Losing kids in a crowd About This Page:

[kpgriz]

Three weeks to go, and the worries are starting in..... tonight's topic is "How do I keep from losing my kids?" DSs 4 and 11 have ADHD and tend to bolt off when something catches thier eye. I know disney tends to be a pretty safe place, but So far my plans include:

Dressing them both in orange or yellow. Or lime green. EVERY DAY!
Keeping a firm grip on DS4 after fireworks or parades. Or shows. Or rides....
Drilling them to stay put until they are found, and to look for CMs with nametags.
If I can figure out a way to lash them to a stroller, I will.

What other strategies would you suggest? What is the best way to put my cell phone number on them and still be safe? I'm thinking the bottom of a shoe with a permanent marker....

[Luv4My4]

I used 5963 labels and put my DDs first name, my name and cell number, DH's name and cell number the name of our resort and left a spot for our room number which I wrote in when I got there. I printed out enough label sheets for each of my girls for the duration of the trip and then I had them lay on their stomach on the bed every morning and then folded their shirt up halfway and put the label on the very bottom of the shirt so if they got lost the person who found them would just have to fold up the bottom of their shirt to read it. It worked great they never came off and since the label was on the bottom of the shirt where their shorts/pants were they never even noticed they were there. DD Shannon (age 7 at the time) did get separated from us in EPCOT at the China Pavilion when the acrobats were performing. She kept her cool, found a mother with kids (like I told her to if she couldn't find a CM) and told the woman that she was lost and that she had a label on the inside of her shirt. The woman got our number off the label and called us and we had her back in just a few minutes (long enough to give me a few gray hairs though ) Hope this helps!!

[PamelaK]

When I took my DD last summer (she was 11 then), she had her own cell phone with her so that if we got separated we could just call each other. We did have to use that a couple of times when we were in the shops and got separated. We will be using that again when we head back in June.

[Principessa_di_Fata]

DD will be 2 1/2 when we go next September, and I plan on putting something on her, probably around her wrist (unless someone has a better idea?), with her first name, my name and my cell number. I don't plan on losing her, lol, but kids are fast, and it just takes a second for the little stinker to dart off.

I think that for your kids, since they're older and can understand the concept a little better, a label on the inside of the tshirt at the bottom with your contact information is a great idea!

[Lemap760]

The labels in their shirts are a good idea with their name, your name and cell phone number. There are also tags that can be attached to laces of the kids shoes. I don't remember what web site I saw this on.
I would make sure that your 4 year old at least knows your name so that he can tell a cast member who to contact.
Will your 4 year old wear one of those straps that attaches to his wrist and you can hold on to him while giving him some room to wander?

[tkmom1972]

being a mom that did lose their child at WDW i did dog tags for the kids with my phone # on it & stressed to the kids to find a CM or in my DD case a security guard and i have used the kid leashes before and loved them by the way we found DD before they could call thank god the only thing that did bother me was when i told a CM that my 6 yr old was missing they said well go and look for her no help at all until i told a different CM i was about to lose it because i couldn't find her and he helped and we found her within min.

[CarolinesMom]

I bought silicone bracelets for my DD and they were really inexpensive (think under $5) with our info on them. I will try to find the link to the site and post it for you.

Here's the link. They are $1.99

Custom Silicone Wristband Tool by Shanrene

[KrisLuvsDisney]

My DD is 11 and we have certain areas in each park that we can meet at if we get separated. She also carries her cell phone on her and can contact me that way. I have been so lucky and never had to worry about this. She also knows to go up to anyone that works at WDW and let them know she is lost.

[FanofFlorida]

Those silicone bands are cool-
Thanks for the link, Jill!

[wayneava81]

THere are these things that you can buy that go under the laces of their shoes(or something like that) called WhosShoesIds. Maybe those will work.

[wvugrrrl]

I don't know if you've ever seen the 2-in-1 Harness Buddy, but I see kids at WDW walking around with these all the time, and I think it would be perfect for your younger son. 2-in-1 Harness Buddy This is just a sample of one of the styles - I know they make them in tons of other animals, but the puppy and the monkey, especially seem to be the most popular.

For your older son, I think he's at an age where, regardless of ADHD, can be told that it's imperative that he not leave your side unless he has express permission. Also, come up with fun "time-wasters". Trying to keep things interesting on your end might be hard, but if he has things to do while waiting in line, he might be more inclined to not run off that the first exciting thing he sees. My cousin is the same age as your son, and seems to have the same "excitable" tendencies - my aunt combatted this on her last WDW trip by letting him bring his iPod to listen to while they waited in line, or for parades, and said the calming effect it had on him was unbelievable. Of course, I'm not advocating you buy an iPod, but a portable radio or cd player might have the same effect.

[SARH7]

We went to a bead store and let DD pick out pretty colored beads (she was 4). I also picked out beads to spell out her name and our cell #. Together we made a necklace and she wore it every day of our trip and knew it was her special necklace. She knew if she got lost to find a cm or a mom with a stroller.

[ryansmum]

Thanks so much for the wristband link - I just ordered some for our upcoming trip. Our son is six and has PDD-NOS with a pretty severe language delay. I'm always looking for new ways to put ID on him - where his language skills are behind, he wouldn't know how to tell someone he was lost and needed to find us, and he doesn't always answer when called. We have the "Whose Shoes" which don't work with crocs (his favorite warm weather shoe!). The best ideas almost ALWAYS come from other parents! Thanks!!

Alaine

[Lavendar_mom]

We took their photo on our cell phone every day.
If you're stressed you're not going to remember exactly what they're wearing (to discribe to someone).

[Lisa Renninger]

I have two bits of advice:
Tell your kids to find a mom if they get lost -- find a woman with kids. No offense to guys out there, but the numbers are pretty overwhelming when it comes to predators -- they are mostly male. And no offense to the male CMs, either -- I'm just saying, a lost kid is better off finding a mom. A mom is going to stay with that kid until that kid is safe back with his/her mom.
Also, make sure your kids know their own full name AND your name. If all they know is "mommy" or "grandma Smith", it's not going to help. I practice with my kids, and do a little drill "little boy, what is your name? What's your mommy's name?" It's the first thing a cop or someone is going to ask them, and if they are confident about the answers, they won't be so scared to answer more questions.
Thanks for the bracelet and bead necklace idea. I'm totally going to do that with my boys, and I'm sure they will love their special name Disney bracelets!