When you take the grandkids to Disney World you’re not only responsible for entertaining them, you’re responsible for their safety too. It can feel overwhelming at times, with so many things to watch out for, but the good news is that a few simple tips can keep your grandkids safe and give you the peace of mind you need.
Make sure your grandkids are easily visible
One of the biggest concerns grandparents have is the kids running off and getting lost. With tens of thousands of people in the parks with you, this isn’t a completely unreasonable fear. One of the best ways to prevent it is to have your grandkids wear brightly colored shirts, or clothes that are otherwise easily identifiable from a distance. Perhaps you can have custom Disney shirts made in bright green so you’ll be able to spot the kids from a mile away.
Take a photo of your grandkids every morning
In the event they do get lost, how confident are you that you’ll be able to remember exactly what they were wearing? Now that we all have cell phones with cameras, it’s easy to take a snapshot of each grandkid as they’re walking out the door. If they do get lost, you’ll have a very recent photo to show cast members and will have evidence of exactly what they were wearing.
Make it clear who’s in charge
If there’s more than one adult along for the trip, it’s easy for everyone to assume someone else is watching the grandkids. You may wish to make each adult in charge of one child, or perhaps you’ll split up the time. Either way, make sure you know who’s responsible for who – and who’s in charge!
Strollers can’t be stressed enough
There are many reasons to consider renting a stroller and safety is certainly one of them. Obviously if your grandkids are toddlers this will be a no-brainer, but many parents rent a stroller for kids as old as 7 or 8. They easily get tired after a day of walking around the parks, you get extra storage, and pushing kids through the crowds at the end of the night helps you know exactly where they are – which increases their safety and your peace of mind!
Have a plan if the kids get lost
While you want to take every step possible to avoid this possibility, you should have a plan in case it does happen. Pick a meeting spot, show the kids how to identify a cast member, and give the kids a piece of paper with your cell phones and other emergency contact information on it. Make sure everyone knows exactly what to do in the event you get split up.
