The category was formed by merging the data collected for children aged 1 to 6, children aged 7 to 12 and youths aged 13 to 16. It had been shown that there was no statistically significant difference between the data for these three age groups with regard to condition when found, the location in which they were found and how far they had travelled from the IPP. There was nothing to be gained therefore by reporting them as three separate categories; in fact, merging them into one brings with it a greater degree of confidence in the results due to the increased volume of data.

Note: we are not saying that children of all age groups behave in a similar manner. Children’s skills and abilities, and thus their likely behaviours when lost, will change with age. They will follow developmental stages – physical, social, emotional and intellectual, which are well detailed by psychologists. It is important to investigate levels of development through a detailed subject profile. Particularly relevant in the context of ‘missing’ is their level of spatial awareness and understanding of the concept of ‘lost’. For a youngster below 3 years of age these are most likely to be non-existent and will not become fully developed until about 8 or 9 years. Their developing abilities and understanding of situations leading up to 9, viewed on a sliding scale of development are not the same for all children of a similar age, can both help and make matters worse when ‘missing’.

We recommend that you read Gibb and Woolnough's Grampian Study, which offers a description of how the behaviour of children might change as their age changes.