Identification on kids?

[Pipppon]

Just a quick question ... my DD is 5 and we are going to Disney for the first time next week. Do I put identification on her and if so, what do I put? I've heard that this may not be the best thing to do ...

 

[Jordan's MOM]

There are lots of threads on this but I do not know how to link you to them. Sorry. What I suggest is to put the indentification somewhere that is not easy to see but where she would know where it is to show a CM if she gets lost. What i think is the best idea is to go to your local pet store and make a pet tag with the information you need. Resort, cell phone, your last name etc. Lace this onto her shoe lace and teach her to show her show to a CM in the cast she gets lost. There are also braclets made just for this purpose too. Another idea is just use masking take and write the information on it and put it somewhereon her clothes that is not easy to see. Also make sure you talk with your daughter about what to do if she gets lots and about how not to get lost. Exampe: Always make sure you can mom, hold dad's hand in crowded area.

hope this helps a little.


Jordan's mom

 

[crisi]

We just laminated the information with a hole in it (actually, we used one of those cheap sticky luggage tags) and pinned it to their clothes. Small enough that strangers couldn't see it. When the kids wore pockets, we pinned them inside the pocket. Otherwise, we tried to pin them someplace discreet.

But we ended up losing one tag, and leaving them in the room. My son (5) was concerned without his tag that if he got lost, we wouldn't find him. So we took the autograph pen and wrote dad's cell phone number on his hand. That actually worked great for the 4 and 5 year old - the are old enough to be able to know their name and that the number on their hand is Dad's phone number. (It wasn't hot and we didn't get wet - don't know if this would smear in humid weather or if riding Kali). The nice thing is that this involves no planning and no props - other than finding a pen and carrying your cell phone.

We also introduce our kids each time to "Mickey's Friends" and show them the cast member badges (the white ones, the red ones are guest of honor badges). If they do get seperated, they are supposed to find one of Mickey's friends and tell them.

So far, we haven't lost one - at least not at Disney.

 

[Zephyr]

I love that idea (writing # on hand) - that's very clever!

 

[summerrluvv]

The writing on the hand could wash off couldn't it? Or sweat off.

I saw a child on the bus who had a small laminate card with a hole punched in the corner slipped onto her shoelace. The info was very small (I couldn't read past the My name is...). I thought that was a great idea!

Also...there is a bracelet you can buy from Kidsafe (I think that is the name). There was a link posted last year for it, and I ordered one. It's a velcro bracelet and has little slips of paper (card type) that slip into it that you can write all the info on.

 

[crisi]

The writing didn't wash off while we were in the park. But it wasn't so hot as to sweat off and we didn't do water rides. It did wash off in the pool that afternoon, but since we had two autograph pens in the bag, writing it back on wasn't a big deal when we went out again for the evening.

 

[Kewz1]

We gave our kids room keys (w/o charging privileges!) and put their first names on the back. They were told to find a CM and give them the card. The kids never lost them and, fortunately, never had to use them.

Kristen

 

[prncess674]

A bit off topic, but take a full body shot picture of your child each morning if you are taking a digital camera. If you get lost or separated from your child it's amazing that you forget the little details of what your child was wearing. If something truely horrible happens they can always print a picture very quickly from a digital camera. Remember a picture is worth a 1,000 words. Even just showing a cast member from the viewfinder on the back of the digital camera what your child was wearing that day can be extremely helpful. At the end of the day if it isn't a picture you want to keep just delete from your memory card and repeat the next day.

 

[bearloch]

We were there in sept and I made cards with a picture of myself and my name and cell phone and room info number on it Not her name, I pinned it to her shorts but where it was out of the way. A lot of people commented on what a good idea that was. I also had with me a current picture with all her info on it. Laminated both to hold up and they did we got really wet a few times no promblems. I also told 4 yr old that if she ran off where she could not see me to stand still and wave her arms over her head that I or a cast member would find her right away. and everyday I remined her not to leave the park with anyone but me.



LOL and have a wonderful trip

 

[Tamie]

Check with your local DMV, we were able to get my son a State ID. With his picture, weight, height and address on it, then we put that and a card with our hotel, cell and an emergency contact other than us, in a pocket or fannypack, you could also punch a hole in it and put it on a lanyard if you wanted.

Then the first thing we did when we got to a park, was show him a CM and what their nametags and uniforms looked like and then explained to him what to do.

He loved it, he got a drivers license just like mom and dad.... Scary thought.

 

[Gretchen]

We used the luggage tags from the airport check in counter. put pertinent info on them and tied to their shoe, laced over it. Kids knew to tell a CM if they got lost.
Gretchen

 

[cinjam]

We used masking tape & a sharpie to write just our cell phone # and taped it to the back of DS's (then 2yo) shirt - right below the neck. This way he didn't know it was there & did not try to take it off. When we tried the ID card on the shoelace on a trip to a local amusement park, DS tried to rip it off. Plus I didn't like putting his name on anything.

