Stranger danger and your child
The number one priority for any parent is the safety of their child. It should be a given that when you take your child out for the day, they will not be at risk. Although it's important not to wrap your child up in cotton wool it’s crucial to be vigilant and to do your utmost to ensure they do not come to any harm.
When you’re at the stores, it's vital to keep an eye on your child at all times and (when they oblige!), to hold their hand. In the unlikely event that your child does go missing, alert a member of staff immediately. This way, all hands will be on deck to find your child and return him to you safe and sound.
The same rules apply when you're in a park. It's probably best not to take a book or magazine with you to read in case you become too engrossed and forget to check on your child. Instead, save your reading time for when you're at home and are safe in the knowledge that your child is having a nap or playing with his toys.
Teaching your child stay-safe skills
Your child needs to know what to do if he gets lost but keep your explanations age-appropriate and bear in mind that you may have to repeat them to a younger child every time you go out. Follow these tips:
1. Explain to him gently and simply what a 'stranger' is. Tell him it’s someone he doesn’t know, that it may be a man or a woman, and he shouldn’t ever take their hand and go with them, or get into their car. Try not to scare your child, as you don't want to give him nightmares or make him paranoid – tell him it’s important he doesn’t go with anyone as you won’t know where he is. Once you've explained to your child about the danger of strangers, ask him to repeat what you've said to check he understands what you said.
2. Tell him who to ask for help. Explain that if he gets lost, he should tell a ‘safe’ person, such as a police officer, a store clerk or another mommy with children. When you’re out, point to examples of people he could tell.
3. Tell him what to do if a stranger asks him to go with them or offers him candy. In this case, he’d need to run somewhere safe, or to another mommy with children. He should shout ‘stranger danger’ or 'help' as loudly as possible. If your child is very young, it’ll be more difficult to explain to them what they should say, so keep it as simple as possible.
4. If you're in a store or mall, pick out a clear meeting point you can both go to if you become separated – this works best with older children.
5. Another good trick with an older child is to have a shared password only you know. If anyone tells him you’ve sent them to fetch him, he can ask what the password is and call for help if they don’t know it.
What to do if your child gets lost
Panicking is counterproductive for both you and your child, so stay calm. If you’re at the store or mall and you realize your child has gotten lost, alert the store clerks or security staff; at the playground, alert other moms or the park wardens. Stay in the area where your child got lost, as he will probably find you again very soon.
Try to remember that most children wonder off at some point and are returned to their parents within minutes. See our article on getting lost for more help.
The information in this feature is intended for educational purposes only. If you have any concerns about your health, the health of your child or the health of someone you know, please consult with a doctor or other healthcare professional.