Emergency lock down drill, younger kids

[Anonymous]

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?

[Anonymous]

It doesn't scare 5 year olds.

[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?

Would you rather the scenario really happens and your child just sits at her desk with the lights on? How else do you explain the drill to the child?

[Anonymous]

It's nothing new. When I was a kid, it was because the Russians were going to nuke us. It's a simple drill, kids get it...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's nothing new. When I was a kid, it was because the Russians were going to nuke us. It's a simple drill, kids get it...

It's interesting because I keep having the same conversation with friends about how we were all terrified of dying in a nuclear strike. I don't think drills like this would have saved the kids at Sandy Hook. Any tiny benefit gained by this training isn't worth the trauma.

[Anonymous]

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."

[Anonymous]

In our house I explained it as a "T-Rex drill" I said what he has to do is pretend like a hungry T-Rex is looking for him and he doesn't want to be eaten. My son thought that this was funny, but he did really well. He even wanted me to call some spontaneous drills at home with me being the T-Rex demanding a child to eat so he could play at it. So he's less freaked out now and so prepared to hide and stay quiet.

[Anonymous]

America.

[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?

There were lock down drills pre Sandy Hook.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's nothing new. When I was a kid, it was because the Russians were going to nuke us. It's a simple drill, kids get it...

It's interesting because I keep having the same conversation with friends about how we were all terrified of dying in a nuclear strike. I don't think drills like this would have saved the kids at Sandy Hook. Any tiny benefit gained by this training isn't worth the trauma.

Actually, drills did save quite a few children in Sandy Hook. The teachers closed their doors and pulled down the shades and made it look like the classroom was empty in many classrooms.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's nothing new. When I was a kid, it was because the Russians were going to nuke us. It's a simple drill, kids get it...

It's interesting because I keep having the same conversation with friends about how we were all terrified of dying in a nuclear strike. I don't think drills like this would have saved the kids at Sandy Hook. Any tiny benefit gained by this training isn't worth the trauma.

Actually, drills did save quite a few children in Sandy Hook. The teachers closed their doors and pulled down the shades and made it look like the classroom was empty in many classrooms.

Did those drills involve children. I've done active shooter trainings. I think they are appropriate for educators (although the big takeaway in mine was "you need to know that no one is coming in to save you until the shooting stops"), but not for kindergarteners.

[Anonymous]

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."

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

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

After Sandy Hook when FCPS started this my kindergartener threw up during a drill and almost did during the second one. Every child is different. I'm not saying I have a better solution, but to think 5 year olds are unaffected is wrong.

[Anonymous]

My DC's 1st grade teacher explained that they were practicing hiding in case a bear got in the school. As they appear regularly in the neighborhoods here, that made sense to her.