When the mall is a zoo

By Whitney

I took my kids to the zoo last week and it was, well, a zoo. While it is an incredibly spacious destination, I found keeping track of my children extra-challenging since they did not stand out. Strollers, toddlers and preschoolers made up the vast majority of the crowd. It got me thinking about the crowded venues we endure every year during the holiday shopping season.

What are some steps we can take to reduce the chance of getting separated from our children?

Here are some tips I’ve gathered from real-life and online friends.

Put your kids in matching outfits. Sounds cheesy, but you’ll remember what they were wearing in case you need to spread the word fast or if your eyes are just scanning the crowds.
Write your cell number on your kid’s belly with a Sharpie®. We did this when we took our three-year old to the San Diego Zoo.
Tie a helium balloon to your toddler’s wrist. You’ll be able to track him as he wanders amongst racks of clothes.
Young kids can be taught to look for a person in a uniform, whether it’s a security guard or a store employee, to ask for help.
If your kids cannot find a person in a uniform, they can ask another mom. Somehow they seem to know what a mom looks like, but you could be even more specific (or gender neutral) by telling them to ask someone who is pushing a stroller.