What to Do Before Kids Get Lost in a Crowd
June 30, 2005 — -- While some vacationers head to the great outdoors this summer, others will take their families to amusement parks, county fairs, shopping malls, water parks and other large -- and busy -- holiday destinations.
Regardless of the destination, parents should be aware of the steps they can take before they leave home to prepare their kids for the possibility they might get lost in a crowd.
Van Rice, vice president of operations and assistant general manager at Sea World Orlando, said that in the busy summer season, lost children come with the territory for large theme parks. "It's a regular daily occurrence. We can have multiple lost children in any given day."
One of the first things parents should teach their children is that being lost isn't shameful, and that they shouldn't be embarrassed to admit they are lost. At the same time, parents shouldn't hesitate or be embarrassed to ask for help quickly if they can't find a child.
"The quicker they inform a park employee of the child being lost, the quicker we can get them reunited," Rice said.
The wandering attention of parents is often a contributing factor.
"Parents tend to get caught up with looking at maps and show schedules, trying to plan their day," Rice said.
Add to that children's lack of impulse control, and the situation is ripe for a child to go missing.
"Younger children are anxious, and move from one attraction to another pretty quickly, where mom and dad stay behind a bit," said Robin Innes, director of public relations for Cedar Point, an amusement park near Sandusky, Ohio.
So, given that children can be quickly separated from the group, what should be the next lesson parents teach them? Many families employ some version of the rule "don't talk to strangers" or "stranger danger." While parents may be comfortable with this rule for everyday situations, it can be counterproductive when a child is lost. In the case of Brennan Hawkins, the 11-year-old who went missing while attending a Boy Scout outing in the Utah mountains, his parents said that part of the reason he spent four nights alone in the woods was that he hid from search and rescue team members.
Related Stories
ABC News Live