Critical advice from experts to parents: Use a “secret emoji” with your kids

If you have children, it is important to talk to them about emergencies in advance. It’s especially good to have a plan for how to warn you if they’re in danger when you’re not around.

Most children now travel with a mobile phone, but there may be situations when your child cannot make a phone call or someone suspicious has their eye on their phone. That’s when a secret emoji can save the day. In an emergency, an emoji is less eye-catching than a word or phrase.

In short, if your child can’t make a call or someone is watching them while texting, an emoji can serve as an excellent distress signal.

How to choose hidden emoji?

When choosing the best secret emoji, make sure they are easy to remember. But don’t let it be an emoji your family uses frequently. This can cause unnecessary confusion and possibly some distress. You should also avoid commonly used emojis such as hearts or smiley faces.

10 emojis you can use in emergency situations

Animal emojis are great options, especially the more exotic ones. Take the octopus for example. It is not widely used, but it is easy for the whole family to remember. The important thing is to explain to your child that this is an emoji that should only be used in emergencies.

How can you respond?

You should also determine and explain in advance what reactions your children should expect from you if they use the plan. For example, when they send you emojis, will you respond with a phone call in return? If so, what will you say?

The best advice is to call your child immediately and tell him that he needs to come home as soon as possible.

Depending on what’s happening, other steps you can take as a parent are to contact authorities or reach out to trusted adults nearby.

A secret emoji is a great alternative to a standard emergency call or text. It is less obvious to perpetrators and gets the message across quickly.

Make sure kids can reach you at all times

If the whole family uses iPhones, there’s one more thing you should definitely do: Set up Family Sharing. This feature allows you to share your location with family members and help them find their device if they get lost.

But even if your phone isn’t lost, people you share your location with may ping your phone to get your attention while it’s in Do Not Disturb mode.