A parents worst nightmare can happen to anyone of us, at any given time. What’s more important is to make sure your child is well-taught and they understand what to do if that would happen. The most important thing to tell your child, “If we get separated, stay calm and follow the safety rules I have given you.”

Don’t Teach Your Child To “Not Talk To Strangers”

Most parents get in the habit of teaching their child not to talk to strangers, but that isn’t the best concept to teach. Oftentimes kids think of strangers as being “bad” or “mean,” so if a friendly person approaches them they might not be threatened. Parents need to teach their children to never go anywhere with anyone without speaking with them first. This is both clear and easy to understand even the littlest of children.

Teach A Child To Call You By Your Real Name & Phone Number

We often never to think of this when we’re out in a public place with our children, but it’s quite hard to distinguish your child’s voice from all the other kids yelling “mommy.” Some parents worry that predators will be drawn to children screaming for help, but that’s not the case. In order for a child to remember your first name, or a caregivers name, you’ll want to repeat it over and over to help them remember it. That way if they ever become lost they can tell someone who their parents are. When your child gets a little older, teach them your phone number.

Stay Where You Are & Get Help From Another Mommy

Teach your child to stay where they are if they get lost, and call for your name. If you don’t respond, their best bet is to run to the nearest mother with children and ask them for help. Statistically speaking, a mother who has children is the best bet for a child to talk to.

Make Safety A Priority

One of the biggest problems in today’s society is a parents uncertainty about how to approach the topic of safety. Even though it’s a fearful subject our kids still need to know the rules. Talk to your child a little bit each and every day or every week and give them opportunities to role-play for many teachable moments.