Safe to put kids names on the shirts??

[Picabo]

My BFF had a good point that I'd kind of had questioning in the back of my head already....she didn't think it was too 'safe' of me to put my kids names on their shirts in a crowded place like Disney. Lots of creepo's out there who could use their name as a means to lure them. "Hey Susie, your mommy and daddy told me to take you over to a ride and they'll meet us over there" Now I hate to think of creepos at Disney and can't imagine they'd spend DISNEY prices to pay to get into a park to kidnap a child, etc. But I'm sure it could happen.

Any thoughts??? Does anyone else worry about having their names advertised for anyone to know who they are? Now I don't know what to DO!

THANKS!

 

[DjdBrit]

I have to say this was something I had thought about too. I ended up having the kids initials put on shirts as we all know kids are SO trusting and can be lead by adults Good luck

 

[kmom]

Hi Picabo - I totally understand your concern. I have had my personalized embroidery business for years and both of my kids have worn their name on most everything (I became crazy abou personalizing!) I have always taught them about stranger danger and to NEVER go with anyone even if they call them by their name. I saw something on Oprah that John Walsh from the Center for Missing & Exploited kids uses that we use all the time. I give them a Password...something easy like "toothpaste" and if someone says "Your mommy said it is okay" they are to ask for the password. If the person does not know it they know for sure NOT to go. In 98% of the cases the person trying to lure your kids will know them - thus they would be more trusting to leave if the person said it was okay with mom. My daughter is 7 and we have never had a time where having her name on her shirt has been a problem. I think when it comes down to it you have to go with what your gut tells you. I know in a place like Disney I never take my eyes off of her and she is always with me or my DH. Just my 2 cents - hope it helps

 

[articia13]

Hi Picabo - I totally understand your concern. I have had my personalized embroidery business for years and both of my kids have worn their name on most everything (I became crazy abou personalizing!) I have always taught them about stranger danger and to NEVER go with anyone even if they call them by their name. I saw something on Oprah that John Walsh from the Center for Missing & Exploited kids uses that we use all the time. I give them a Password...something easy like "toothpaste" and if someone says "Your mommy said it is okay" they are to ask for the password. If the person does not know it they know for sure NOT to go. In 98% of the cases the person trying to lure your kids will know them - thus they would be more trusting to leave if the person said it was okay with mom. My daughter is 7 and we have never had a time where having her name on her shirt has been a problem. I think when it comes down to it you have to go with what your gut tells you. I know in a place like Disney I never take my eyes off of her and she is always with me or my DH. Just my 2 cents - hope it helps

I would like to say thanks for the great advice. I am a fairly new mom. I adopted my older DD about 4 years ago, (she's 10), and had another about 2 years ago. My older DD is a great help, she wont leave her baby sis alone for a min, but I am one of those freaked out mom's that doesn't trust anyone (I'm working on that ). I have always worried about creepy ppl, and that password idea is super. I am going to go home today and talk with my DH about what a good one will be for my girls. Thanks again for the great idea.

 

[XYSRUS]

I'm so frugal I don't personalize because then the other 4 can't wear it! No, really. You do have to be careful. We have a secret family codeword. It's a ridiculous word, really, but works like a charm.

 

[tinkerbell/pixie]

I always think that this is a family choice. If parents are not sure if their child will go off with a stranger when their name is called, then I would not put it on a shirt.
My ds is autistic. His lack of social skills will not let him even have eye contact with a stranger when his name is called. He understands the rules if it happens. Say"No" scream and run like mad for help.Until a child understands these rules I would never put their name on a shirt or anything else.

 

[noahdove]

A few of the shirts I made for the 2 kids I took to WDW had their names on them as well as mine It was great being called our name by a CM...I too had the fear of stranger danger and my own girls had a password...it helps and it does remind the children to be alert as well.

 

[Picabo]

I LOVE the password idea...but my youngest will be 2 1/2 and I'm not so sure she'd catch onto that so well. My older one probably would. That being said, I, too am a paranoid person and do not take my eyes of the kids for a second. Yet, I also know how "FAST" those creeps can be. The younger one will be in a stroller a great deal of the time (I HOPE!). I think I'll go ahead with the name at least for a few of the days. But as one of the PP said, I too tend to be frugal and like the idea of being able to get more use out of the shirts by letting the 2nd wear them down the line! haha But I think a few personalized shirts would make it special for them to see their names on there.

Not to mention, as someone said, it'd be cool to haev the CM's call us by name!

Melanie

 

[chaoscent]

My sister (she's the grandmom, not the mom) had the problem with the names on the shirts so we didn't do it. However, the younger ones were 4 and were always with one of us. I wanted the names so I could tell them apart (they are identical twins and only my niece and their dad can barely tell them apart). I really think it is a family call. There are creepos everywhere, but like my DH pointed out, even without their names on their shirts the creepo could stand around until he heard one of us call their names and then he would know their names?
As far as creepos at DW, I read in a couple of different places there were some creepos at the pools and were trying to get friendly with the children in the pool whose parents weren't in the pool with them. this was last year, but unfortunately there are bad people everywhere. It sounds like the "password" idea is a good one. I will have to share with my niece.
Penny

 

[janni518]

I'm so frugal I don't personalize because then the other 4 can't wear it! No, really. You do have to be careful. We have a secret family codeword. It's a ridiculous word, really, but works like a charm.

We have a codeword too. My kids are teens and I still don't like them having their names on stuff.

 

[lissaD02]

I was worried as well. I am a single mom going with 2 kids(just us) so I am doing blank shirts...the designs are cute enough that it doesn't matter if they are personalized or not

 

[wahmtexas]

I am okay with names but for those that don't want them another idea is to put Big Sister, Little Brother etc I almost went to that but decided to do names instead.

 

[Benducci]

I put their names on their shirts - they have unusual names but they are of an age that they know better than to go off with someone. Also they never got very far from me. They love having their names on things & I refuse to let the creeps take that away from them! I have to believe in the good of people & that there are more good people than bad people out there & most of the people at Disney are good.

 

[nikkers]

I have that same fear about personalizing. Some of those designs are soooo cute. I have seen a lot of designs instead of names putting Big Sis, Lil Sis or Brother. Just a thought if you have more than one child.
Good luck!

 

[LadyShea]

Yep, a parent-child safety password is really useful and let them know you will never, ever send a stranger to them that didn't know the password. I even had one with my folks 30 years ago!

Also, creeps with bad intentions may follow close enough or long enough to simply overhear your child called by name, so I don't think personalized items are MORE dangerous than merely being out in public talking.