Overprotective Mom question

[Pamb]

I admit I am an overly protective mom but I talked to my mom yesterday so I know where I get it from! She raised a few questions.

I assume that DL screens it's employees very throughly before hiring them. Does anyone know the rules for DL employees, especially those that would take responsibility for lost children.

I would love to tell my kiddies that if anything happens to find a CM and they will find your lost mommy and just need a little reassurance that they will be okay if for some reason we are separated.

 

[cinderella_mom]

Both DL and DCA have lost child centers. All CMs will take charge of a lost child and get them to the center. In DL it's on Main Street, in DCA it's behind the Tortilla Factory. Definately tell your children to find a CM if you get separated.

 

[bumbershoot]

There are two things that kids can do and be as safe as possible.

Find a CM standing behind a cash register. Since Cast Member type badges are sold at the parks, finding one actually working behind a cash register makes sure it is a CM.

Find a mom with a kid. A mom with a kid will probably have already noticed a lost-looking child, and that mom with kid will be the most likely to be a person who will help positively.

I know I'm not really answering your question, because I don't KNOW the answer, but hopefully these are ideas you can use anyway.

Last suggestion is that every morning on your way out to the parks, take a digital picture of your kiddo wearing what s/he is wearing. That way, if you are separated, when you grab a passing CM you can show the CM the picture on your camera, rather than have to find your calm voice and remember what s/he was wearing a few hours before. You can be freaking out AND giving them needed information at the same time.

 

[jennifur25]

There are two things that kids can do and be as safe as possible.

Find a CM standing behind a cash register. Since Cast Member type badges are sold at the parks, finding one actually working behind a cash register makes sure it is a CM.

Find a mom with a kid. A mom with a kid will probably have already noticed a lost-looking child, and that mom with kid will be the most likely to be a person who will help positively.

I know I'm not really answering your question, because I don't KNOW the answer, but hopefully these are ideas you can use anyway.

Last suggestion is that every morning on your way out to the parks, take a digital picture of your kiddo wearing what s/he is wearing. That way, if you are separated, when you grab a passing CM you can show the CM the picture on your camera, rather than have to find your calm voice and remember what s/he was wearing a few hours before. You can be freaking out AND giving them needed information at the same time.

That's why I'm dressing my twins alike.. so I can say "he looks just like THIS one!"

 

[twinspluscade]

That's why I'm dressing my twins alike.. so I can say "he looks just like THIS one!"

LOL! I've always figured I could do that too, with my identical twin girls. Of course if they both are missing, then I've got problems.

 

[dhlovesbelle]

Also, with my older kids I have them look at me and their dad every morning before we get to the parks and say out loud what we are wearing, that way if they do just get separated they can quickly look for our shirts and the info will be in their brain for easy retrieval

 

[HydroGuy]

Another comforting thought is that DLR has tons of plain clothes security people posing as guests. If a child is lost there is a good bet one of these folks is watching the child until he/she gets to a safe spot.

 

[brenda1966]

I remember once watching a man take a lost child to find her mom and thinking "I should follow him and make sure he's an okay guy". Yes, he clearly worked there and he did take her to find her mom, but I felt an uneasiness, so I understand completely where you are coming from.

I have always told my DD to find a "mom with kids". And when she got lost at WDW, she told me she found a "mom who didn't have any kids". LOL. She found an older lady who then transferred her to a CM.

I think the best thing we can teach our kids is to speak up and ask for help, and to ask the right person: a mom with kids or a lady who works there.

 

[sftnslky]

That's why I'm dressing my twins alike.. so I can say "he looks just like THIS one!"

LOL I do this all the time, and I also tell my boys... "Don't get lost or make me get rid of you [j/k] cause while I would miss you I have another one that looks just like you" On a side note I think it is sooo funny when folks come up to us and say 'oh are they twins? or are they the same age?" We usually say "no, this one is ours and this one is our next door neighbors"

 

[Pamb]

Thanks for all the advice I will be using many of the ideas. I am planning on having everyone in matching shirts everyday then I can just look at myself and remember what color I am looking for. I am hoping this will also encourage the Dream Team to grab us and let us stay in the dream suite .....I can always hope


I don't want to be overly paranoid but still keep my kids safe (and any others I see)

 

[rockstargeisha]

Make sure your children know your names as well as a cell phone number if you have one.

