Parents, please label your children

[phamton]

I have mentioned before on other threads that I seem to be a magnet for lost children. Maybe because I have that motherly look (I have 5 kids) or maybe because I was a first grade teacher for many years. Kids just seem to trust me.

Well, I found another child today at Universal Orlando. This adds to my collection of lost children from Disneyland (1 child), WDW (4 children), Knotts Berry Farm (1 child), Universal Hollywood (1 child), US Orlando (2 children), and IoA (1 child).

Tonight at 7:30 PM I saw a child walking from Men In Black all the way past Jaws. At first I thought he was just lagging behind his parents but after watching him, I realized that he was alone. I asked him if he was lost and all he said was "papa." Poor little fellow didn't speak English and I don't speak Spanish but I held up five fingers to guess at his age. He shook his head and held up 4 fingers. I then pointed to myself and said my name and pointed to him and so he said his name was David. I had a store manager call security. Luckily, the security guy they sent spoke Spanish although he couldn't get much more information out of him than I had already gotten.

We waited for a time to see if "papa" would be returning but there was no information of any lost child on the park radio. David wanted me to stay with him and didn't want to go with security so we all walked together to guest services---with David and I hand in hand. It was almost an hour before his father contacted security. I am sure most of the reason was because of the language barrier.

Please if you have a young child, especially one who doesn't speak English, put a dogtag or something on them with your name and your child's name, preferably with a cellphone number. I know many people are worried about putting their child's name on anything because of the fear of abductors calling their name, but, truthfully, you child is much more apt to get lost than abducted at a theme park. There haven't been any documented abductions at the parks but there are lost children every single day.

The good news is that Papa was found and he hugged me as thanks. Little David waved 'bye-bye" to me as he left with Papa no worse for the wear although Papa looked traumatized.

 

[Michelle2]

That is so great of you Phamton to be there for those poor little lost kids. Taking time out of your theme park day to make sure that they are not alone and get to security or their parents. I am glad that you were there, and that they trust you! And that is amazing how you are a magnet for lost kids. I will take your advice to heart and try to remember to label my four kids. I lost one on MNSSHP night, (she went gathering candy from other posts, and didnt tell me, I was so mad!) and I have since then trained her that if she ever gets separated again to go to the nearest CM and tell them that she is lost, so that security can take proper measures. But I really like the idea of the cell phone so that they will know who to call! THanks again for the advice.

 

[Sandy Feet]

LABEL:

"Little Lulu"
Made in Canada
Size 5
Hand Wash/Line Dry
No Bleach

Seriously though, I do want to make some sort of ID for the kids, but don't know what to put because we don't have cell phone that work in the US. Any suggestions?

And, instructions on what to do if lost are definetly going on my pre trip to do list. My son once got lost in a shopping mall, the memory of the panic is still vivid. Funnily enough he wasn't that bothered.

 

[stacy6552]

We make and laminate id cards for our kids to carry. They have their names, our names, both cells, our reservation number, and the name and number of someone at home, who can either help calm our child while they wait or provide help contacting us.

 

[Sandy Feet]

That's a good idea stacy6552. Thanks.

 

[ttichenor]

Thanks to another thread....we're making ankle bracelets with the beads listing their name and my cell phone number. Although my kids are a little older, not sure they would remember area code etc.

 

[frstimer128]

Another ideas is to get a prepaid cell phone once you get to FL. You can get them most anywhere these days.

 

[WishingOnAStar]

I seem to be a magnet for lost kids, too! (I was also a teacher) I just helped out a kid at the wave pool at Six Flags last week.

I had index cards with each child's name, our names, cell #'s and resort laminated for our trip. I also made those beaded ankle bracelets with our cell # on it. (Our kids know our home phone #, but not our cell #'s).

I also plan on putting masking tape w/ all that info on their clothes. The Unofficial guide says under their arms on the outside of their shirt, but, I was thinking on the inside bottom - I don't know......

I've read about putting luggage tags on their shoe laces, but mine will probably wear sandals most of the time.

 

[marcyinPA]

Originally posted by stacy6552
We make and laminate id cards for our kids to carry. They have their names, our names, both cells, our reservation number, and the name and number of someone at home, who can either help calm our child while they wait or provide help contacting us.

We also do this, and also include the resort we are staying at. I make my kids keep them in their fanny packs, which they are required to wear at all times while we are in the parks.

 

[hayleypiesmom]

On our June trip, I typed all of DD6's vital into (Name, cell #'s, resort name, my Mom's number at home, etc) and slipped it into those cute Tinker Bell luggage tags. She loved it!

On the days she wore shorts with belt loops, she wore the tag through her loop, and slipped it into her pocket.

On days she did not wear belt loops, Pal Mickey wore the tag around his left leg-- my dd very faithfully carried him in each park-- he showed up in nearly every photo we have!

As a bonus, in the rare chance that Mickey was lost, we at least had a small chance that someone would call and return him!


Another thought.... if your child has any life-threatening food allergies (nuts, etc.) don't forget to add that info.... just in case someone decides to give the lost child a "treat" to calm them... that may be far fetched, but I always try to think out all scenerios.

