Emergency lock down drill, younger kids

[Anonymous]

I think the drills (with the kids) are critical.

If something like this happens, they have seconds to react and some level of muscle memory is critical. And a quick and appropriate reaction will make a difference for some people to survive the situation who might not otherwise.

However I don't think the kids need to be told "bad guy" stories. Tell them they're practicing how to stay quiet in an emergency.

[Anonymous]

At our school, I think they say something like "if a bank is robbed nearby" or something that doesn't scare the kids (they don't think person coming to shoot me). If you think your school is scaring the kids, maybe help them to come up with some better words that aren't as scary.

I'm actually happy they do them, because that means they know what to do. One day after a drill my son came home all excited because he was in the teachers lounge that day (a big no-no normally). He was in the hallway during the drill and his former K teacher ran out, and pulled him in. Even though its a drill, i still tear up thinking about it. Because I know that teacher would be pulling him in if ever needed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think the drills (with the kids) are critical.

If something like this happens, they have seconds to react and some level of muscle memory is critical. And a quick and appropriate reaction will make a difference for some people to survive the situation who might not otherwise.

However I don't think the kids need to be told "bad guy" stories. Tell them they're practicing how to stay quiet in an emergency.

While I agree there may be some other way of saying it, they need to differentiate the "hide and be quiet" drill from the drill where you are sheltered in place. I guess we were all just lucky that our nuclear war drill was the same as our tornado drill (cover your heads with your hands and hide under your desk). Man, those must have been tough desks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the drills (with the kids) are critical.

If something like this happens, they have seconds to react and some level of muscle memory is critical. And a quick and appropriate reaction will make a difference for some people to survive the situation who might not otherwise.

However I don't think the kids need to be told "bad guy" stories. Tell them they're practicing how to stay quiet in an emergency.

While I agree there may be some other way of saying it, they need to differentiate the "hide and be quiet" drill from the drill where you are sheltered in place. I guess we were all just lucky that our nuclear war drill was the same as our tornado drill (cover your heads with your hands and hide under your desk). Man, those must have been tough desks.

Our tornado drill, both practiced and actually used much more frequently, was different from the nuclear drill. And neither would work for a lock down drill. Our tornado drill involved going to an interior hallway and sitting, lined up against the wall, away from any potential projectiles. The hide-from-the-nuclear-bomb-under-your-desk drill seemed silly even at the time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I get that we're living in a post-Sandy Hook world, but is it really necessary to tell my child that "we're practicing what to do in case a bad guy comes into our school to hurt us?" There is no other way you can practice without scaring 5 year olds?

My now 3d grader was never scared by this.

This is the world we live in. Second amendment rules America. So these drills are necessary. I'd rather have them practice it and know what to do if it ever happens.

[Anonymous]

I find it interesting that this thread has gone on for two pages and not one response was about how if you don't like it, then do something about gun culture in America! My kid seems fairly unaffected by them, but I still have to restrain myself from crying every time she tells me they had one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It doesn't scare 5 year olds.

That depends on the 5-year-old. Maybe it doesn't scare yours, but mine has a very active imagination and would be scared if told this. I think it could be left more vague at this age, like, "We are practicing what to do in case there's an emergency."

Bah.

[Anonymous]

My five year old was terrified (to the point we got an email from the teacher), but I still think the drills are a very good practice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here: I'm fine with the drills- sadly they may be necessary- I just think the explanation needs to be more age appropriate especially for kids in week 3 of formal school. Agree with PP who suggested saying something like, ""We are practicing what to do in case there's an emergency."

I totally agree with you. And not to derail the thread into a redshirting debate, but here it really makes a difference if you have a 4 year old, just turning 5 or a six and a half year old.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I get that we're living in a post-Sandy Hook world, but is it really necessary to tell my child that "we're practicing what to do in case a bad guy comes into our school to hurt us?" There is no other way you can practice without scaring 5 year olds?

Yes, it's really necessary. Simmer down.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It doesn't scare 5 year olds.

That depends on the 5-year-old. Maybe it doesn't scare yours, but mine has a very active imagination and would be scared if told this. I think it could be left more vague at this age, like, "We are practicing what to do in case there's an emergency."

"What kind of emergency?"

I believe in frank talk with children, even those that young. Don't dance around it.

"In case some bad person with a gun comes into the school and starts shooting people."

Because, yes, this happens. With disturbing frequency.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My K student's school had a lockdown drill. She had no clue why. The teacher obviously did not explain the "bad guy" part. She just thought they were supposed to go to a certain part of the room and sit quietly. I think for kindergarten this is the way I prefer it be handled. I don't think that for K students there is much of a point in explaining the purpose; I don't think it will make them any more likely to follow the lockdown rules, and may scare some of them.

Same. My children's school is preschool thru HS, and we're doing drills pre Sandy Hook. My kids have been doing drills since they were three (4 years now). They aren't freaked out, and the drills have never bothered them.
That said, they have changed the drills, and now a teacher stays in the classroom, visible, to distract / give the kids a few more minutes. Last year one of the girls - new to the school and who knew about sandy hook - got hysterical when she realized that the teacher would die if it was a real scenario.

[Anonymous]

This doesn't bother me. My parents always talk about the Cold War drills, etc. they had to get under the desk.

[Anonymous]

At our school, they sent around an administrator knocking on the doors and asking to be let in.

The teachers told the kids she was trying to trick them into making noise, and that they wouldn't make any sounds until the police came to let them out.

No matter what they heard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It doesn't scare 5 year olds.

That depends on the 5-year-old. Maybe it doesn't scare yours, but mine has a very active imagination and would be scared if told this. I think it could be left more vague at this age, like, "We are practicing what to do in case there's an emergency."

"What kind of emergency?"

I believe in frank talk with children, even those that young. Don't dance around it.

"In case some bad person with a gun comes into the school and starts shooting people."

Because, yes, this happens. With disturbing frequency.

Yes, terrible things happen in the world daily, and we are all going to die. Maybe today. And we need to prepare kids for reality.

However, there is absolutely no need to tell young children that someone may come into their school and start shooting people. Undermining their sense of trust in their environment will not make them react better in an emergency - better to make it like a game they are a part of (like someone mentioned trying to trick an administrator).