A Maryville family had a brief scare Monday evening when three children didn’t return home.

The three children, who had the day off from school, were heading to a home nearby their house Monday afternoon but never returned.

The children left home around 3:30 and the family became worried and started looking the kids around 4:30.  They contacted Maryville Public Safety whose officers were able to locate the children around 7:30 pm.  The department sent a text-message alert to residents around 7:00 p.m.

The children were described as a 14-year-old girl, a 12-year-old boy and a nine-year-old boy.

The children left their home in the area of Thompson and Saunders Streets in Maryville around 3:30 Monday afternoon to head to a home nearby to see either chickens or turkeys in their yard, according to police.

Public Safety Director Keith Wood said there is no reason to believe the children were in any danger.