It’s hard to have fun when you’re worried about your kid’s safety. My five ways to keep your kids safe will help you relax and enjoy your outings, even in the busiest of places.

When my firstborn was a toddler, he was happily walking alongside me in Walmart. As we were nearing the exit, I went to put him into the cart. Sensing my next move, he ran full force back into the store. I abandoned my cart and ran for him. When I got to the end of the aisle, he wasn’t there. 

I lost my toddler in Walmart. What a great moment as a mom.

Living in a rural area, my kids don’t get regular experiences with crowds. My boys also have an insatiable need to run. Because of this, a trip to a festival, amusement park, or city can feel overwhelming. That’s why I follow five simple steps to ensure their safety (and reduce my anxiety) when we are going somewhere particularly busy. This will help you feel confident in keeping your kids safe in crowds: 

Five Simple Ways to Keep Your Kids Safe

1. Set and share boundaries. Before going somewhere new, talk to your kids about it, sharing the fun details alongside the rules and expectations. This may sound like: “Tomorrow we are going to the music festival. We will get to listen to music and dance and eat snow cones. There will be a lot of other people there, so it’s important that we walk and stay close together.” Then it’s up to me to enforce the boundaries. If my toddler is too excited to walk, then it’s time for the stroller. 
2. Choose Bright Clothing. I haven’t invested in a child GPS tracker like Jiobit. My kids don’t have Apple AirTags embedded in their shoes. I don’t own a toddler leash (but no judgment if you do). What do I have? Awesome tie dyed shirts. If you know you’ll be needing to keep a close eye on your kids, dress them in their favorite brightly colored shirts. Not only do they make for great photos, they make them easier to spot. I occasionally dress mine in matching outfits. However, as my oldest son is growing, he’s not thrilled about matching his little bro.
3. Teach them what to do if they get separated. Make your own plan and talk about it. Our first step is a fun one. We have a silly noise that we use to call each other. I allow the boys to say it anywhere as loudly as they want. If I hear it, I will call it back. We use this when they’re playing independently in the yard or at the playground. It helps us quickly find each other and is a simple way to check-in. What happens if that doesn’t work? I taught my son to find another woman with children, tell her that he’s lost, and stay in the store/museum/park until we’re reunited. My toddler understands the yelling part, but doesn’t quite grasp the rest. That’s why we…
4. Have back-up measures. We have simple bracelets that have my last name and phone number on them. If lost, your children should have enough information to contact you. If they can’t memorize your phone number yet, you can use an ID bracelet. We purchased these write-on bands and custom bracelets. Both worked great. You can also keep it simple and free by writing your number on a piece of paper and putting it in their pocket. When my children wear their bracelets, I remind them what they are and why they have them.
5. Know your own plan. If they are lost, search for them and call for them. Most importantly, give a loud clear description of your child so others can be on the look-out too. If you don’t have success quickly, do not hesitate to notify employees, security, or police for more help.

These five steps will help whether you’re at a busy grocery store or a crowded amusement park.

On that day in Walmart, I immediately ran back to the exit, thinking he’d at least be safer in the store than if he ran into the parking lot. I called his name and spoke loudly to those around me saying “my toddler is lost, he’s wearing yellow boots.” After a few moments (that felt like minutes), he ran back to me. The goofball ran into the bathroom. Needless to say, I learned my lesson. Keeping toddlers safe in public is a lot of work and it doesn’t always go as planned. Following these five steps will help you relax and have more fun! 

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