 

[Schmeck]

If your child has a life-threatening allergy, a medical bracelet would be your best bet - EMTs are trained to look for them!

 

[ladydancer]

I am taking my grandkids along with my daughter in law to WDW in Oct. I had just mentioned the other day to her we need to give each child some form of ID.

Thanks for the great tips! I didn't think of putting our Cell # on the ID but now I will do just that.

Also another tip came to me as I was reading here about the little spanish boy who couldn't speak english. One of my grandchildren in the group is autistic and can't speak very well. I should mention he is autistic on his ID as looking at him it isn't apparent.

Thanks Again!

 

[jwfla422]

I just put my "avery" type labels in my WDW planning folder so I have them with me every trip. Then I just put my cell phone #, resort we're staying in and MY name on it and put it on dd's back (so she doesn't take it off).

OR when I forget my labels I go to the baby stations and they have tags you can fill out so I hang it from dd's ponytail. Of course, sometimes it gets in her way there so the sticker is the better one

 

[frstimer128]

Ooooh, pony tail holders. What a great idea!

 

[ahutton]

Not to liken the two... but at Petsmart I saw little cannisters, they were very small and held a slip about the size of an address label. You could use that to put the vital info on. It would easily attach to an ankle bracelet, ponytail holder or necklace, even shoe laces if they wore tennies.

 

[Alexsmommy]

Hi, there are bracelets that almost look and feel like the hospital ID bracelets, but they are in pink blue and other colors. I use these for my children. They cannot rip them off and you actually need a scissor to cut thm off them. And they are water resistant. Also the writing is not big enough for some weirdo who stands next to you on line to see their name and info unless they actually get like an inch away and hold they're arm to keep it steady. I know because I've tried this out myself (call me paranoid, I admit it!),but if you think about it, a stranger who wants to kidnap them doesn't really need to see an id tag to get their name, all they have to do is hear you say their name. I know because I've been in stores and speaking to my daughter a stranger will talk to her (behind the counter or on line after me) and say things like "Alex, you are so cute or Alex, how old are you? I know they are just trying to be friendly but I never realized that just by saying my daughter's name, a person with intent to lure a child away can be near me for such a short amount of time and hear me say her name and use that as an opening. I guess I'm a little paranoid because when i was younger I was almost abducted but I was quick to get away so I'm overly aware of my kids.

Anyway, they're called Keep Safe I.D. Bracelets for vital I.D. Information. Better Houseware Corp. Long Island CIty, NY 11101

It doesn't mention a phone number or web site. I got them by chance at a hardware store of all places.


Hope that helps!
Maria

 

[TDS373X]

I've gone to Petsmart and made my DD an id tag for her "special necklace" yes it's from the dogtag machine but one year it was a red heart and another year it was a pink heart and a tag for her to wear on her shoe should she lose her necklace. it had her name, my cell #, our resort and the fact that she has seizures. (Her medic alert necklace hadn't come before we left.)Most importantly I made sure she knew what to do if she couldn't find mommy or grandma. This year when we went thru the security check at the MK one of the gaurds actually stopped her and looked at it and read it and said "that's a really good idea I wish more parents did this" DD volunteered that she was supposed to show this to a grown up if mommy got lost. She's 4. A coworker of mine just returned from her central FL vacation yesterday and complained that her youngest son who is about 7 "ruined" the day at Universal by getting lost. They spent more time with security then riding rides and were therefore jipped out of the 1 day they had there. I agree people need to prepare for this not only "label" the kids but make sure they know what to do should it really happen.

 

[lurontravel]

When my children are travelling anywhere with someone other then myself and/or my husband, I put a business card of my husbands' in their (velcro closing) pockets,and on that card I write the name of the person and their relation to my child, their cell phone #, and the hotel that they are staying at, and the childs name and age. I also put my cell phone #, home # and name on the card (my husbands info is already on it).
When they travel with us to WDW, I get them a resort key and put it in their velcro pockets on their shorts. My kids know to look for a person who works at the place we are at, a policeman, or a mother who has children and tell them that they can't find their parent/uncle, etc. and to take out the card from their pocket and give it to the person so that they can help reunite us.

I love the idea of going to a pet store and getting a pet id as a more permanent solution too, but often times the numbers or location of hotels will change.

 

[Maki Mouse]

I absolutely loved the i.d. bracelets that we used for our young girls on our last WDW trip. They are soft and they velcro close, the id card is water proof and slips into a narrow pocket in the band - so no info is visible.
We put it on the ankle of my 2 yr old because it was less of a distraction to her there.
It comes with extra cards, so you can reuse the bracelet many times.

http://www.mypreciouskid.com/medical-id-bracelet.html

 

[D L and K's Mom]

I also made some of the red heart "Pet Smart Pet Tags"with my childrens name, our cell#'s etc on them. My oldest son is a special needs child and he does not speak we laced the tag onto his shoe laces. It is laced in the "cross laces" so it won't fall off if his shoes become unlaced and it is easily visable to anyone who is looking.