Your Organized & Safe Holiday Shopping Trip
December 8, 2008 by Jennifer Chait
Filed under Home & Living
When I was four years old, I wandered off at the mall. My mom was shopping. I was gone for hours. The cops and store security were searching and searching for me. It took a long time to find me though because when two security guards stopped me, and asked if I was the lost kid, I said, “Lost? I’m not lost” and wandered off. Luckily someone wised up, and I was found and safe.
Funny now, but if my own kid did this I’d be in panic mode. If you’re planning a holiday shopping trip, especially at a busy mall or store, it pays to plan ahead and get organized.
1. If you have very young kids, a stroller is the safest place for them. With young kids who are old enough to walk with you try this:
2. Write your cell phone number on a piece of paper and give it to your child.
3. Take activities – the gameboy, a comic book, and a wagon are useful tool. A bored child may be more likely to wander off.
4. Have a good plan. Be sure that you’ve gone over and over what to do if you and your child are somehow separated. The first thing he should do is stand still and call your name – not “Mom or Dad” but your real name. If this fails he’ll need to get help.
Some experts recommend teaching your child to locate a security guard, but I think this is iffy. For one thing, kids can be scared of uniforms. Secondly, ANYONE can have a security outfit and name tag. What I’ve told my son forever, is that if he’s lost, look for a mama. Look and find a mama who has many kids with her, and tell her that he’s lost. While I don’t trust security outfits, I do trust other moms, because I know that as one, I’d help if a lost kid came up to me. Plus finding a mom is easy and more comfortable for most little ones to do.
5. Have a reward system: IF your child stays with you the whole time, offer an end of the trip treat. Bribes for safety are well-worth it I think.
How are you planning safe shopping this year?
check out this tip, too!
http://uneflic.blogspot.com/2008/06/save-your-lost-child.html
I’d consider writing the phone-number ONTO the child: a piece of paper gets lost, an arm doesn’t.
My sister does so with her daughters. She adds smileys and thus makes it fun for the kids.
I tell my kids the exact same thing you do — find another Mommy and tell her you are lost. I think children find moms with children more approachable – and like you, I feel like I can TRUST another mom while I certainly don’t feel like that about people in uniforms (only because a pedophile could be in a uniform). I’d move heaven and earth to help a child who came to me lost find his/her mother because I’d want a mom to do the same for me.
Good list.
Try a Quick Stick Write On! Tattoo! No ink directly on the child, permanent markers are toxic, and it can last for up to two weeks. No lost little pieces of paper. No water needed to apply and totally waterproof. Jennifer you are welcome to contact me directly maybe we can work out a little fun for your readers.
Great extra tips everyone. I really like the idea of writing on the kid – or the tats. Although, some kids would freak about this. My son hated, actually, still hates being messy, so he’d likely frown upon being written on, but it’s a great idea for most kids. @Anne – good link!