- my iParenting
- quick clicks
- preschoolers today articles
- preschoolers today q&a
- children today articles
- children today q&a
- community & groups
- research baby names
- prepare a birth plan
- content channels
- ip channel rss feeds
- read birth stories
- read parenting stories
- recommended books
- e-newsletters
- safety recalls
- ip diaries
- ip store
- mom of the month
- dad of the month
- editor's letter
- letters to the editor
From Our Sponsors
- e-newsletters
- Sign up to receive our free weekly e-newsletters
- award-winning products
The iParenting Media Awards program helps parents find the best products for their families.
Safety on the Street
How to Protect Your Child When Traveling
By Teri Brown
If kids feel they are being abducted, teach them to sit down in the middle of the floor or grab the nearest person's leg and scream, "That's not my daddy" or "That's not my mommy!"
Point out security personnel and clerks to your children. Make sure they can recognize these people and know to go to them if they are lost. Have a meeting place for older children in case they become separated from you. One strategy is to write your cell phone number on your children's arms in case you lose each other.
Rawls says that when attending holiday functions, such as plays or other events, make sure to point out exits and escape routes to your children. An emergency can happen fast, and teaching your children to be observant and know how to react in an emergency may very well save their lives.
Separation can happen when you least expect it. Maintain physical contact with your child at all times. Children younger than 5 should be carried or placed in a stroller when in a large crowd. Safety harnesses are controversial, but mothers caring for several small children may want to use one when in a crowded airport or mall.
Knowing how to keep people safe is the business of SafePlace Corporation, an independent provider of safety accreditation of lodging, hospitals/health care offices, schools and other public areas. John C. Fannin, III, president and CEO of SafePlace Corporation, says preparation is key. "SafePlace criteria extend to all public facilities, and certain behaviors should be learned by adults and children," he says. "For instance, children should always know their name and how to spell it, know their address, phone number and the phone number of someone not living with them."