Teaching young children what to do if they become separated from you in a busy place is crucial for their safety and your peace of mind. This role-playing activity will help your child practice staying calm and using their voice to call for help, reinforcing what they need to do if they ever find themselves lost.
Activity Goals
- Stay Calm: Help children practice maintaining their composure if they become separated from their parents in a busy place.
- Call Out for Help: Teach children to use a loud and clear voice to call for help and make themselves heard.
- Identify Safe Adults: Instruct children on how to identify and approach safe adults, such as police officers or store employees, for assistance.
- Reinforce Safety Phrases: Ensure children know and can confidently use specific safety phrases like “Mom/Dad, where are you?” or “I need help finding my parents.”
- Regular Practice and Reinforcement: Encourage consistent practice of these steps to help children feel more confident and prepared if they ever find themselves lost.
Materials Needed
- A comfortable, safe space at home (living room, backyard, etc.)
- A few toys or objects to simulate a busy environment (optional)
- Before starting, review a list of safety phrases for your child to use, such as “Mom/Dad, where are you?” or “I need help finding my parents.”
Instructions
- Set the Scene:
- Create a simulated “busy place” in your home. This can be as simple as rearranging some furniture and adding a few toys or objects to mimic a crowded area.
- Explain to your child that you will be practicing what to do if they can’t find you in a busy place. Assure them that this is just for practice and they are safe.
- Introduce the Scenario:
- Start with a brief discussion about what to do if they realize they are lost. Emphasize the importance of staying calm, staying in one place, and calling out for help. Review the safety phrase list.
- Teach them to use a loud, clear voice to call out your name and say that they need help finding their parent(s).
- Role-Play:
- Begin the role-play by having your child pretend they are in a busy place. You can say something like, “We’re at the fair, and you can see lots of people around.”
- Move a short distance away from your child while still within sight, then hide behind a piece of furniture or step into another room for a few moments.
- Practice Calling Out:
- Encourage your child to use their loud voice to call out for you. For example, they can shout, “Mom/Dad, where are you?” or “I need help finding my parent(s).”
- Respond to their calls, slowly making your way back to them while they continue calling out. Praise them for using their loud voice and staying calm.
- Practice Staying Calm:
- Repeat the role-play, gradually increasing the distance between you and your child. Each time, remind them to stay in one place and use their loud voice.
- If your child starts to feel anxious, pause and reassure them. Emphasize that practicing staying calm is an important part of the exercise.
- Identify Safe Helpers:
- Introduce the concept of safe adults they can approach for help if they can’t find you. Use dolls or action figures to represent different types of helpers, such as police officers, store employees, or other parents with children.
- Role-play a scenario where your child has to find a safe adult and ask for help. Encourage them to practice what they would say, such as “I’m lost. Can you help me find my mom/dad?”
- Reflect and Reinforce:
- After practicing, sit down with your child and discuss what they did well and how they felt during the role-play.
- Reinforce the importance of staying calm, staying in one place, and calling out for help.
- Praise their efforts and encourage them to remember these steps whenever they are in a crowded place.
- Regular Practice:
- Make this role-playing activity a regular practice, especially before going to busy places. Consistent reinforcement will help your child remember what to do and feel more confident if they ever get lost.
By participating in this role-playing activity, children will practice the essential safety skills of staying calm, using their loud voice to call for help, and identifying safe adults to approach. This will enhance their ability to handle being lost in a busy place with confidence and composure.
Landon Gets Lost is an engaging story that helps children understand the importance of safety and quick thinking in unfamiliar situations.
