Twice in January, the topic of kids getting lost came up, and it reminded me of a story from my own childhood, one that has stuck with me for over 30 years.
I was four years old when I got lost at the California State Fair. My parents and grandparents had taken me there, and it was huge. We wandered through tent after tent, checking out the exhibits. I vividly remember two things: a model train setup that had my dad completely mesmerized and a small racetrack where they raced ponies and pigs. Unfortunately, I also remember that one of the animals got hurt and had to be put down. That moment left an impression, even as a young kid.
Somewhere between all of that, I got separated from my parents.
I don’t remember the exact moment I realized I was lost, but I do remember how I tried to fix it, I retraced my steps. I went back to the places I remembered: the trains, the racetrack, and eventually, the picnic table where we had eaten lunch earlier. I sat under the table and waited.
Meanwhile, my parents were in full panic mode. Strangers were shouting my name, the entire fair was looking for me, and then, finally, they found me—sitting under that table. Decades later, we can laugh about it, and honestly, I think it makes me look like a pretty smart four-year-old. But at the time, it was terrifying.
Now that I’m a dad, I’ve had my own version of this story.
When It Happens to You
A couple of years ago, we were at Sesame Place with my family. We were standing near a ride, talking about our next move. It was no more than 30 seconds, just a quick discussion, but suddenly, Charlie was gone.
Pure panic.
We started searching, calling his name, looking in every direction. Then, by pure luck, Kelly saw him. He had wandered into the line of a nearby ride, climbed aboard, and was happily enjoying himself. If we hadn’t caught that moment, we might have spent much longer searching, while he unknowingly had the time of his life.
That experience, combined with my own as a kid, made me really focus on teaching my children what to do if they ever get lost.
Simple Ways to Keep Kids Safe
As a Cub Scout leader, I’ve worked with first graders on safety basics. While a lot of the focus is on fire safety (stop, drop, and roll, having a fire escape plan, etc.), one of the most useful lessons is simply knowing key information.
Here are some easy ways to prepare your child:
1. Memorize Important Info
At a minimum, kids should know:
✔ Their full name
✔ At least one parent’s full name
✔ A phone number (usually one or both of their parent’s)
✔ Their home address
This can be a lifesaver if they ever get lost and need to ask a trusted adult, like a coach, teacher, or police officer, for help.
2. Teach Them What to Do Based on the Situation
Safety isn’t one-size-fits-all. It depends on where you are.
- In a crowded place (like a theme park or store): Teach your child to find a uniformed employee or police officer for help. It pays to know your parent’s name and phone number in this situation.
- In nature (on a hike or camping trip): The best rule is stay put. In Cub Scouts, we teach kids to carry a whistle. Three loud blows signal distress. Moving around can make it harder for rescuers to find them. Blow your whistle from time to time to call for help.
3. Practice Regular Check-Ins
We do this casually by just asking, “Hey, what’s my phone number?” at random moments. It keeps the information fresh in their minds.
Funny enough, my kids first memorized my phone number so they could enter contests at places like Moe’s to win free burritos. If they can memorize it for burritos, they can memorize it for safety!
4. Use Simple Drills
For my son’s Cub Scout den, we used printouts to help kids learn their safety info, then tested them on it. It worked, and I still randomly check in at meetings to reinforce it.
At home, you can design your homes floor plan to discuss and plan what to do in case of a fire. Talk about how you need to stop, drop, and roll if you get caught on fire, Touching closed door’s door knobs with the back of your hand to check for heat and fire on the other side, crawl and stay close to the floor, and meet at the family meeting area. If you get stuck, scream for help. Don’t hide! Firefighters need help finding you.
Free Safety Printable for Kids
To help parents and kids practice these important safety skills, I’ve created a simple printable worksheet. I originally designed it for my Cub Scout den, and it’s been a great tool for teaching young kids to memorize their key information, like their phone number, address, and what to do if they get lost.
Feel free to download it, print it out, and use it with your own kids! Regular practice can make a big difference in helping them stay safe.
Help Your Kids Stay Safe with This Fun & Practical Emergency Worksheet!
Teaching kids essential safety information is one of the most important things we can do as parents. This Safe & Smart printable worksheet is designed to help children memorize key details like their name, address, and a parent’s phone number, critical information they should know in case they ever get lost or need help.
In addition to personal details, this worksheet also reinforces fire safety basics, including what to do if they catch on fire and the importance of calling for help instead of hiding during an emergency.
Whether you’re a parent, teacher, or Cub Scout leader, this worksheet is a great way to make safety rules engaging and easy to remember.
Download it, print it out, and practice with your child today!
Final Thoughts
It’s scary to think about your child getting lost, but the best way to handle fear is to prepare. Teach them key information, give them simple action steps, and reinforce it with check-ins and practice.
I was lucky that, as a four-year-old, my instincts led me back to a safe place. My son was lucky that we spotted him on that ride before we went into full panic mode. But luck shouldn’t be the plan. Preparation is what really keeps kids safe.
