When traveling with kids, keeping them safe is obviously a top priority. While it’s easy to focus on packing and logistics as you prepare to go, taking the time to teach your child some basic personal safety tips can give them the skills to stay safe and alert. No matter if you’re flying, driving, or exploring new destinations nearby, these safety tips will help prepare your child for the adventure.

Stay Alert and Aware

The very first rule of personal safety is awareness. Teach your child to stay alert to their surroundings, whether walking through a busy airport or exploring a museum. Encourage them to keep their head up, notice people and things around them, and avoid distractions like looking down at a device or zoning out.

You can make this fun by turning it into a game. While walking through new places, ask them to describe what they see or identify landmarks. The key is helping them build the habit of paying attention to their surroundings.

Trust Your Instincts

One of the most valuable lessons you can teach your child is to trust their gut. If something doesn’t feel right or makes them uncomfortable, they should move away from the situation or ask for help. Reassure them that it’s okay to trust those instincts—even if they can’t explain why they feel uncomfortable.

Practice this by giving them hypothetical scenarios while traveling. "What if someone gets too close to you in line? What should you do?" Role playing can help them feel comfortable to act on their instincts quickly and confidently.

Ask for Help

Teach your child how and when to ask for help if they feel lost, confused, or unsafe. Go over who they should approach: airport staff, police officers, hotel employees, or people working at information desks.

If you’re in a crowded place, it can be helpful to identify “safe” people ahead of time. For example, point out uniformed workers in the airport or on public transportation and explain that these people can help if they ever feel unsafe or can’t find you. You could also establish a family safety password that your child can use if they are unsure whether someone offering help is credible.

Keep Your Hands Free

While it’s tempting to let kids carry all their favorite things, keeping their hands mostly free helps them stay alert and able to react if needed. Teach them to limit what they carry in their hands so they can respond quickly if they need to. Whether it’s grabbing onto you, moving away from someone, or maneuvering through a busy crowd, having free hands makes them more agile.

For older kids, you can also talk about keeping important items—like devices, tickets, or IDs—safely stored in pockets or small bags they can access without needing both hands.

Know the Plan if You Get Separated

One of the biggest fears for both parents and kids is getting separated. Teach your child what to do if this happens. Establish a meeting point in every location you visit (e.g., the entrance of the zoo, near the baggage claim at the airport). Reassure them that if they can’t find you, they should go to the meeting spot or approach a safe adult (like a security guard or information desk employee) and wait in one place instead of wandering to relocate you.

For extra peace of mind, use a Littlebird LTE safety tracker, which allows you to monitor their location from the app. It’s easy for kids to wear and provides you with on-demand information if you were ever to be separated while on the go.

Stay Close in Crowded Places

Crowded locations can be overwhelming for kids. Make a plan to stay close to each other, whether by holding hands or keeping within sight. Give your child specific tasks to help them stay focused and engaged, like being in charge of watching for signs or helping track how far you are from your gate or destination.

Practice Basic Emergency Response

Lastly, it’s always a good idea to review basic emergency responses with your child. Practice how to call for help if they need it and what kind of information they should provide (name, location, description of who they are with) before you go. If you’re traveling abroad, teaching your child how to say “help” in the local language can be a valuable safety measure.

Teaching your children basic personal security skills before you travel empowers them to be more independent and confident during your explorations.

Safe travels! 🚗 ✈️ 🚆