Getting lost can be a terrifying experience for both you and your child. You can prepare for it by:
Teaching a standard routine, such as 'If you get lost in the street, stand where you are until we find you. Don't go into a shop, where it will be harder to track you down and don't talk to anyone unless it's a policeman.'
Teach the child that if she gets lost in a shop, she should approach someone in shop uniform standing behind a counter. Always warn a child against going off with anyone else even if they promise to find Mummy and Daddy.
Ensure your child knows her phone number and address. Or write the details down and slip them in an inner pocket in the child's jacket or coat. Practise using a payphone with your child so that she knows how to ring home.
When going to a busy place, such as a shopping centre or the zoo, agree on a rendezvous in case your child gets lost.
