Have you ever lost sight of your toddler when you’re out and about? I’ve come across small children separated from their parents while shopping. When I do, I talk to the child to calm him down and then find the closest employee to facilitate the reunion. I figure an employee is in a better position to help.
My toddler is at the age where she wants to walk everywhere. She doesn’t want to sit in the seat of the cart. It is much simpler and faster for me to plunk her in the seat and strap her in. She, on the other hand, enjoys the shopping experience much more when she’s helping to push the cart or holding on.
The major problem with allowing my toddler the freedom to walk with me is she’s two years old. At two children are easily distracted and like to touch everything. Jessie loves to open refrigerator and freezer doors at the market. She wants to look at all the greeting cards. It seems that I spend our entire shopping trip calling Jessie to come back to where I am.
I have had a few panicked moments recently when I turned around and could not see my daughter. She’s so little that she wanders and then forgets which way she can get back to me. When I locate her and call her name, I can see the relief on her face.
Recently, a 14-year-old in Florida led a three-year-old out of a store where she had briefly left her mother’s side. Thankfully the mother was able to recover her daughter just outside the store doors. The boy avoided a kidnapping charge and was instead charged with false imprisonment because he took the girl by the hand.
Have you lost sight of your child in a store? What do you do to keep your children with you while shopping?