Open Discussion Forum

Does anyone have any recommendations for child-friendly books to help communicate what to do in emergency situations.  This would be for a group of 2-5yo.  I recently saw an advertisement for "I'm not scared...I'm prepared"...thoughts?

Thanks.

Greetings.  My personal opinion for this age group that you serve is that it is not a two or three year old's job to prepare for active shooter scenarios. It is the job of families, educators and the community to keep them safe. There really is no shortcut to this being 100% an adult problem that must be tackled by adults.

In any safety situation we teach children to follow their trusted adults, to do what trusted adults tell them to do when it is a safety issue.  We should be vigilant about the procedures in our places of education, including what we instruct our children to do in an emergency.  The "What" should always boil down to "Listen to your teachers so that we can keep you safe."

I do not think it is helpful to their mental health or brain development to have them thinking that they have to stay alert to emergencies. That changes their neurological system to a "standby for danger" mode, which disrupts learning and social-emotional knowledge. It's the job of adults to know what to do and to be practicing games etc. with our children about following the safety directions of their family and teachers.

And as Fred Rogers always said, especially after 9/11, "Look for the Helpers." Our discussions and books must include the people that help during emergencies. Let children know that their trusted adults as well as community helpers are there to help everyone stay safe, so that is whom children need to learn about and listen to.

Does anyone have any recommendations for child-friendly books to help communicate what to do in emergency situations.  This would be for a group of 2-5yo.  I recently saw an advertisement for "I'm not scared...I'm prepared"...thoughts?

Thanks.

Greetings.  My personal opinion for this age group that you serve is that it is not a two or three year old's job to prepare for active shooter scenarios. It is the job of families, educators and the community to keep them safe. There really is no shortcut to this being 100% an adult problem that must be tackled by adults.

In any safety situation we teach children to follow their trusted adults, to do what trusted adults tell them to do when it is a safety issue.  We should be vigilant about the procedures in our places of education, including what we instruct our children to do in an emergency.  The "What" should always boil down to "Listen to your teachers so that we can keep you safe."

I do not think it is helpful to their mental health or brain development to have them thinking that they have to stay alert to emergencies. That changes their neurological system to a "standby for danger" mode, which disrupts learning and social-emotional knowledge. It's the job of adults to know what to do and to be practicing games etc. with our children about following the safety directions of their family and teachers.

And as Fred Rogers always said, especially after 9/11, "Look for the Helpers." Our discussions and books must include the people that help during emergencies. Let children know that their trusted adults as well as community helpers are there to help everyone stay safe, so that is whom children need to learn about and listen to.

------------------------------
Mars Caulton

Chicago IL

Original Message:
Sent: 03-30-2023 09:33 AM
From: Kelly Pfleging
Subject: Active shooter preparedness - child-friendly books

Does anyone have any recommendations for child-friendly books to help communicate what to do in emergency situations.  This would be for a group of 2-5yo.  I recently saw an advertisement for "I'm not scared...I'm prepared"...thoughts?

Thanks.

------------------------------
Kelly Pfleging
Administrative Manager
The Oaks Children's Academy
Charleston SC
------------------------------

Mars, I wholeheartedly agree.  Every day there are transitions where we practice listening in authentic ways.   All of the social and emotional conversations and stories we read prepare them for life.  This is what I choose to focus on for 2-5 year olds.

The mental health of our teachers is also taking a hit by being in "standby for danger" mode.

I would like to hear from mental health professionals who listen to the fears of people living and working in schools.  What would they say to a teacher or child who is afraid?  It is indeed part of the job of the teacher to keep our children safe, but that responsibility needs to be shared among each member of our community.  If our society wants our children to be safe it needs to start tackling the big issues outside the classroom.

------------------------------
Jenny James
Director
First Lutheran Preschool
Ellicott City MD

Original Message:
Sent: 03-31-2023 12:07 AM
From: Mars April Caulton
Subject: Active shooter preparedness - child-friendly books

Greetings.  My personal opinion for this age group that you serve is that it is not a two or three year old's job to prepare for active shooter scenarios. It is the job of families, educators and the community to keep them safe. There really is no shortcut to this being 100% an adult problem that must be tackled by adults.

In any safety situation we teach children to follow their trusted adults, to do what trusted adults tell them to do when it is a safety issue.  We should be vigilant about the procedures in our places of education, including what we instruct our children to do in an emergency.  The "What" should always boil down to "Listen to your teachers so that we can keep you safe."

I do not think it is helpful to their mental health or brain development to have them thinking that they have to stay alert to emergencies. That changes their neurological system to a "standby for danger" mode, which disrupts learning and social-emotional knowledge. It's the job of adults to know what to do and to be practicing games etc. with our children about following the safety directions of their family and teachers.

