I lost my child at a playground. What happened next surprised me

I remember thinking, maybe she had been kidnapped. 

"How could they let that happen?" This is what I used to think whenever I heard a PA announcement about a lost child in a department store.

I was very quick to judge parents who had misplaced their child. 

I thought I would never lose my children in a public space. But then one day it happened to me.

When I lost my daughter at a playground, albeit only for a few minutes, it was a terrifying experience.

And as my world was closing in, I was surprised when the other parents around me acted indifferent towards the situation.

Dani never thought she'd be a parent who loses her child. Image: Supplied

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“One minute she was there, the next she was gone”

On a sunny day, I took my two daughters, aged one and three, to a local playground.

The playground was completely fenced, which I preferred because it was supposed to stop children wandering off.

We had just entered through the gate when my three-year-old daughter excitedly ran off. 

I pushed my pram, wanting my baby to take a nap, but instead it seemed to have the opposite effect and she started crying.

When I looked up from the pram, I could no longer see my three-year-old.

At first, I calmly looked around the playground and checked to see if she was at the top of the slide.

I called out to her several times, but she didn’t answer or come back to me. My baby stopped crying, probably curious as to why I was shouting.

Then panic set in, and I started looking beyond the playground. I had recently heard about other kids escaping from the same playground by crawling under the fence. 

I remember thinking, maybe she had been kidnapped.

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“The other parents at the playground didn’t help look for her” 

I continued yelling my daughter’s name while the other parents at the playground just stood around chatting to each other.

Maybe they didn’t realise what had happened so I asked them directly: “Have you seen my daughter?”

They said “no, sorry” and continued their conversation. They probably just thought my daughter was playing hide and seek, but I was thinking the worst.

I asked the other parents if they could help me find her but my request was met with radio silence.

It was, after all, a fenced playground. How does one lose their child in a fenced playground?

Well, I did, for what felt like the longest few minutes of my life.

I continued yelling my daughter’s name while the other parents at the playground just stood around chatting to each other. Image: Supplied

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“I found her hiding behind a bush”

I left my baby in the pram while I ran around the playground, still calling out to my other daughter.

I found her hiding in the bushes with a big smile, unbeknownst to what had just happened. 

We regrouped with her younger sister, and immediately left the playground. 

I was both embarrassed because I lost my daughter in a fenced playground, and surprised that the other parents just stood there and watched. 

Perhaps they thought I had the situation under control, even though it was quite the opposite. I think that if they knew what I was going through, they may have helped out.

When I shared this story with my mum friends, one of them told me that they had a similar experience to mine. But mostly, other mums told me about how strangers had helped them find their lost child. 

After my experience, I no longer judge other parents who lose their kids in public spaces because I understand how quickly it can happen and how horrible it feels when it does. 

And next time I hear someone shouting their kid's name in a state of panic, I'll be sure to lend a helping hand. 

Originally published as I lost my child at a playground. What happened next surprised me