We are early into the month of July, which is prime vacation
season. Maybe you are going on a big trip to a tourist destination such as
Disney World. Maybe you have big events you plan on attending, such as big fairs
and festivals. Or perhaps it’s something as simple as a company picnic. No
matter what the event, keeping track of children in a crowd can be a huge challenge.
You can make this much less stressful on yourself with a bit
of planning and preparation. For the most part, keeping track of kids in crowds
uses the same basic strategies no matter the venue you may be in. The strategy
does change however, based on the age of the kids. There is a big difference between
watching a child who is 4, and one who is 14.
No matter what the ages are though, the most important thing
to do is be sure your family has some type of action plan. This includes many
things. First, you should have a meeting place picked out in case of emergency.
This place should be a safe distance from the crowded festival grounds, but not
too far away. Similarly, there should be a dedicated spot within the event
venue to meet if separated.
Another good idea for all members of the family is to take a
family photo before you go. That way if something happens, you have a recent
picture available and you won’t be faced trying to explain what your child
looks like or what they are wearing.
For younger kids, it’s a good idea to make them stand out so
they are easy to spot. Maybe dress them in bright colors you can easily see, or
in something they wear often so you’ll know to look for it. If they have a
favorite hat they wear on a near daily basis that is something your eyes will
naturally drift to.
You should also put your phone number somewhere on your
child, whether it is on paper in their pocket, or written on their arm. This
will make it easy to get in contact with you if you end up separated,
especially for young ones who may have a hard time remembering a phone number.
And of course, teach your children about who to go to for
help. While the police is the most obvious choice, that may not always be
possible. Advise them to go to information booths. If that fails, they should
talk to women who have young children, as they are likely mothers with children
who would be willing to help.
These tips should give you a bit of peace of mind while you
are out in crowds with your children. Don’t let the crowds stop you from taking
children out, just be prepared!
