Mya'Shield
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Keeping kids safe in crowds: theme parks, festivals and busy shops
It only takes a few seconds in a crowd for a child to drift out of sight. Theme parks, festivals, Christmas markets and busy shops are where most families have their "where did they go?" moment.
A few minutes of planning before you go makes a big difference.
Before you leave
- Dress them in bold, bright colours you'd recognise from a distance. Police in Regina, Canada, suggest outfits you'd spot straight away. "The green hat" is much easier to describe to staff than "jeans and a grey hoodie".
- Take a family selfie as you set off. In a panic, parents often forget what their children were wearing.
- Charge your phone, and check your children know your number.
- Put your number on a sticker or inside a clothing label. Keep their name out of sight.
When you arrive
- Look at the map and find the information desk or customer service point.
- Agree a meeting spot. The more specific, the better: "the big clock by the main gate", not "the entrance".
- Ask whether the event has a lost children service. Some large events run special programmes for exactly this.
- With toddlers, hold hands or use a pushchair or carrier in the busiest areas.
Toilet breaks
NCMEC advises always going with younger children to the toilets. Older children should take a friend rather than go alone.
The rule your child needs
If they get lost, they stop and look around. Regina Police teach a simple rule: don't cross roads, don't leave a building and, if you're outside, don't go into one.
Then they look for event staff, a police officer or another parent and ask for help. There's more in what to teach your child to do if they get lost.
If you get separated
Go straight to the nearest staff member, security or police point. The more people looking, the better. Give them your selfie and a description of exactly what your child is wearing, and listen for announcements. If there are two of you, one stays near where you last saw your child.
Call the police early, too. NCMEC advises not waiting until you've finished searching. The emergency number is 999 in the UK, 911 in the US and Canada, or 112 across most of Europe.
If you find a lost child
Look around first. Lost children are often close to their parent but can't see them. Keep the child in sight and find a member of staff or a police officer.
Where a tracker fits in
We'd always put the plan first, because it still works when a battery dies or the signal drops. A tracker is the backup. If your child does wander off, you can see where they are and head straight there. If you're shopping for one, our guide to choosing a child safety device covers what to ask.
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Our lost-child plan
One page to fill in together before a busy day out: where you'll meet, who to call, and the four things your child does if they get lost.
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Call my grown-up cards
Eight cut-out cards for your phone number. Pop one in a pocket, school bag or shoe. There's no space for your child's name, on purpose.
We're building Mya'Shield, an early alert device for busy days like these. It can let you know if your child leaves a safe zone, presses SOS, or stops moving for longer than expected.