How to help lost kids

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Forum -> Parenting our children -> Preschoolers

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champion

Wed, May 02 2018, 5:52 am

They are usually crying and frantic and don't respond to adults that are trying to help.
Is there any good tips to keep in mind when I come across a lost kid.

amother

Mint

Wed, May 02 2018, 6:21 am

Bizarre. You often come across lost children?! Speak calmly

pesek zman

Wed, May 02 2018, 6:22 am

How often does this happen to you?

champion

Wed, May 02 2018, 6:28 am

not so often. but it happens.
I live in Israel maybe it happens more often here.
It just happened to me today.

yo'ma

Wed, May 02 2018, 7:46 am

I've never come across one b'h, but I would probably get down on one knee to their level and maybe gently put my hand on their shoulder and like the other poster said, talk calmly.

amother

Puce

Wed, May 02 2018, 7:58 am

Kids are taught to run from strangers, so they're afraid when adults try to help them. I would look for a name tag/phone number on their clothing/shoes if there's none, I would call the police/shomrim or hatzola.

salt

Wed, May 02 2018, 7:58 am

I've come across a few lost children - also Israel - usually in the playground
Often the kids are not too hysterical and they do answer questions.
If they're crying too much to really talk, I would try and ask them questions at first to which they can answer by a nod or shake of the head:
Were you with your daddy? With your mummy?
Is your daddy in the shul over there?
Do you think your parents are in that shop?
Do you know your mummy's name?
Do you know your phone number?
Then they may calm down, and you can ask more and get more answers.
If I find lost kids in the playground, I usually ask around - do you know whos kid this is - usually someone or someones children recognize them.

amother

cornflower

Wed, May 02 2018, 9:30 am

amother wrote:

Bizarre. You often come across lost children?! Speak calmly

I wonder if this has to do with culture or geography?
I live in chu"l and this has never happened to me, but looks like in E"Y it's not so unusual.
When I was in Yerushalayim with dh we were walking down a street near a chareidi neighborhood where there were few other pedestrians but cars were whizzing by. A little girl, didn't look like she could have been more than five, probably younger, was walking by herself up the street from us. I wanted to approach her, it made me so nervous, but she was walking along quietly and dh said to leave her be. I still think of her and regret that I listened to him. He may have been right though. You see parents sending kids to makolet there that look like they're fresh out of diapers.

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