Security question with names on shirts/hats etc

[tiggergalttfn]

Hi -

so this is something I have been thinking about.... I LOVE all the Disigns with personalization for t-shirts, hats, etc. Now maybe I am being stange but I know at home I don't do t-shirts for example with my kids names on them because someone (a stranger) could walk right up and call them by name and make them really comfortable. I'm I the only one that feels like that?

I really like the idea of matching shirts with all our individual names but maybe I should just use our last name and go with the. Any input from others would be greatly appreciated!

 

[scrapquitler]

Hi -

so this is something I have been thinking about.... I LOVE all the Disigns with personalization for t-shirts, hats, etc. Now maybe I am being stange but I know at home I don't do t-shirts for example with my kids names on them because someone (a stranger) could walk right up and call them by name and make them really comfortable. I'm I the only one that feels like that?

I really like the idea of matching shirts with all our individual names but maybe I should just use our last name and go with the. Any input from others would be greatly appreciated!

I always thought that too. Then I read a post here on the DIS and someone said "well all a stranger would have to do is stand in line behind us in line for a ride and they would know all my children's names and mine and DH's too just by listening to our conversation for a few minutes, so what's the difference?" And I can see that, too. Afterall, don't you say "Bobby, get your fingers out of your mouth, Susan stop fidgeting...etc etc 5000 times a day when you are out in public?"

If you really don't want the names on their shirts, use a nickname of some sort.

 

[tiggergalttfn]

I always thought that too. Then I read a post here on the DIS and someone said "well all a stranger would have to do is stand in line behind us in line for a ride and they would know all my children's names and mine and DH's too just by listening to our conversation for a few minutes, so what's the difference?" And I can see that, too. Afterall, don't you say "Bobby, get your fingers out of your mouth, Susan stop fidgeting...etc etc 5000 times a day when you are out in public?"

If you really don't want the names on their shirts, use a nickname of some sort.

Thank you that is a really great way to think about it! That is 100% true and I appreciate a new way of thought

 

[3pletprincesses]

you are not strange.. I have the same fear. Dh works in law enforcement and he wouldn't allow it even if I wanted to do it. We bought them Mickey ears with their name but we knew they would not want to wear them. They really don't like hats LOL So we used them for our resort photos in May and they have since been displayed in their room with no intention to bring them back. What I did for our trip was more generic t-shirts for the girls. For exemple they had Yes we are triplet princesses, another one was little, middle and big sister, another one we had their favorite character's name or simply princess written with a different image for each. I tend to not put their name, nickname or last name because I know they would respond to all of those if someone was to call them and dh would kill me on the spot LOL

 

[fourblessings]

you should all get red " Incredibles" shirts

 

[4HppyCamprs]

I am one that frequently says my children's names in public and on occasion when they are being bad I have said first and middle. You will know my whole families name if you stand in line with us or eat with us at a restaurant. That said I am also one who supervises my children. We hold hands, we use a leash, we teach stranger danger. Stranger abductions are not common, sexual predators are usually family and friends.


So what you feel comfortable with but don't let fear run your life and know the true statistics. Strangers grab and go or use candy or puppies or "needing help"

 

[v.t.]

We did shirts in Disney with the kids names on them. It was great for character interaction.
When the boys were younger, we had a code word. The boys could only go with someone if that person knew the code word. So just knowing the kids name was not enough. They had to know the secret word that only Mom or Dad would know.

 

[tricia]

We did shirts in Disney with the kids names on them. It was great for character interaction.
When the boys were younger, we had a code word. The boys could only go with someone if that person knew the code word. So just knowing the kids name was not enough. They had to know the secret word that only Mom or Dad would know.

I was just going to say this. Our code word was 'sailboat'.

 

[PollyannaMom]

I'm going to say both sides are right on this one.

It's absolutely true that knowing a child's name instantly upgrades your status in their eyes. (I can attest to that from years of substitute teaching.)

But I also agree that anyone could get that information by standing in line with you.

The thing is, the chance that anyone would do that for unsavory reasons is far, far smaller than the chance of the personalized item leading to great CM interaction, more interesting conversations in lines, or even help from a good samaritan if your child actually did get lost.

We have to talk to people we don't know all the time (at the bank, the grocery store, etc.) and I think it's very confusing to teach children not to talk to strangers - not to leave with anyone, yes, but you miss out on a lot of life if you don't talk to anyone.

 

[scrapquitler]

We have to talk to people we don't know all the time (at the bank, the grocery store, etc.) and I think it's very confusing to teach children not to talk to strangers - not to leave with anyone, yes, but you miss out on a lot of life if you don't talk to anyone.

Another thing I meant to add to what I said before: if my child has his name on his shirt and he is walking home from school (alone), that's a whole different thing than if he has his name on his shirt and is walking around Epcot with me, because when we are at WDW, I am NOT having him walking around alone in those crowds, so to some degree its apples and oranges. A stranger could potentially approach him on the walk home from school when he is alone and try to lure him away. When he's walking around the parks in Orlando, I'm going to be RIGHT there.

