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Helpful tips on Missing Children’s Day

National Missing Children’s Day is dedicated to encouraging parents, guardians, caregivers, and others concerned with the well-being of children to make child safety a priority. The day serves as a reminder to continue our efforts to prevent children from going missing and to reunite missing children with their families.

  1. Consider your child’s privacy when they are labeling belongings. Adults who have ulterior motives might use easily identifiable names, nicknames, or other information to approach your child. Avoid labeling jackets, backpacks, or other items on the outside, with your child’s name or nickname prominently visible.
  2. Consider a safety code word. For instance, it’s possible that in an emergency you may need to send another adult to pick up your child. Tell that adult the safety code word. Children should be told that they should never go with anyone, even someone they know, unless that person knows the safety code word.
  3. Use the buddy system. Let kids know there is safety in numbers and having another individual, a buddy, accompany them when they are going places increases their safety.
  4. Some parents have found technology such as Tile or AirTags as a helpful option for monitoring their children’s location.
  5. If your family is going to a large event or crowded space, consider taking a photo of your child when you arrive at your location. In the event your child goes missing you have a recent photo to share with police and event organizers.

It’s never too early to teach your child street smarts, self-defense, and common sense. MissingKids.ca has helpful resources for families to prevent children from going missing.