| Have you ever been shopping in a busy mall, | | | | children's identification in the form of Medicare |
| stopped to look at something only to discover | | | | information and Social Insurance cards. However, |
| that in the brief time it took to do so, your child | | | | very few fathers carry any of their chi ld's |
| has wandered away from you? If in reading this | | | | specific identification. As proud fathers, they have |
| question you are able to answer no, you | | | | one if not several pictures of their child. However, |
| undoubtedly know someone who has be en in this | | | | as the child grows older, those pictures are |
| situation. | | | | updated less and less frequently. |
| Each minute, somewhere in the country, a parent | | | | When looking for a Child ID provider, find one |
| is separated from their child. | | | | whose program includes wallet-sized identification |
| These separations sometimes last only a few | | | | profile cards for your children. These profile cards |
| seconds; in other instances they last much longer, | | | | will allow you to list your child's specific |
| causing the store to go into a lock-down situation. | | | | identification, including a recent picture. One thing |
| The truth of the matter is, wherever there are | | | | to keep in mind is that children grow like weeds, |
| large crowds; parades, country fairs, busy city | | | | so you will want to find a program that provides |
| streets etc., young children will inevitably become | | | | you with an unlimited supply. This will allow you to |
| separated from their parents. | | | | update them as required. A good rule of thumb is |
| I speak with hundreds of parents a week, though | | | | to update the information and picture every three |
| the situations and circumstances may vary | | | | months until children reach the age of three, and |
| slightly, I have heard the same scenario repeated | | | | at least once a year thereafter. |
| over and over again. The end result is always the | | | | When reading this, please don't think that because |
| same. Panic in its purest form, 100% pure | | | | your child is rarely out of your sight, this could |
| unadulterated panic. | | | | never happen to you. When arriving at the scene, |
| In situations when the child is not located within a | | | | this is inevitably the first thing the responding |
| few moments, the parent will be asked by either | | | | police officers hear from the parents. These |
| a store employee, security staff or even a police | | | | situations occur not out of neglect, but due to |
| officer to provide an accurate description of the | | | | everyday situations that are completely out of |
| lost child, as well as what the child was wearing at | | | | our control. |
| the time. | | | | The pro-active and preventative measures you |
| In a similar situation, when in a state of panic, | | | | have taken as a responsible parent, to ensure |
| would you be able to provide an accurate | | | | your child's safety, will be invaluable in helping you |
| description of your child? | | | | to provide the authorities with accurate |
| Let's be honest with ourselves, all young children | | | | information when time is of the essence, should |
| look more or less the same! With the exception | | | | you ever find yourself in a similar situation. |
| of the color of their skin, hair and eyes, all young | | | | Do not procrastinate! Remember the Boy Scout |
| children are short, cute, have big beautiful eyes | | | | motto "Always be prepared". Make sure that both |
| and a few missing teeth. Add to this the fact that | | | | parents never leave home without their child's |
| in this situation, most parents do not remember | | | | identification. |
| what their child was wearing at the time. | | | | Would you leave home without yours? |
| Most parents, often the mother, carry their | | | | |