Anonymous
09/08/2015 12:14
Subject: Helping my DS - hate fire drills
Anonymous wrote:My DD (now 10) has the exact same issue. It was very bad until recently - she has come to accept it a bit better with maturity. She spent a lot of her time looking for all the speakers in the school so she would know where to avoid. She begged not to be at school on those days.
Firstly, let the teachers (counsellor/nurse/administrators as well) know. Make sure they realize it is a very serious issue for this child.
Secondly, don't entertain the idea of keeping him home. It won't help to get past the fears. Realize that the build up is the worst part. Make sure you talk through it afterwards so he acknowledges that it wasn't as bad as he expected each time.
Finally, consider getting him some cognitive behavior therapy so he can manage his fears.
Fear of loud noises is really tough for some kids - and something a lot of people don't understand.
Good luck.
Well said
Anonymous
09/01/2015 23:04
Subject: Re:Helping my DS - hate fire drills
Anonymous wrote:It's common to have this in an IEP. Talk to his teacher and see if he can have an accommodation.
Maybe introduce him to fire drills slowly:
1. Stand outside so the sound does not freak him out.
2. Move to being forewarn.
3. Eventually he needs to be able to handle a fire drill without knowing, maybe not in 2nd grade but eventually.
Excellent
Anonymous
09/01/2015 13:57
Subject: Helping my DS - hate fire drills
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Ask if he can have forewarning. My DD is special needs and gets taken out before the drill. Or maybe he can wear headphones. Poor kid.
Thanks much for sharing your DD’s experience with me. Does school needs any letters from doctor or specialist in order for a kid to be taken out before the drill?
Not necessarily. Start by simply explaining that your son is fearful and asking if it is possible to take him out before the drill. Unless they ask for a medical reason, don't offer.
Anonymous
09/01/2015 13:40
Subject: Re:Helping my DS - hate fire drills
My son is the same. He's entering 3rd grade. He's at a small private school and he got to pull the alarm on one of the test days (it was something we won at the annual benefit), and that "really" helped somehow. Forewarning would help too. He'd be anxious that day, but at least he could rest assured it wouldn't happen at any moment, any day.
Anonymous
09/01/2015 13:30
Subject: Re:Helping my DS - hate fire drills
My son also had this fear. The teachers gave him a heads up (as best they could) and talked to him about it. But not too much of a heads up because then he would fixate on the drill until it happened. It got better.
Anonymous
09/01/2015 13:22
Subject: Helping my DS - hate fire drills
Anonymous wrote:Ask if he can have forewarning. My DD is special needs and gets taken out before the drill. Or maybe he can wear headphones. Poor kid.
Thanks much for sharing your DD’s experience with me. Does school needs any letters from doctor or specialist in order for a kid to be taken out before the drill?
Anonymous
09/01/2015 13:22
Subject: Helping my DS - hate fire drills
My husband was like this in ES. He always received forewarning of fire drills.
Anonymous
09/01/2015 13:21
Subject: Helping my DS - hate fire drills
My DD (now 10) has the exact same issue. It was very bad until recently - she has come to accept it a bit better with maturity. She spent a lot of her time looking for all the speakers in the school so she would know where to avoid. She begged not to be at school on those days.
Firstly, let the teachers (counsellor/nurse/administrators as well) know. Make sure they realize it is a very serious issue for this child.
Secondly, don't entertain the idea of keeping him home. It won't help to get past the fears. Realize that the build up is the worst part. Make sure you talk through it afterwards so he acknowledges that it wasn't as bad as he expected each time.
Finally, consider getting him some cognitive behavior therapy so he can manage his fears.
Fear of loud noises is really tough for some kids - and something a lot of people don't understand.
Good luck.
Firstly, let the teachers (counsellor/nurse/administrators as well) know. Make sure they realize it is a very serious issue for this child.
Secondly, don't entertain the idea of keeping him home. It won't help to get past the fears. Realize that the build up is the worst part. Make sure you talk through it afterwards so he acknowledges that it wasn't as bad as he expected each time.
Finally, consider getting him some cognitive behavior therapy so he can manage his fears.
Fear of loud noises is really tough for some kids - and something a lot of people don't understand.
Good luck.
Anonymous
09/01/2015 13:20
Subject: Re:Helping my DS - hate fire drills
It's common to have this in an IEP. Talk to his teacher and see if he can have an accommodation.
Maybe introduce him to fire drills slowly:
1. Stand outside so the sound does not freak him out.
2. Move to being forewarn.
3. Eventually he needs to be able to handle a fire drill without knowing, maybe not in 2nd grade but eventually.
Maybe introduce him to fire drills slowly:
1. Stand outside so the sound does not freak him out.
2. Move to being forewarn.
3. Eventually he needs to be able to handle a fire drill without knowing, maybe not in 2nd grade but eventually.
Anonymous
09/01/2015 13:17
Subject: Helping my DS - hate fire drills
Ask if he can have forewarning. My DD is special needs and gets taken out before the drill. Or maybe he can wear headphones. Poor kid.
Anonymous
09/01/2015 13:14
Subject: Helping my DS - hate fire drills
DS will go to second grade this year. He is sensitive to sounds and can't stand monthly fire drills at school. He cried over an hour last night and told me every time a fire drill starts, he feels like he will have a heart tack and wants to run away from school. It breaks my heart. He was one of two kids in his class that scared fire drill to death. Shall I take him out of school on the day of fire drill, so he doesn't need to suffer the fire drills. Any suggestions would be appreciated.