How to keep kids safe in crowds

Have you ever experienced that moment of sheer panic when you thought you'd lost your child in a busy place, like a crowded playground or shopping centre? Suddenly, all the kids seem to blend together, and in the brief second you look at your phone or grab something from your bag, your child seems to have vanished.

Kids are fast (and often fearless), unaware of the risk of losing you in the crowd. The rest of the outing becomes a tense game of keeping track, turning what was supposed to be a relaxing break into a stressful challenge. You might even find yourself regretting the decision to go out, especially to such a crowded place.

It can serve as a good reminder to teach your kids about what to do in crowded spaces in the event they ever get lost.

Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to prepare and keep your kids safe in crowds, making the experience less stressful. Here are some tips.

The first thing you can do is to organise an emergency meeting place in case you get lost. Something easy to find and distinct, like a favourite shop if you're in a shopping centre. That way you can all easily find each other.

If you don't have an emergency meeting place though, it's important to teach your child that, in the event that they become separated from you, to stay right where they are and not let anyone take them anywhere else. Tell them to call out your name, rather than 'mum'. In a similar vein, tell your kids to listen for you calling them or their name being called over a loudspeaker system.

Teach your child how to identify people they can ask for help from. Start showing them pictures of what police officers, security, or shopkeepers look like. You could also teach them that if they can't find those particular people, they could ask another nearby parent or grandparent with children for help.

And finally, try and get your child to learn how to remember and describe what you look like - from the colour and length of your hair, to whether you wear glasses, your height and also what type of clothing you're wearing on the day. You might decide to wear something eye-catching (like a colourful bag) when you go out with your child so that they have a memorable way to describe you.

You could roleplay scenarios with them, asking them to pretend they are lost and what they would do. Tell them they should only answer to someone they know, like a police officer or someone working at the venue. Roleplay by practising asking questions like "What's the first step you will do if you lose mummy? Practice the answer with them and repeat. Other questions include, "Where do you live? What is mommy and daddy's name? What is their phone number?"

There are also plenty of picture books about safety and getting lost that you can read together.

Tell your child to avoid talking to people they don't know when you're not around.

It's also important to teach your kids that they should never leave with a stranger. Explain how strangers may try to give them a gift or lolly but that they should never take it without mummy or daddy. 

You can teach your child to break free from anyone they don't know or don't trust if they are trying to force the child to go with them.

Ensure your child knows they should always tell you if a stranger tries to talk to them, and never keep this secret.

Always go to the toilet with them, and don't leave them alone.

Tell children to make a lot of noise if they're scared; this is when to make all the noise they want when they feel in danger. 

The Triple Zero website and app are great learning tools for your child to play with and practice. It will be educational screen time that you won't need to feel guilty about. Through games, they will learn how to keep safe, what to do in an emergency and how emergency services can help us.

One of the best ways to avoid getting lost in a crowd - is to avoid the crowds altogether! If possible, arrive early so you can get a spot if you need to, saving yourself from wandering around among the crowds. Try to avoid any unnecessary wandering where your child may get lost. 

When you first arrive at the destination, ask your child whether they can tell you who works there. This can give you the confidence that they will know they can identify employees to go to for help instead of a stranger. You can also ask them how they know that person works there. See if they can identify authorities and employees by their uniforms. You could point out police officers or security guards together. 

Have a chat with your child about how busy it will be, and it's important they stay near you at all times, or you might lose each other, and it may be tough to find each other. Ask them to hold onto the pram or your hand.

Always try to keep your child within an arm's length away so you can grab them quickly in a crowd. Ideally, you will be holding their hand at all times.

If they're at an age they will still sit in a pram, have them sit there. Otherwise, invest in a safety harness to keep toddlers from wandering away, as, at this age, they often don't know it's dangerous to do so.

If you can't find your child where you last remember them being with you and around that area, go to the designated meeting spot you had discussed with them.

Call out for them as well, and contact security.

Make sure you listen out, too, in case your child has been found, and the venue announces this.