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How to make your child’s trip alone a safe one?

Letting a child travel alone is always an uneasy situation for the parents, but sometimes there is just now way around it. If the time comes when it has to be done, care must be taken to assure that all details are thought through. The trip might be a thrilling experience for the child, and for it to stay a positive one, it must go smoothly. There are many inherent risks that go along with allowing a child to travel alone, and being prepared for what might go wrong is the best precaution.

The top priority to consider is child safety. A parent, relative, or guardian can’t do enough to ensure the child has a safe trip. There are many ways that a child can be put in a compromising situation that will leave them open for predators, and dangerous scenarios. Luckily, with today’s technology, there are many things that adults can do to promote child safety, and to ensure that the child arrives to their destination safe and happy.

First, the adult or parent needs to call on the travel carrier and get detailed information regarding the carrier’s policy on children travelling alone. These policies will differ greatly among different companies when it comes to the age of the child and services provided, and the parents needs to make sure that they are aware of their own responsibilities. If the carrier, such as an airline, does provide a guardian, will they sit beside the child for the whole journey? Will the guardian make sure that the child is escorted to the bathroom? Will the guardian make sure that the child eats their meals or gets a snack? Finally, will the guardian accompany the child from the take off port to their seats, and then escort the child to their relatives or parents at the final destination? Is there documentation available regarding all these concerns, and child safety? What is the procedure if the parents or the relatives aren’t happy with the level of child safety that the carrier provided?

There are other considerations for parents as well. Since it is imperative that the child has a channel of communication to reach mum and dad, it is good to ask whether the child will be able to use a provided phone to make free calls to the parents. In any case, it is a good idea to provide the child with a mobile phone and put all important contacts on speed dial. Also, make sure your child knows how to make a reverse call, that way your child will always be able to reach you.

While the airline or bus company will be extra careful with a child, there are a few more things for parents to think about. Any medica conditions, allergies, important phone numbers should be listed and handed over to the guardian to guarantee the safety of the child over the course of the journey. If the parents or relatives work together with the transportation carrier, the experience for the child travelling alone can be a fun, grown-up experience.