How to Spy on Your Child at a Crowded Event
I have one dart child. He is now four years old, so he is a little better than he was at two or three years old, but still visiting the crowded museums and outdoor concerts gives me a certain uneasiness. My last terrifying episode was in a crowded park where I saw him walk into the monkey bar area, then I turned to say something to my other child, then I turned back and … he was gone. It was like a movie, where the POV is the crazy rocking of the camera back and forth: the kids at play, the jingling ice cream truck, and no sign of my son. My oldest child and I fanned out, and eventually I noticed him at the other end of the park, happily playing in the mud. For a moment, I renewed my sympathy for those parents whose child was trapped in the gorilla’s cage.
Now I follow him closely, but I also found some good tips on how to watch your child in a crowded place.
Take a picture
Sometimes it’s easier to find brightly colored clothes than one brown-haired woman, but that won’t work if you can’t remember what she’s wearing. Now I take pictures of my children if we’re going to be in a crowded or chaotic place so that I can remind myself what they are wearing, or, God forbid, describe them to the police.
Keep yourself in their sight
I said: “Stop where I see you!” but then I realized that they have no idea what I see. Now I say, “Stay where you see me, ” which means they (usually) don’t go around corners or run down corridors.
Set meeting point
Anyone who was a child before the advent of mobile phones will remember this strategy: make a plan “in case we go our separate ways.” At my children’s favorite museum, they know they can be found at the big dinosaur on the ground floor. If you are going to a sporting event, choose a large visible landmark – hot dog kiosk, ticket office. You get the idea. Tell your child to head there if they can’t find you.
Tats
I want my kids to remember my phone number, but the younger is still struggling with it. You can get temporary tattoos with your phone number or, as a last resort, write it on your arm with a felt-tip pen. Another line of defense is stickers with their name / phone number to mark their clothes. If an adult discovers they are wandering, the child can show their tattoo or name tag.
Walkie-talkies
If your child doesn’t have a phone, you can give her a walkie-talkie. My kids are too young for that – they would just play the walkie-talkie – but I guess it will work for older kids at big events like fairs and carnivals.
If you turn around, set a time limit
I made this mistake when I lost my child in the park – I asked my eldest son to find him too, but I didn’t tell him “come back in five minutes and meet me at the fountain” which means I was curious for a short awful moment where both children are.
If all else fails, there is always a leash , an absolutely noble solution, IMO, for any parent with a darter. If my child escapes again, you bet I will completely tie him to me. In the meantime, if you see an unaccompanied child waiting by a dinosaur in a natural history museum, check his arm for a tattoo.