In the midst of a bustling museum, Ohio mom Krista Piper Grundey faced every parent’s nightmare: losing sight of her 3-year-old daughter, Lily. Stuck in a throng of people, panic surged as she frantically searched for her little girl. “My first instinct was to call out her name,” Grundey, 36, said. But then, a memory flickered to life—a TikTok video she had watched, offering a different approach when your child goes missing.
“She said to shout out a description of what your child is wearing because that way people know what to look for,” Grundey explained. So she began to shout, “Little girl, pink Minnie Mouse shirt!” into the chaotic noise of the museum.
@jesmartini This is a MUST watch for any parent or caregiver- What to do if your child ever goes missing in a public place #momsoftiktok #psa #staysafe #safety #f ♬ original sound – Jess martini
Her call was joined by others, echoing through the halls as concerned parents united in the search for Lily. “Little girl, pink Minnie Mouse shirt!” they repeated. Then, a collective sigh of relief as Lily was found, safe and sound, oblivious to the commotion she had caused. “I was in tears and Lily was just playing and completely oblivious to the fact that I was frantically searching for her,” Grundey said, still emotional at the memory.
Later, Grundey shared her terrifying experience on TikTok, where it resonated with thousands, sparking a conversation about child safety in crowded places. Comments poured in, echoing similar instances where the power of a clear description had led to swift reunions.
I heard a mom doing that one day at a park. Kid was fine and was playing but people pointed her out quickly,” one commenter shared, underscoring the effectiveness of Grundey’s tactic.
Another recounted a similar experience in a mall, where a missing child was swiftly located thanks to a descriptive call-out. “We got a missing kid! *repeat description” found in 30sec,” they wrote, emphasizing the rapid response enabled by clear communication.
Krista Grundey talks about her recent scare when her daughter went missing. Photo from TikTok
The roots of this strategy trace back to 2020, when children’s author Jess Martini’s viral PSA promoted the concept of ‘“looking loudly” to find missing children. In her video, Martini urged parents to provide detailed descriptions of their children in crowded places, enabling others to assist in the search.
“It’s going to sound like this: ‘I’m looking for a boy, age 5, short brown hair, brown eyes, caucasian, red Nike T-shirt, black shorts, black shoes,'” Martini had explained, her message resonating with parents worldwide.
Reflecting on her own experience, Grundey emphasized the importance of such tactics in ensuring child safety. “I probably looked like a crazy person but it got the job done,” she remarked, her words carrying the weight of a mother’s determination. But, either way, she found Lily and proved that TikTok can make a difference. Watch below, to hear from Grundey.
