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The Importance of Safety Drills at Home

By February 21, 2024 No Comments
Safety First: Click to view Home Safety Drill Tips & Activities

At Ardent Preschool & Daycare, the safety and well-being of the children in our care are our top priorities. We understand that emergencies can happen anywhere. That’s why we prioritize safety drills as an integral part of our curriculum, ensuring that our toddlers and preschoolers are well-prepared to handle any unexpected situation. Below are some tips on how to incorporate safety drills into your home to make sure your family is prepared in the event of an emergency.

Practice a home fire drill at least twice a year.

These drills are a great opportunity for you to talk through the importance of fire safety with your child in an age-appropriate manner. Make this conversation fun and interactive for your child. Reassure them that, in the event of an emergency, you will be there for them and that your family has a plan. This will help reduce their anxiety, and yours, in the event of an actual emergency.

Be prepared for unexpected weather events.

Being from Central and North Alabama, we are all too familiar with the dangers of tornadoes and the importance of weather safety. Make sure your child is aware of where their safe place is within your home. Have safety essentials, extra shoes, and activities for your child ready to go in the event of an unexpected incident. Keeping children occupied in these tense situations can help alleviate some of their fear while in the situation.

Stranger Danger.

We all hope that children understand the dangers of strangers, but we all know that some kids never meet a stranger. Make sure your child knows what to do if someone comes to the door of your home and you are upstairs in another room. Encourage them to have a hiding place that they feel safe in if they need to go there. Talk them through what you want them to do if a stranger were to approach them in public.

These are all intimidating conversations to have, but introducing these ideas at a young age and in an age-appropriate manner can provide your child with the tools they need in the event of an actual emergency. We pray that none of our families ever need to utilize any of these skills, but we hope you see the importance of their implementation within your home.

March is Tornado Drill Month at Ardent. We encourage you to talk to your kids about what they experienced during their drill at school and implement some of these tips within your home so your family can feel prepared in case of emergency.

 

Here are a few links to other resources and ideas:

Fire Resources and Activities: Start Safe: Fire Resources for Parents | Safe Kids Worldwide

General Guide to Child Safety: a_parents_guide_to_child_safety.pdf (safekids.org)

Stranger Danger Resources & Activities: KidSmartz (missingkids.org)

Weather Safety for Kids & Teens: Weather Safety content for Kids and Teens