Child safety in shopping malls

Parents worldwide perceive the holiday season as a carefree time of the year, a time when children have the opportunity to hang out with their friends or go shopping with their parents at the local shopping mall. However, it is also a time when shopping malls worldwide become congested with the holiday season rush.

According to the South African Bureau of Missing People children are the highest targeted for kidnapping. Due to this it has become imperative for “parents to be extra cautious with their little ones”, says writer Lindsay Hutton.

From time to time many of us find it challenging to do the shopping, entertain the little ones and keep an eye on them in a busy mall all at the same time. Founder and creator of the Safety Ever After, Pattie Fitzgrald has presented a few holiday guidelines which will help keep your children safe.

Before going to the shopping mall, talk to your children.  Continuously remind them to stay close to you at all times. Use the “two giant steps” rule which means that they must never be two giant steps away from you. Explain to them that you must be able to see them and they must be able to see you at all times.

Write your cell phone number on a tag and place the tag around your child’s wrist. If you do not have a tag, write your cell number on his/her arm. If anybody finds your child, they will be able to contact you immediately.

Always remember to make a mental note of what clothing your child is wearing. It would be wise to dress your child in brightly coloured clothing such as a red dress or a yellow t-shirt. The brighter the clothing, the easier they are to spot in crowded places.

It is also important to inform your child to seek a “safety stranger” when he/she is separated from you and cannot find you. Safety strangers will be your average uniformed employee, police officer or your mall security personnel.

The world is a dangerous place, especially for our little ones. According to the South African Bureau of Missing People every six minutes a child a child goes missing in South Africa. Don’t let it be your child, take precaution.