The rescue probably involved a lot of people. Maybe some hikers found the child first and then informed the proper authorities. Or it could be that the search dogs led the rescuers to the child.
Search and rescue teams should be called in. They often use trained dogs that can pick up the child's scent. Helicopters can also be used to scan a large area of the woods quickly. Volunteers can spread out and call the child's name to see if there is a response.
The 3 - year - old might be very frightened. They could start crying for their parents. Maybe they would try to hide under bushes thinking it's a safe place.
One main theme could be survival. When lost in the woods, the characters likely have to find ways to stay alive, like finding food and shelter. Another might be self - discovery. Being alone in such a situation can make a person learn a lot about themselves.
There might be a young child who wanders off into the woods and gets lost. The child could be a main character. Or perhaps an old man who has some special skills for survival in the woods but still gets lost. In some cases, there could be a forest ranger who gets lost while on duty in the woods and he or she is the main character.
I'm not sure specifically which 'old man in the woods story' you mean. It could be about an old man who lives alone in the woods, perhaps with some kind of adventure like encountering strange animals or having a spiritual journey in the solitude of the forest.