This list is subjective and in no way all-encompassing, There are so many different places and families and scenarios, so I make no claims that this is the best advice for your children. But this is what I’ve taught mine to do in this situation. Think of it as a framework to kickstart the conversation with your family.

Stay still – So often a child’s gut reaction is to go wandering around looking for mommy or daddy. They know they weren’t supposed to get lost, so they try to make up for it by finding you immediately. Make sure they know that as long as they are in a safe place to stay put so you can come back to them. It’s best to stay in the general area out of the way and somewhere that they can safely wait for help.

Ask a Mommy – We’ve taught our kids that the best person to help them is another mom. If they need help, they should scan for a nice lady with kids and ask for help. People with kids are oftentimes the best equipped to comfort a child and get them back to their parents.

Not a uniform – I know some might be raising their eyebrows at the above advice. Shouldn’t kids go to police officers or firemen? Yes…but in most situations, there isn’t a police officer handy. Unless you happen to be in the grocery store at the same time as one, your kid could be stuck searching for a cop for a long time. Uniforms can also be VERY confusing. At amusement parks, the security officers aren’t dressed in familiar police uniforms and it can be hard for a kid to discern which uniforms are genuine and which ones are not. The same goes for traveling overseas. This is why we always tell our kids to look for a mommy if they are lost.

Don’t leave with your helper – Found someone to help? Great. But make sure your kids understand that they shouldn’t leave their safe spot (e.g., the place where they realized they were lost), says Raffi Bilek, a family therapist, lecturer on child safety, and director of the Baltimore Therapy Center. “Not only does it make it more likely that their parent will come back and find them there, but it also reduces the risk of ending up in a secluded area with a safe helper who turns out not to be so safe,” Bilek says. Instead, simply ask your helper to call your adult if your child knows the phone number, or to phone the police if your child can’t remember the number.

Use full names – Teach them to use their full name when speaking to their helper. Give your child permission to yell loudly and repeatedly, “I want my mommy, where is [parent’s full name].”  Knowing full names also makes it much easier for your child to be identified, and will give bystanders or local law enforcement a means of locating parents or guardians.

First Aid

We have a big first aid kit in our house, as well as a mobile one inside of our emergency bag. My husband and I also have a small kit in each of our vehicles. When our kids were small, we pulled out the big kit at least once a month to inventory the contents with the kids. Good kits are available in many places. We keep a kit similar to this one in our cars. I’m sure you’ve noticed the theme, here, but practice makes perfect! Go over first aid protocols with your kids and familiarize them with your kits as often as you can.

Plan, practice, repeat!

These are not light and fluffy topics to cover with your little ones, but equipping them for emergencies might just save their life. And though the subject matter is difficult, the more you go over what to do, the better prepared your child will be. Having a plan and executing it can help alleviate their fear and your anxiety.