And as Fred Rogers always said, especially after 9/11, "Look for the Helpers." Our discussions and books must include the people that help during emergencies. Let children know that their trusted adults as well as community helpers are there to help everyone stay safe, so that is whom children need to learn about and listen to.

------------------------------
Mars Caulton

Chicago IL

Original Message:
Sent: 03-30-2023 09:33 AM
From: Kelly Pfleging
Subject: Active shooter preparedness - child-friendly books

Does anyone have any recommendations for child-friendly books to help communicate what to do in emergency situations.  This would be for a group of 2-5yo.  I recently saw an advertisement for "I'm not scared...I'm prepared"...thoughts?

Thanks.

------------------------------
Kelly Pfleging
Administrative Manager
The Oaks Children's Academy
Charleston SC
------------------------------

Greetings.  My personal opinion for this age group that you serve is that it is not a two or three year old's job to prepare for active shooter scenarios. It is the job of families, educators and the community to keep them safe. There really is no shortcut to this being 100% an adult problem that must be tackled by adults.

In any safety situation we teach children to follow their trusted adults, to do what trusted adults tell them to do when it is a safety issue.  We should be vigilant about the procedures in our places of education, including what we instruct our children to do in an emergency.  The "What" should always boil down to "Listen to your teachers so that we can keep you safe."

I do not think it is helpful to their mental health or brain development to have them thinking that they have to stay alert to emergencies. That changes their neurological system to a "standby for danger" mode, which disrupts learning and social-emotional knowledge. It's the job of adults to know what to do and to be practicing games etc. with our children about following the safety directions of their family and teachers.

And as Fred Rogers always said, especially after 9/11, "Look for the Helpers." Our discussions and books must include the people that help during emergencies. Let children know that their trusted adults as well as community helpers are there to help everyone stay safe, so that is whom children need to learn about and listen to.

------------------------------
Mars Caulton

Chicago IL

Original Message:
Sent: 03-30-2023 09:33 AM
From: Kelly Pfleging
Subject: Active shooter preparedness - child-friendly books

Does anyone have any recommendations for child-friendly books to help communicate what to do in emergency situations.  This would be for a group of 2-5yo.  I recently saw an advertisement for "I'm not scared...I'm prepared"...thoughts?

Thanks.

------------------------------
Kelly Pfleging
Administrative Manager
The Oaks Children's Academy
Charleston SC
------------------------------

Just like the stranger danger program didn't work with very young children, I'm not sure this would work, either.

These days, young children have enough stress in their lives. It is OUR responsibility to be prepared and know what to do in an emergency. Yes, we have to do drills, but we don't have to tell them what they mean in the adult world. We can easily turn these drills into fun games. Kids love being timed.

Great responses here--thank you Mars, for so eloquently framing this.  We are in a neurobiological/mental health cirsis in this country created by many external crises:  gun violence, extreme climate change, less access to health care, pandemic, etc.  Our children feel it.  They don't know , but we know, that death by firearms is the leading cause of death for children and adolescents. The stress on teachers and parents is enormous.  Let's help the littles be little and teach them in all of the ways that have been so beautifully articulated in this thread.

Just like the stranger danger program didn't work with very young children, I'm not sure this would work, either.

These days, young children have enough stress in their lives. It is OUR responsibility to be prepared and know what to do in an emergency. Yes, we have to do drills, but we don't have to tell them what they mean in the adult world. We can easily turn these drills into fun games. Kids love being timed.

Great responses here--thank you Mars, for so eloquently framing this.  We are in a neurobiological/mental health cirsis in this country created by many external crises:  gun violence, extreme climate change, less access to health care, pandemic, etc.  Our children feel it.  They don't know , but we know, that death by firearms is the leading cause of death for children and adolescents. The stress on teachers and parents is enormous.  Let's help the littles be little and teach them in all of the ways that have been so beautifully articulated in this thread.

Just like the stranger danger program didn't work with very young children, I'm not sure this would work, either.

These days, young children have enough stress in their lives. It is OUR responsibility to be prepared and know what to do in an emergency. Yes, we have to do drills, but we don't have to tell them what they mean in the adult world. We can easily turn these drills into fun games. Kids love being timed.

Kelly,

I actually wrote a children's book that is designed to help teachers approach this topic in a nonthreatening way.  I worked in conjunction with a family from our school, who go around training schools and businesses on active threat training.  There are even some suggested questions in the back for teachers to discuss with their students.  Here is the link on Amazon, if you want to check it out.

https://a.co/d/hN11Mv2