Your Essential Safety Plan for Busy Spaces

As winter approaches, it’s likely you’re going to be out and about with the kids at all kinds of places that get extremely busy, from Christmas markets to the high street.

And it’s essential to have a safety plan in place for when your children are around a large number of strangers, in potentially unfamiliar environments. We know that it’s scary to lose sight of your child for even a second, so we’ve put together this guide covering the essentials of your very own safety plan.

Set Up a Meeting Point

No one wants to lose track of their children in a busy space, but it does happen, and it’s one of those things that can just happen. Most of the time, no one is to blame, and it’s easy to get swept up in the hustle of the moment and find yourself separated from your child.

If you’re worried about this happening, clearly designate a meeting point with your child if you should become separated. Make it something nearby and easy to find and make it clear that this is where your child should go if they cannot find you. Tell them to stay there and wait for you, and make it clear they shouldn’t start searching for you on their own initiative. An excellent way to ensure a younger child knows where to go is to establish a simple rhyme or song to cement the meeting point in their memory.

Make Sure Your Children Have Your Contact Information

Many younger children today have mobile phones, and that’s great when it comes to meeting back up when you’ve become separated.

But not every child has this option, so write down your mobile phone number and name and tell your child to keep it safe. This ensures that, even if your child does wander off or get lost, they have the information police or other helpers will need to contact you and make sure you and your child find each other quickly and with minimal distress.

Keep Your Phone Charged

How often do you forget to charge your phone and then watch on helplessly as it dies just as you need it? It happens to everyone, but if you’re going to be in a crowded, busy space, it’s important to make sure your phone is going to work when you need it to perform.

So, if you’re worried about getting separated from your child, eschew taking too many snaps of the day or filming, as this can be a severe drain on battery life.

Tags: safety, children, plan, busy spaces, what to do, guide, tips, meeting point, contact information