How to talk to 4 year old about a school lockdown drill?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My Kindergartener had this drill. The teacher informed us beforehand that there is a predetermined "story" ("a bear comes into school and we must huddle together quietly in the closet so he doesn't hear us") shared with this age group because they feel the children are apt to be frightened by the actual drill. The school asked parents to partner by going along with the teacher's story.

Yes. I think in our preschool they are hiding from a wolf in school. It’s not extreme and made into a game.

I mean this will work for a preschooler and maybe a kindergartener, but around K or 1st grade some kids can read, understand radio and TV, and have older siblings. So kids will know about school shootings and will see through this "bear" crap.

If I had unlimited energy I would organize my school not to do these because I think they are just harmful and not useful at all. But I don't, so I guess I just bitch about it on DCUM.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My Kindergartener had this drill. The teacher informed us beforehand that there is a predetermined "story" ("a bear comes into school and we must huddle together quietly in the closet so he doesn't hear us") shared with this age group because they feel the children are apt to be frightened by the actual drill. The school asked parents to partner by going along with the teacher's story.

I would think most preschoolers or young elementary kids would be pretty scared at the thought that a wolf might come in their school. By creating that scenario it seems the effect would be that the kids now think it's possible they might have to actually hide from a dangerous wild animal in the school, and the likelihood of that actually happening is pretty much zero unless you live in rural Alaska or Wyoming. DC area, not so much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My Kindergartener had this drill. The teacher informed us beforehand that there is a predetermined "story" ("a bear comes into school and we must huddle together quietly in the closet so he doesn't hear us") shared with this age group because they feel the children are apt to be frightened by the actual drill. The school asked parents to partner by going along with the teacher's story.

I would think most preschoolers or young elementary kids would be pretty scared at the thought that a wolf might come in their school. By creating that scenario it seems the effect would be that the kids now think it's possible they might have to actually hide from a dangerous wild animal in the school, and the likelihood of that actually happening is pretty much zero unless you live in rural Alaska or Wyoming. DC area, not so much.

My dc’s 2nd grade teacher previously taught in a school that had a lockdown when a dog that was thought to be rabid got into the school. It was not in a rural area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My Kindergartener had this drill. The teacher informed us beforehand that there is a predetermined "story" ("a bear comes into school and we must huddle together quietly in the closet so he doesn't hear us") shared with this age group because they feel the children are apt to be frightened by the actual drill. The school asked parents to partner by going along with the teacher's story.

I would think most preschoolers or young elementary kids would be pretty scared at the thought that a wolf might come in their school. By creating that scenario it seems the effect would be that the kids now think it's possible they might have to actually hide from a dangerous wild animal in the school, and the likelihood of that actually happening is pretty much zero unless you live in rural Alaska or Wyoming. DC area, not so much.

My dc’s 2nd grade teacher previously taught in a school that had a lockdown when a dog that was thought to be rabid got into the school. It was not in a rural area.

PP with K student here, the school decided that the bear story met the same procedural criteria as an active shooter, but would be easier for a young child to digest than a man with a gun shooting at them, unfortunately.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My Kindergartener had this drill. The teacher informed us beforehand that there is a predetermined "story" ("a bear comes into school and we must huddle together quietly in the closet so he doesn't hear us") shared with this age group because they feel the children are apt to be frightened by the actual drill. The school asked parents to partner by going along with the teacher's story.

I would think most preschoolers or young elementary kids would be pretty scared at the thought that a wolf might come in their school. By creating that scenario it seems the effect would be that the kids now think it's possible they might have to actually hide from a dangerous wild animal in the school, and the likelihood of that actually happening is pretty much zero unless you live in rural Alaska or Wyoming. DC area, not so much.

My dc’s 2nd grade teacher previously taught in a school that had a lockdown when a dog that was thought to be rabid got into the school. It was not in a rural area.

PP with K student here, the school decided that the bear story met the same procedural criteria as an active shooter, but would be easier for a young child to digest than a man with a gun shooting at them, unfortunately.

A family member said their school days a wild animal, like a deer had wandered into the hallway and they were trying to get it out.. The kids were to stay in room so it doesn’t get confused or hurt.

I don’t like any of it. But I also appreciate they’re trying to make less scary scenarios.

[Anonymous]

My daughter is in preschool at a preschool-8th grade school and coincidentally had her lockdown drill this week. Last year when she was 3, she told me about the drill but thought it was just a different kind of earthquake drill (we are on the west coast). This year she knew the phrase lockdown drill and seemed to know that they were hiding from a bad guy. That part didn’t bother her and she said she felt safe because a friend held her hand. But she was really bothered by the lock checks. I guess the administration checks each doorknob, but in a hurry, it sounded like rattling doors angrily and trying to break in. I told her that it was to get them to practice being quiet no matter what.

I think you know your kid best and how much info they need. Mine is one who wants the truth (I didn’t mention guns or bad guys trying to get kids, just trying to get in) and was way less anxious once she understood the mechanics of the drill.

Btw, for the poster worried about kids being quiet- our preschool and kindergarten classrooms have lollipops in their lockdown kits.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can any teacher here tell me what's the protocol in lock down drills in pre-school or ES? Are the kids told to hide and keep quiet? And how is that instruction and the bases for those instructions given?

My ES son was told the drill was to keep them safe if someone comes into the school that isn't supposed to be there. He didn't seem to think it was a big deal.

A para told my anxious Ker about Newtown and bad guys with guns who kill kids. Don’t assume competence.

[Anonymous]

I'm a teacher but of grades K-5.

I tell my little kids that we have indoor and outdoor fire drills.

In both cases we need to stay absolutely quiet so kids can hear directions from the teacher.

For outdoor fire drills we go outside and stay in a line so I can be sure everyone is there. We stand absolutely silent and look away from the school at me, the teacher, so they can see and hear my directions.

For indoor fire drills we stay inside and I close the door and windows. They stay absolutely silent and in one place so I can be sure everyone is there. They look at me so they can see and hear my directions is necessary.

There could be many reasons for us to have these drills and I don't go into detail with the kids about the reasons. For example, outdoor alarms could be due to smoke, gas leak, etc. Indoor could be a stray snarling dog got into the school! Kids don't need to know the reason. They just need to know that the teacher is in charge and will tell them what to do so they need to be silent in order to hear any directions.

[Anonymous]

1. You are not supposed to lie to kids. Schools should not be telling kids about bears and dogs and deer.

2. You need to answer things in age appropriate ways until the child is satisfied.

This applies to all things.

[Anonymous]

Teacher again:

I had had unannounced fire drills called when I was on lunch duty (supervising 120 students with one other teacher!) and when many classes of kids were transitioning in the halls between classes.

In both cases, what helps is having kids trained that they do not talk during a fire or lockdown drill, and that they look to the teacher for directions and follow them quickly and quietly.