Every year, roughly 2.8 million teenagers run away from their home, leaving their parents in a state of guilt and shock. What’s worse is that they have to live their whole life with this guilt that it was due to their poor parenting that their kid ran away. What happens to teens after leaving home is not pretty. Some of them get physically, mentally and emotionally assaulted, while others end up becoming drug addicts. These homeless teenagers have to strive hard to stay safe. Here are a few tips to locating and bringing runaway teens back home.

1. Check Nearby Places

Leaving home does not necessarily mean that your kid has run away forever. He may be sitting in a nearby restaurant, having a cup of coffee or indulging in a scoop of ice cream to clear his mind. So stop imagining the worst possible scenario and start searching for him at all nearby places such as cafes, restaurants, malls, parks, playgrounds, etc.

2. Connect with Kid’s Social Network

If your kid is missing and you have not heard from him for several hours, then you must contact all his friends, class fellows and teachers. Ask them when and where they saw him. You may also request them to ask their friends and friends of friends to help you in locating your youngster. Teens typically have a huge social circle, so you should try to capitalize on that. Do not hesitate to talk to his friends’ parents, as he could be staying at any of his friends’ house. In this case, it is also good to send a message to him, reminding him that you really love him and are desperately waiting for him to come back.

3. Track Kid’s Mobile Device

If the kid’s mobile device is missing, then chances are he has taken it with him. Tracking them can help you in getting to know of his whereabouts. You can then share the location details with the police so that they may help you in tracing and getting your kid back.

4. Check Kid’s Room for Any Clues

When it comes to finding a runaway kid, every little thing matters as it could possibly be a hint or clue to where he may have gone. You must thoroughly check his room and go through all his stuff to get an idea about his whereabouts. Check if all his documents and social security card is present or if he has taken them with him.

5. File a Missing Persons Report

You may not have all the resources it needs to find the kid, so it is strongly suggested filing a missing person report so that police can help you in finding your kid. Do not hide anything from the police and remain in touch with them to know what they are doing to find your kid.