 

[disneyfaninaz]

You might want to look into these ID tags for kids:

http://www.whosshoesid.com/index.asp?sectionstr=Order+Here!&cat=134648&cartstep=minfo&prodid=783677

 

[drgalyen]

I make my own ID tags on my computer- I put a head shot of them on it with eye color, hair color and fav. character just for fun. I also put mom and dads full name and cell phone numbers- we always have our phones on us. And lastly, I put their right thumb print on it.
I also carry one with me that has all 5 of my kids on it with the same info.
Depending on your kids age; for the younger ones I put a leash on them- its just a homemade adjustable strap with a handle so they can be free to walk but I can keep them close. I also put the ID tag through the strap.

 

[JennHales]

I lost my 5 year old son at Colonial Williamsburg and it was the scariest 10 minutes of my life.

I have told my kids everything I can think of. My latest is that I now tell them that if they get lost they need to "stop drop and roll". I explain that the more they wander the further they will get lost. So if they get lost they need to #1 STOP. #2 find a CM or a mommy with a stroller and tell them that they are lost.

I also keep cell phone numbers in their pockets so if they get lost they can call.

I have found that holding hands helps a LOT. And for my 3 1/2 who doesn't want to hold hands. We will stop what we are doing and not go any further until he is holding my finger.

Oh and another thing I found is that I can not trust anyone but ME to know where my kids are. My husband doesn't have the "I can't let my kids out of my sight" gene. So he can't be trusted walking off with the kids.
Jen

 

[Rapunsel]

One thing that I have learned with little ones who don't want to hold a hand.. I have them hold a piece of my clothing. I can tell when a little hand lets go. Some times I hang a ribbon off my shorts so the princess can dance and twirl to her hearts content. but she doesn't let go! Because if she does she knows that we will go home. We have in the past!

 

[KristyKenna]

We actually attatched luggage tags with our cell phone numbers to our kids belt loops. It was kind of nice just to know that in case they got separated they would have a phone number the cm's could call.

 

[Bread&Butterflies]

A mother's worst nightmare for sure...

I went to petco and got a metal animal id tag engraved.
The little ring attached nicely to belt loops and shoe buckles.
I had this put on it...

Mom's Cell#
xxx-xxx-xxxx
Last Name


http://www.terrificpets.com/pet_id_tags/
It was kind of like these... we got a heart shape and my dd like it.
It gave me a little peace of mind.

 

[Pamb]

I really hate to post this because it is going to sound super paranoid but when my mom was talking to me about the safety issue she told me that if someone is trying to take a child one of the first things they will do is change their clothes and even cut their hair. (See I told you I get it from her.) I am more worried about someone hurting them in the park and walking away. We have had some recent events in our area where children have been killed by neighbors so my paranoia is worse than normal. I have told my children to look for a mother with children if they need help and get lost anywhere, not just at DL but locally too. We have a song we sing too "Sometimes you just gotta yell" which talks about stranger danger. I don't want them to live in a world of fear, just live a safe life.

In DL we will have matching shirts, name tags with cell phone #'s in more than one place, and I will have a leash for them in busy areas. They are 12, 14, and 16 so I hope they don't look too weird. Just kidding!! They are 7, 5, and 2 but I made you wonder didn't I?

 

[ironpig70]

1st off being a guy i always wonder why moms tell their kids to find a mom


second off kids don't get lost it's us parents:lol:


i don't know how old your kids are but when we go i'll have twin 4 year olds and i'm definetly going to teach them to spot a csm and also make sure they have both of our names and cell phone numbers for security/csm to find.


lastly i think we as parents need to be more aware and help spot lost kids

 

[StitchFanZ]

When your kids get old enough to use a cell phone, I've found its worth it to get an extra family cell phone that they can carry in their pocket or attached somewhere.
Kids can learn how to dial pre-programmed phone numbers at a pretty young age. We have found its great for trips as well as numerous other places your kids might go and you want them to be able to reach you.