 

[cmcvean]

Wow prncess674 what a WONDERFUL idea. I know that if one of my daughters was lost I would totally freak out and I'm sure I wouldn't remember what she was wearing. Thank you!



Christine

 

[Jen117]

We laminated a small card that had my DD name on it, our name, where we were staying and a sell phone #. The type was 8 point, so you had to look close to read it. The card was only a inch by 2 inches at the most. We then pinned it to her shorts just under her shirt. She knew it was there tho. Since she was only 3 we tried to teach here who "Mickey's Friends" were, meaning the CM's. And that if she lost us, to go to the CM's. Never lost her, but made us feel better that she had something on her.

 

[plutosmyfav]

Originally posted by bearloch
We were there in sept and I made cards with a picture of myself and my name and cell phone and room info number on it Not her name, I pinned it to her shorts but where it was out of the way. A lot of people commented on what a good idea that was. I also had with me a current picture with all her info on it. Laminated both to hold up and they did we got really wet a few times no promblems. I also told 4 yr old that if she ran off where she could not see me to stand still and wave her arms over her head that I or a cast member would find her right away. and everyday I remined her not to leave the park with anyone but me.

That's an excellent idea. I will put my information on him and carry his information on me. Thank you for sharing this idea. I like the idea of a daily photo also. In the case of separation, a CM could be looking for my likeness while another is looking for his-- double the speed of reuniting us!

DS is 3 1/2 and has Sensory Integration Dysfunction and Self-regulation issues in high-stimuli environments. I've been worried about how he will respond when we hits the parks. I absolutely cannot get him to hold my hand. I am brining a stroller and he will have to ride in it for a while every time he runs away (he gets too excited and runs away ALL the TIME).

Thanks for the tips on safety.

 

[Jordan's MOM]

plutosmyfav

I know this is a hot issue and I do not want to start a debate, but have you considered a child leash for your child. They have hand or harness styles that might give you that added bit of security. For a child that does not have the ability of self control, it might make things a little safer. Just a suggestion.



Jordan's mom

 

[Strapped-4-Cache]

Since we now have a handful of the lime green Disney paint chips from Home Depot, we're thinking of using the back side of one of them to print our contact information on, in tiny print, just before it's laminated.

That way my DD can have her "special" Mickey on her lanyard. She always likes to have things just for her and her lanyard will be one of them. I'm sure we'll have a hard time getting her to take it off at night.

- Mark

 

[plutosmyfav]

Originally posted by Jordan's MOM
plutosmyfav

I know this is a hot issue and I do not want to start a debate, but have you considered a child leash for your child. They have hand or harness styles that might give you that added bit of security. For a child that does not have the ability of self control, it might make things a little safer. Just a suggestion.



Jordan's mom

Yes! In fact, last year I purchased one and DH had a fit. He said absolutely not! So we (mostly I) chased him nonstop, and carried him alot. This year DH isn't going to be there, so I'm going to show it to DS, put it on him at home and explain to him that if he runs a way I will have to use it at "Florida" as he calls our trip. Having it along and showing it to him from time to time might be all I need it for, but I agree, for safety I can accept the idea of a "leash". I prefer to think of it as a "teather" keeping DS and I safely together. He is way to big for me to carry much at all anymore.

 

[dj2]

I'll be traveling with just my DD7 in January and while this might not work for a younger child, I'm just as worried about the possibility of losing her and here's what we're doing.

Of course I'll explain to her who the CM's are, and the idea about standing still and not wandering around if we get separated, but in addition to that, I bought her (on e-bay) a disney princess "belt bag," and will put a prepaid cell phone ($24.99 at www.tracfone.com) in her bag. I'm hoping we never get separated, but if we do, i'm hoping the phone will keep us connected. I think it's going to make us both feel safer.

And since it's a prepaid phone, if she somehow loses it I don't have to worry about someone racking up additional charges--there's no open account, only what's been pre-paid.

 

[breana902]

Originally posted by Jordan's MOM
plutosmyfav

I know this is a hot issue and I do not want to start a debate, but have you considered a child leash for your child. They have hand or harness styles that might give you that added bit of security. For a child that does not have the ability of self control, it might make things a little safer. Just a suggestion.



Jordan's mom

I have 2 boys, 5 and 6 now. I have been to disney 3 times already and I used a leash for both boys. My older son didn't want to use it last year so I didn't - but I kept it on the younger one. I also used the fisher price alarms on both of them. My boys are VERY active! LOL!! I also have 2 dtrs so that is why I used both the lease and alarms. I was afraid if I turned my head for just a second the boys would dash off.