5 steps to teach your child how to behave if he is lost from his family in a public place?

Because summer is the season for picnics and various outdoor activities, parents may choose to take their children to festivals, beaches and crowded parks, locations where a young child may be lost by his parents.

In the case of young children, it may be futile to agree with them on a place to gather if the child is separated from the group, especially as they usually become confused and frightened quickly if separated from parents and older siblings, and may not distinguish the places around them that easily.

So, says Stephanie Koontz, Safety Team Manager for KinderCare Education and Child Care, "Young children should know what steps to take if they are separated, whether it's at the grocery store or during a trip to a nearby park."

The expert pointed out that it is important to teach children from a young age to positive safety, that is, they should not be told that the world is a big and scary place full of people who may harm us, the child may in fact need to rely on strangers for help if necessary.

But the goal should be to provide them with the tools and strategies they may need to make intelligent decisions in situations that are frightening to them.

Because if a child is confident about the steps he needs to take and knows who can help, he will be able to do the right thing if he loses his parents.

Below, we review some lessons that you can teach your children to keep them safe if they get lost in a public place for any reason:

Save name and phone number

Parents must ensure that their child memorizes his or her parents' full name, phone number, and address.

Some children younger than 3 years old may be able to remember a parent's cell phone number.

Also, make sure your child knows your first and last name.

However, keep in mind that some young children may forget their parents' names because they don't use them, referring to their parents as "mama" and "dada."

If your child is too young to memorize this information, write it down on a piece of paper and put it in a safe place with the child, such as a shoe or a pocket, and remind your child of the location of the paper before heading to your destination, so he can tell an adult it is there in case of separation from the parents.

Instead of teaching your child not to talk to strangers as a source of danger, teach him how to choose help from others (Getty Images)

Training the child to communicate with parents

Have your child practice calling your phone alone if he has an emergency phone.

This is especially useful with older children once they have learned to use the phone.

Otherwise, you can train them to call on your mobile phone from a land line or the phone of any adult from whom the child asks for help.

According to the Families For Life website, you can also buy a bracelet with your phone number that the child wears on his wrist.

This will help them in case they cannot remember your phone number or if they are unable to call themselves.

Teach your child how to ask for help from others

Instead of teaching your child not to talk to strangers at all and fear them as a potential danger, consciously empower your child, and teach him to seek help from a mother or father with his child.

If he can't find a family around, ask him to look for an elderly woman, a store salesperson, or a security guard.

Teach him to tell this adult that he has lost his parents, and to provide their full name, phone number, name and other basic information.

Tell your child not to look for you if he gets lost

The best thing a child can do after being lost from his family is to stay where he is until you can come and find him.

Therefore, always tell him to resist his feeling of searching, and reassure him that you are the one who will search for him if he loses you, and that he just has to stand in his place so that he does not lose you more.

The best thing a child can do after being lost from his family is to stay where he is until you can come over to him (Getty Images)

Make learning these tips fun

A good way to do this is to watch a video on safety and the steps a child can take when they are lost.

Watch it with the baby at family time every once in a while to refresh his memory.

Play the "what if?"

with your child

Play the “what if” game with your child, during which you can review these tips periodically and practically with the child, especially before heading to a crowded place such as a park, playground or other public area, according to the Very Well Family website.

And keep in mind that your child should never be in danger or intimidated during exercise.

Just ask him simple questions and answers and make sure he fully understands the information.

training questions

Among those questions you are training your child with: What would you do if you couldn't see me?

What would you do if you didn't see any mom and dad with their baby after you got lost?

What would you do if a stranger told you that you should go with them?

In public places, you can practice with the child to identify safe people who can turn to him when his family is lost, such as security men, shop sellers, families with children, and so on.