Yes, even on vacation in San Diego I can blog if something important or timely comes up.  To me, this was important.

We went to Legoland today.  It was very crowded, and I was concerned that I wouldn't be able to keep track of Adam, who is 4 years old and very mobile, curious and well, fast!

To help prevent that, I dressed him in a bright red shirt.  He was very easy to spot when he was farther away from me than he should have been.  A brightly colored hat works well too.At Legoland

Even better, my friend Ashley T. gave me a great idea.  Today, I used a Sharpie marker (because they don't wash off as easily)  to write "mom's cell" and my cell number on the inside of Adam's arm.  Yes, it looked funny, but I knew that if he got lost, I would get him back. 

Adam is too young to really understand that he should go to Lost and Found or Security, so this worked really well.  I told him if he was lost to go find a Legoland employee in the red shirts and show them his arm.  They would find Mommy.

I think I actually enjoyed the day more because I wasn't as stressed out, knowing that we had a good back-up plan if we got separated.

 
Posted by Marlene Scheffer, Realtor to Kitsap County, WA on 05/03/2008 03:41 AM   Comments (19)  
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19 Comments on How to Never Lose Your Small Child in a Crowd Again...

MAY
03
2008
1 Featured Post
That's an AWESOME idea!  I may have to use that on our Disneyland trips,
4:30am • #1
370,774 Points 62 Featured Posts Outside Blog
My son is 20 years old. I'll try writing my cell on his arm and see how that goes. ;)  I was lucky mine never wandered off.    
5:57am • #2
2 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor
Great idea! My daughter is still too young to take to places like that- but I do worry about the future!!! Glad that you enjoyed your day!
6:50am • #3
9 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor

Tiffany,  My friend Ashley does it in case someone takes one of her children, so it would work for both issues.  Either way I felt better...

Chris, if he's 20, do you really want those phone calls when people find him?  I don't think my mother would have wanted to know where I was all the time.....  ;)

Rob, It doesn't take long for them to get old enough, sigh...  By the way, I may have ancestors and long-lost family in Cherokee County.  Do you know anyone that does geneology up that way who could do a search for last name "Sexton"? 

6:55am • #4
We have 4 cell phones. 2 of them have the ability to track the others by GPS. Very accurate in there location. We have athletic cases that straps to children very securely. Instant location finder.
6:56am • #5
That is such a great idea! I have a 3 yr old and being 7 months pregnant...kind of hard to chase him down in a crowd.  That is my biggest worry sometimes.  I will have to stock up on some sharpies...because I am not going to take any chances.
7:57am • #6
701,229 Points 72 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog
I remember as a 7-year old going to the St. Louis Zoo where they had a sign that read "Lost children will be taken to the Lion House!"  That kept me close to my parents!
9:35am • #7
661,251 Points 108 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog
Marlene - Great idea.  I have used the bright colors before, but I really like the idea about simply writing your cell number on his arm.  I hope you have a great weekend!
10:36am • #8
188,144 Points Outside Blog
Mine are already grown. We didn't have that problem when they were kids. Back then they always stayed close. If someone came too close they had some powerful lungs.
12:29pm • #9
2 Featured Posts
That's a great idea! I have been working with my 4 year old to make sure she knows her full name, mom and dads full names as well as the street, neighborhood and city we live in. It can be such a scary world out there and as parents we have to take every safety precaution that we can!
6:25pm • #10
MAY
04
2008
261,731 Points 26 Featured Posts Outside Blog
great idea - the shirt and the sharpie have a great time
1:39am • #11
MAY
05
2008
258,444 Points 44 Featured Posts Outside Blog
Marlene, what a great idea.  Forget about the looking funny, moms do what they have to do with curious energetic toddlers!
5:30am • #12
Great idea! When my almost-4-year old was younger, we had a "puppy" backback with a long tail that was used as a leash. Cute idea, but a little odd to have your child on a leash!
10:33am • #13
9 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor

Chip, I think that would be a great tool if Adam were older, but right now he would figure out a way to unstrap that phone and call Guadalajara in a heartbeat, and he's so young that we probably couldn't really use logic with him.

Naoma, I'm thinking of getting several colors, to contrast with his clothes, LOL!

Patricia, way to scar kids for life, there!  :)

Jason, I had heard the one about bright clothes before too.  When I had my girl scout troop of 10 4th graders, we used to dress them all in the same color hat or t-shirt to go on an outing.  All we had to do was count how many orange shirts we saw in the crowd!

Robert, you're children must have been trained better tha mine is! 

11:22pm • #14
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Yvonne, you're right, it is scary out there.  We've been working with Adam on mommy and daddy's names, and he knows them because we when we don't may attention to him he calls us by our first names (so funny!).  But when we quiz him, he still says our names are mommy and daddy. (sigh)

Thesa, thanks, we had a great time!

Kris, I hear the voice of experience talking here!

Ravinder, I had a friend who used to take three toddlers/preschoolers to the San Diego Zoo, plus her infant.  She had two in the stroller, two on "leashes" and she made it look easy.  I still don't know how she did it....
11:29pm • #15
We use the bright shirt trick at the large indoor playareas, works like a charm.  For birthday parties at them, we've sent the kids a invitation shirt in a bright color.  Ask them to wear it to the party then I can keep better track of the birthday guests too!  We got that idea from a friend who had sent a beach ball as an inviation to a pool party.
11:54pm • #16
MAY
06
2008
 We used the "child leash" when my  kids were little (and you wouldn't believe the dirty looks we got) but at legoland you really can't do that.  Good idea on the bright shirt.  I would ALWAYS write down what my child was wearing when we went to a crowded area like that.  If something were to happen, you aren't in your right mind to remember the small details. 
7:51am • #17
MAY
18
2008
594,713 Points 34 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Hit Router

As a Dad with a 4 year old... I'm going to have to think about that.  We're wanting to hit MickeyWorld again.  Of course, even though G-man wants to run like the wind, he also seems to want to run with the big dog (that would be me!).  Sometimes I think he needs to have 911 on his arm so that when I pass out he'll know who to call...
9:17pm • #18
MAY
19
2008

I like the Sharpie idea.  When we had the kids at Disney, no matter how close you watch the kids, its easy to get seperated. 
10:14am • #19

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Marlene Scheffer, Realtor to Kitsap County, WA

Bremerton, WA

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Office Phone: (360) 377-5699

Cell Phone: (360) 689-6836

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Here you will find my thoughts and insights into the real estate market in general, as well as tips for Sellers, Buyers, current Homeowners and other real estate agents. Many of the market updates will apply specifically to Kitsap County, in other words, Silverdale, Bremerton, Poulsbo, Port Orchard, Kingston, and all areas in between. Many of the trends seen in Kitsap will overflow to surrounding cities, such as Gig Harbor, Belfair, Allyn, and even Bainbridge Island. I hope you will find this blog helpful and useful.


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