Protect Your Children In The Shopping Mall

You have decided to take your children to the mall for a relaxing afternoon of shopping. You let go of their hands for just a second to check the price tag on that really great blouse hanging on the rack in front of you. You turn around and the kids are gone. You begin to search frantically, your heart racing, and your mind conjuring up horrible scenarios, only to find that they were playing hide-and-seek in the clothing racks. Some parents are not so lucky.

It is important to teach your children what they need to do when they become separated from you in a busy place like a shopping mall.

• Teach your children, the importance of staying close to you. Make sure they know how dangerous it would be for them to stray away.
• Teach your children, if they should become separated from you while shopping, to go to a police officer, security guard, or store clerk with a nametag, for assistance. Agree on a meeting place ahead of time in the event that you become separated.
• Teach your children to never leave a store with an unknown person, no matter what that person tells them, and make sure they know that it is never a good idea to leave the mall to try and find their car in the parking lot.
• Never leave your children unattended in a mall arcade. These are target areas for sexual predators.
• Always accompany your children to the restroom, no matter what.

If your child knows what to do when he is separated from you, the chances of a safe recovery are much more likely. Make sure that your child knows how to use the public telephone, and how to dial 911 and his home phone number. Also, let your child know that he should always talk to you about anything that frightens him or makes him feel uncomfortable.