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