 

[jpeka65844]

We have to talk to people we don't know all the time (at the bank, the grocery store, etc.) and I think it's very confusing to teach children not to talk to strangers - not to leave with anyone, yes, but you miss out on a lot of life if you don't talk to anyone.

Completely agree with this!!!

For our upcoming trip, I used www.wordle.net and made a "name" cloud.
I put our last name in the biggest font in the middle, then it automatically arranged our individual names around it.

So it's "personal" without being specific. Just an idea.......

 

[dragonfly08]

At home, I don't put my kids' names on things where it can be seen by strangers. Backpacks, lunch boxes, etc. have monograms/initials on the outside. Full names and phone numbers are inside for safety. That's mainly because they use those things most often when DH and/or I are not with them.

The girls have worn personalized shirts at Disney. My thoughts were that 1) just walking/standing behind us for 10 minutes is more than enough to learn their names anyway, and 2) even in that case they are always with a parent since they're too young to go anywhere/do anything on their own.

 

[princess isabella]

I agree with most of the above. I did shirts with my daughter's name on them for our trip. We also have code word that only she and I know,at this point. I also believe that people will have heard me say her name more then I care to think about by standing near us. Also if they are that close that they can read her shirt, I am going to be right there also.

She loved that Minnie put Isabella Mouse in her autograph book. It made her day!

 

[Hannathy]

My rule with my children growing up was very simple

Talk to anyone you want, go no where with anybody.


I would hate to think of all the information and joy my children would have missed out if they never talked to strangers! The world is full of glorious people and information.

I refuse to live in a world of paranoia and fear when the actual risk is so ridiculously slim.

 

[2girlsR2good]

I highly recommend Gavin de Becker's work in this area--he has two books, The Gift of Fear and Protecting the gift that are great, non-terrifying reads.

Among my take-aways (and there are many): tell your kids to look for a mom if they need help. Kids have an instinct for who is a mom--they are around them everyday. Unfortunately, just about anybody can get a job as "security" and put on a uniform and a badge/tag of some kind. Kids can't evaluate the difference between mall cop (and I am sure most of them are outstanding people) and a sworn officer.

 

[sp0ngem0nkey]

I'm going to say both sides are right on this one.

It's absolutely true that knowing a child's name instantly upgrades your status in their eyes. (I can attest to that from years of substitute teaching.)

But I also agree that anyone could get that information by standing in line with you.

The thing is, the chance that anyone would do that for unsavory reasons is far, far smaller than the chance of the personalized item leading to great CM interaction, more interesting conversations in lines, or even help from a good samaritan if your child actually did get lost.

We have to talk to people we don't know all the time (at the bank, the grocery store, etc.) and I think it's very confusing to teach children not to talk to strangers - not to leave with anyone, yes, but you miss out on a lot of life if you don't talk to anyone.

you remind me of Dory-

Marlin: I promised I'd never let anything happen to him.
Dory: Hmm. That's a funny thing to promise.
Marlin: What?
Dory: Well, you can't never let anything happen to him. Then nothing would ever happen to him. Not much fun for little Harpo.

 

[sp0ngem0nkey]

On our "Disney or Bust" airplane ride shirts with Mickey's Steamboat Willie at the helm we had this on the back. We debated about names but decided to go with this.

and we did do all the names of the group that shaped out a Mickey on another shirt but it was super tiny print.

example of the shirt in Creative DISigns thread-
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee285/jordak67/disney%20magnets/Fixed%20plates/Mickey_Names.jpg

 

[englishteacha]

We're expecting a child, and DH already said, "She/he won't have her name on her backpack." We want our child safe and putting his/her name where everyone will see it every day just doesn't seem wise. (We're kids of the 80s..."Stranger danger" sticks with you!) I agree that having a name on a shirt or a pin in WDW is different from the real world, though. I have my students use name tags the first weeks of school and all kids at the summer camp where we volunteer have nametags, too. Makes life so much easier. I hate calling "my" kids, "Hey, you in the blue hoodie!"

 

[bearloch]

If you are worried but still want a pesonal touch with caracter etc. how about a laynard with name tag that can be flipped over! and or a special shirt that had I Love.....( character name) on it with out kids name! also something that i heard from a FBI agent once in to put your kids info along with YOUR info on there shoes inside under the tonge often predators will change kids clothes and strip off necklaces right away but never change shoes! or anklets ith info on them instead of a braclet.. also even though I was alway with mine dd at parks etc things do happen so he got a cell pretty young with only emergency numbers inputted and she new how o useit ( what kid doesnt) she was told if she ever looked up and we were not there call us!!! no matter what!!! or where we were! it worked great at airport in security line when we were seperted!

 

[lucyem]

It is the child walking to school alone with "Bobby" on his backpack that can become a target and have his name used to get his attention. The average predator is probably not going to be stalking a child with his parents in line at Disney. Most are either opportunists or already know your child. I personally limit how many personalized items my kids have. But totally agree it can be fun at Disney with the CM interaction.

I would also highly encourage you all to read Protecting the Gift which was already mentioned. Lots of great tools to teach your children safety.