps find them safely when it happens. Through live and recorded seminars, CPLC provides “Away from Home Tips” and product/technology advice. Seminars are delivered in schools and day care centers, religious & civic organizations, YMCAs, hospitals, and corporate settings to adults and/or children. CPLC Family Safety consultants also work with employees in venues such as retail stores, amusement parks, airports, beaches and sporting events where children often get lost. For more information about attending or sponsoring a lost child prevention seminar or if you want to work with a CPLC Family Safety Expert, contact us at info@PreventingLostChildren.org or 508.881.5664.
More website addresses that might interest you to read. everyone has their own approach and maybe one of these can help you design your own emergency plan in case one of your little ones go missing.
Some sites to visit:
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