You’re at the store, doing the weekly shop, with your little one trudging slowly behind you. You make your way to the end of the cereal aisle and look back, only to find your child is gone! Abandoning the cart, you rush into the next aisle, and there they are, holding a big bar of chocolate. Phew! But you can’t help feeling a little flustered. As you wall home, your mind is racing with thoughts - What if they had wandered off and gotten lost? Would they have been okay? Would they have known what to do if they couldn’t find me?

We appreciate that this is a rather daunting and sensitive subject, but it’s really important that we teach our kids what to do if they find themselves lost.

But why is it so important to teach our kids what to do if they get lost?

In busy supermarkets, train stations, or parks, it only takes a moment of you looking elsewhere for your child to wander off. And if this does happen, we need to make sure they know what to do, so that they don’t put themselves in a potentially dangerous situation.

So, with all of this in mind, let’s take a look at a few different steps you can take to teach your child to stay safe if you become separated.

How can I teach my child what to do if they’re lost?

If your child gets lost in a supermarket or store, tell them they should go straight to the cashier, skipping the line if there is one - you can tell them that children who are lost get special privileges and are allowed to skip the line! Have them practice telling the check-out person that they are lost and need help. “Excuse me, I’ve lost my mum/dad/carer.” The checkout person or cashier will help them accordingly. This can also be applied to the staff in train stations, though you may need to point them out to your child regularly to help them identify them.

Most children over the age of 3 can actually locate the check-out all on their own. So practice with them next time you’re at the store and ask them to lead you by the hand to the nearest check-out.

Next, make sure your child knows that if they’re lost, they should never go with or talk to anyone they don’t know except a police officer or a member of staff. Even if someone says they can help them find their parent, they must not go with them unless they are one of these. It’s really important that they understand this!

You can teach an older child to look out for other members of store staff with nametags or uniforms. It’s also a good idea when you approach a new environment to point out any staff to your child, just in case you get separated.

Now, put on your serious voice and tell your child that they must never ever go into the parking lot of a building alone, and that it’s much safer to stay put. This is critical, as car parks can be very dangerous and your child will also be harder to find if they leave the building you expect them to be in.

When entering a new area - for instance, in a park or at the beach - tell them to stay calm and turn all the way around, looking for their grown-up. Agree on an emergency meeting spot, and make sure they know that if they get lost and can’t see you, they know to go there. Let them know that they can also approach other children if they feel safer doing so, as they will likely take them to their own parent(s) who will help to locate you. When you enter a new area, agree on a place to meet with them if you get separated.

Some families find that it helps to come up with a little family whistle. Using a melody that’s easy to remember and pick up, teach your kids that you’re nearby if they hear the whistle. When they’re older they might be able to manage it too.

It’s also important to teach our kids some of their and your personal information in case they do get lost. They should know their full name, their family address, the house telephone number, your numbers, your names, and even sibling names. To help them remember these things, put them to a song. You could sing the family address to the tune of twinkle twinkle and set your number to the melody of ‘The Wheels on the Bus’. You could also make a book and call it ‘All about [your child’s name]’, complete with pictures of the house and with phone numbers written out, clearly labelling everything your little one needs to know. Go through it regularly and sing the useful little songs you have created. Make sure they know to only reveal this information to staff and police officers.

If you would like to go one step further, have the necessary information put on a small laminated card that your child can carry with them at all times. Popping the same information on a poster in their room can also help them learn to remember it.

When out and about with your child, test their knowledge and ask them to point out strangers they would approach if they were lost and then respond accordingly.

What should I teach my child to do if they get lost?