During these days, we are enjoying the Constitution Bridge or December Bridge in Spain. In addition, Christmas has made an appearance and the streets and shopping centers are prepared to receive millions of visitors. When you go with children, it is very important that they know that they should not leave your side. But sometimes it is impossible and unfortunately many children get lost.
Especially these days where stores are full of visual distractions, andIt's very easy for the little ones to walk away without hardly realizing it. For this reason, it is extremely important that you have a chat with your children. So everyone will have an action plan in case someone gets lost. It is just as important for an adult to know how to remain calm and act quickly, as it is for the child to know what to do in case of getting lost.
What should a child do if he gets lost in a shopping center
Get lost in the street Or do it in a mall, it may seem the same but it is not. The differences are in terms of the dangers and on the other hand, in terms of the method of action. A shopping center has security and public address services, something essential that cannot be found on a commercial street. Therefore, before leaving home, be sure to explain well to the children what to do if they get lost on your side.
- Choose a meeting point. In shopping centers, there are many points that can serve as a meeting point. Easily accessible sites that children can quickly recognize. Choose the most appropriate in terms of access and explain to the child that if he moves away and cannot find you, he must go there and not move.
- Notify a security person. The advantage of shopping centers is that they have security personnel. Not only in all the stores, but they are also circulating through the aisles of the store. But it is very important that your child know how to distinguish a security person of any other. When you arrive at the center, approach a guard with your child and calmly explain to your child that this person will help him if he gets lost.
- The telephone number. If your child has the ability to memorize, it will be great for him to learn your phone number and your full name. If this is not the case, you will have to prepare an identification plate where you can write down your data. You can make a special pendant for when you leave home. Or you can write it down on the clothes the child wears. Make sure it is not in the coat, since they have a tendency to wear it unbuttoned and can easily lose it. With this data, the security staff will be able to contact you in a few minutes.
- Stay put. Normally, when children move away it is because something has caught their attention, a toy, a candy store or some attraction. Explain to your children that if they do that and they realize that they have lost you, it is preferable that they stay where they are. If they try to search for you, they may wander further away and it will be more difficult to find them.
Test anytime
It is not necessary to wait for an outing to teach your children an action plan, since throughout the year, you will surely go out from time to time. It is preferable that from time to time you review the rules together, even, that you carry out a simulation in the form of a game. For example, ask questions of the type, what will you do if you leave my side?
To make the game more attractive and motivate the child, include a small prize. In this way, you will make an effort to remember the rules well. It is not a matter of frightening the child, nor to make him fearful. But knowing what to do will give you security and autonomy. If something like this happens and the child does not know how to act, he will feel unprotected and then it is possible that he will do something that he should not, such as going with any stranger.