Growing up, fire drills and tornado drills may have been the extent of your school's emergency preparation, but these days, schools facilitate a variety of safety drills to prepare both students and teachers for unforeseen events.
It can feel very scary to know your child will go through an emergency drill without you there. This is especially true for the littlest kids who now might have their first lockdown drill in preschool, depending on state protocol. However, openly discussing emergency drills with school administration and your children can help prepare them and soften the stress these drills can sometimes cause.
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Types of safety drills your child might have at school
This will depend on where you're located and, of course, your child's age and school program. Some of the most common emergency drills include:
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Fire drills
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Drills for extreme weather events like tornadoes, earthquakes, tsunamis, landslides, and wildfires
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Active shooter drills
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Bomb threat drills
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Bus evacuation drills
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Each drill can involve a variety of steps, but in general, you can expect that your child will practice:
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Evacuating: Learning how to leave the building if it is not safe. And if it's a bus drill, they'll learn how to safely exit a school bus.
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Locking down: Understanding how to stay in one secure area such as a classroom, that's blocked off from a perceived threat inside the building.
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Relocating to a safe haven: Moving to another location either within the building or outside.
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Sheltering in place: Staying safe inside the school if there is some type of danger outdoors.
How often will your child need to practice an emergency drill? It varies. In some cases, state laws require schools to have at least one to two drills within a specific time frame. However, these guidelines may vary from school to school, district to district, and state to state.
How to prepare your child for safety drills
In order for you to prepare your child, you need to be prepared yourself. Don't be afraid to ask your child's school administration or their individual teachers about their school drill procedures. They should be willing to share the types of drills your child will have – and when – so you know what to expect.
It's also important to consider your child's abilities during these drills. They may need special support if they are in a wheelchair or have a G-tube, for example. Fortunately, all these concerns can be addressed and documented in your child's Individualized Education Program (IEP) and 504 plan, explains Heather Clarke, parent coach and adjunct professor of early childhood and special education at New York University. When you speak to the administration, mention any aspect of evacuation and emergency situations that might be challenging for your child. Also notify school staff members and teachers if drills might be a reminder of past trauma.
"It is critically important for teachers to be aware if your child was in a tornado or a part of a mass shooting," says Julie Kaplow, executive director of the trauma and grief centers at Children's Hospital New Orleans and the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute. "Some kids might actually need more support in those situations to ensure they don't get too triggered or overwhelmed."
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When talking to school administrators or teachers, you can ask:
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How often are they required to have drills?
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What type of training do teachers and staff have to prepare for emergencies?
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Does the school have additional support from emergency professionals such as fire marshalls, poison control, mental health professionals, and other safety-focused community members?
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What to say to your child about safety drills
You can reassure your child by reinforcing what the schools may have already discussed, reminding them that the drills aren't real and that it's unlikely these situations will actually occur, says Kaplow. She also suggests stressing that drills are part of preparation, similar to how we practice safety routines at home, such as locking the doors, setting alarm systems, and having a fire evacuation plan.
Be mindful of the words you use to describe drills. Specific names such as "active shooter drill" are sometimes scary and can make some children feel overwhelmed or distressed. Using more neutral or general words like safety, lockdown, or shelter in place can be easier for children to grasp. It’s a good idea to find out what the school calls the drills and use the same language. This will help avoid confusion for your child.
A great way to acknowledge your child's feelings is to talk about how you felt as a child in these situations. For example, you can say, "I remember getting a little bit nervous when we used to have fire drills at school," Kapow suggests. "It normalizes that the feeling is okay. Then, help them identify ways to cope." The talk can reassure children that it's possible to do brave things even when they're a little bit scared.
Having these discussions up front can definitely help, but it's also important to remember that you don't have to talk to your child about the safety drills before they happen if you prefer not to. The school's administration and your child's teachers are all trained and experienced in preparing children so they feel safe and comfortable. Rest assured, your child is in good hands and their caretakers will help them along the way.
How to support your child after an emergency drill
You can comfort your children after a drill by asking questions about the experience and labeling their feelings.
"You have to name it to tame it," said Kaplow. "Meaning that if kids can't name what they're feeling, sometimes it feels like everything is out of control. They don't know why they're experiencing what they're experiencing."
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For preschool children who experience a drill, it may be best to follow their lead on if they want to talk about it. "When my 3-year-old had a lockdown drill earlier this year, the teachers told them the tickle monster was coming and had the children quietly hide with a teacher in the bathroom," says one BabyCenter mom. "That night, I asked about the tickle monster, letting my son lead the conversation. He didn’t have any questions, so I decided to not turn it into a bigger deal than it needed to be. At his age, he thought it was just another classroom activity."
Some signs that your child may feel unsettled after a drill include changes in behavior, sleep patterns, and appetite. You may notice some children are more clingy, withdraw socially and others may experience nightmares.
Essentially, it's important to let your child guide the conversation. "As parents, we think we know what's going on inside their head, but often we don't know," said Kaplow. "Don't assume that it was terrifying for the child. Allow them to tell you as the parent, 'This is how it felt to me.'"
