Lower Your Holiday Stress: Talk About Safety Before Heading
to the Mall
Holiday Safety Tips from the National Center for Missing & Exploited
Children
The hustle and bustle of the holidays is here, and the National Center
for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) has a few tips to help parents
and guardians talk with kids and teens about safety.
“Talk to your children about safety before going shopping or to
a public event, and keep it positive,” said Nancy McBride, national
safety director for NCMEC. “You don’t want to dampen their
holiday spirit, but you do want to remind them that basic safety rules
still apply.”
NCMEC recommends that you teach your child to check first with a trusted
adult, take a friend, and how to avoid and get out of dangerous situations.
The many sights and sounds of the holidays can draw the attention of
parents, guardians, and children alike, so make sure younger children
know to stay with you at all times when you are in a public place. Leave
t-shirts or personal items with your child’s name displayed at home.
And remember that store sales associates are not trained or responsible
for watching out for your children, so never leave them alone in a store.
Many children like to surprise their parents, guardians, or siblings
with gifts at this time of year, so they may want to be a little more
secretive than normal. “Don’t spoil their fun. Ask another
parent, guardian, trusted adult or an older brother or sister, to help
them and take them shopping,” said McBride.
Bringing a friend to the mall can be fun for older children and is safer
than going alone. If your family splits up while shopping or at a public
event, make plans to meet somewhere at a specific time and check-in periodically.
Many families rely on cell phones for those check-ins, but you should
also have a plan in case you can’t reach each other via telephone.
Talking on a cell phone while walking in the mall may be second-nature
to today’s kids, but it can also distract them from their surroundings
and make them more vulnerable.
Rather than issuing a bunch of “don’ts,” McBride recommends
that parents and guardians help their children think through their actions
and practice “what-if” scenarios. Remind them that if separated
from you they should never leave the mall or store, nor should they go
to a parking lot to try to find you or get in anyone else’s car.
Look for someone who can help, like a uniformed security guard or uniformed
law enforcement officer, a store salesperson with a nametag, a mall information
booth staffer, or a mother with children. “These could all be safe
“helpers” for your child,” said McBride.
And one last piece of advice for parents and guardians-if you know you
and your children are going to be too distracted while shopping, find
alternate trusted child care for your children while you go shopping.
For more information about child safety or a free copy of “Know
the Rules: Safety Tips for the Holidays,” call NCMEC at 1-800-THE-LOST
(1-800-843-5678) or visit www.missingkids.com.
Holiday Safety PSA
(mp3)
Holiday Safety PSA script
(PDF)
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