https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 16 Apr 2026 20:40:24 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-talk-to-kids-about-lockdown-drills#post-2846573 Thu, 20 Sep 2018 08:47:00 +0000 pinkb 2846573@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our Preschool had them last year and called them intruder drills. I explained an intruder as someone who was at the school who wasn't allowed to be. I didn't get into any specifics. The kids seem to concentrate on what they are told to do not why they are doing it, at least that has been our experience thus far. All of our schools also have fences around them. DD elementary school has 2 fences, she has asked about those and I explained it the same to keep people who are not suppose to be there, out. But also to keep all the kids in and safe all day.</p> <p>I also cried the first time I heard they did the intruder drill :( Should not have to be anything they worry about in life. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-talk-to-kids-about-lockdown-drills#post-2846551 Thu, 20 Sep 2018 05:57:12 +0000 Adira 2846551@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My kindergartner hasn't had a lockdown drill yet, but I know it's coming. During orientation, another parent asked about them, and they mentioned that kids shouldn't wear light-up shoes because it's like a beacon and really hard for the kids to stay still enough to keep the lights from lighting up and that sometimes they have to take their shoes off because of that. When I bought Xander new shoes for school, I made sure they weren't light-up ones, even though he wanted them and just said "You're not allowed to have them at your new school."</p> <p>Need to go sob now. I hate this aspect of America. :crying: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-talk-to-kids-about-lockdown-drills#post-2846549 Thu, 20 Sep 2018 02:39:48 +0000 ALV91711 2846549@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DS is in kindergarten and he came home one day last week and said they had a lockdown drill. He told me this is something they would have to do if there is a stranger and they need to hide from them. He told me what the plan is if they are in different locations in the class or school. </p> <p>It really made me sad that he has to know this. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-talk-to-kids-about-lockdown-drills#post-2846546 Thu, 20 Sep 2018 01:10:07 +0000 808love 2846546@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Really depends on your child. Teachers handle it pretty well and you can just debrief. But if you really want to get in front, the main point is that you are practicing a plan in case of emergency. We need dinner so we plan what to eat. We prepare by going to get the groceries.. If we were to get lost, we make a plan what to do (stay in place). If we get a big owie, we plan to call the doctor. When we go to the pool we plan what to wear and prepare it. When we have an unexpected emergency at school, we need to prepare and plan. Practicing our plan is the way we are prepared. What do you think you want to do to stay safe? (Listen. Depending on your child you can ask a lot of these questions but don’t if it is too hard for them to come up with right away. That’s not the point.) </p> <p>You will find out the plan from your teacher and you will be prepared in case of an emergency. You get to even act it out so you will be able to remember the plan. </p> <p>They need to see that a plan and thinking about things ahead of time is a good thing. Let that be the lesson. Not fear driven. If they go there then deal with it with empathy echoing and listening to fears - Oh you feel scared. Yes. Parts of it can feel scary. You let me know how it goes tomorrow. You might be much braver than you think. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-talk-to-kids-about-lockdown-drills#post-2846541 Wed, 19 Sep 2018 22:16:00 +0000 Mrsbells 2846541@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@erinbaderin: my first grader just had a drill like this. Yes it is horrible to even think about but sadly thats our new reality in this country. I explained to her that it is super important to pay attention to know what to do in such a situation and to follow her teachers exact instructions. She told me some kids were goofing around and being loud when they were supposed to be quietly hiding, so letters were sent home to their parents to try explaining to them the absolute importance of being quiet during a lockdown. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-talk-to-kids-about-lockdown-drills#post-2846539 Wed, 19 Sep 2018 21:54:29 +0000 misolee 2846539@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our school sent an email the day of telling us that they are doing a lockdown drill as a heads up. Kindergarten parent here and we get lots of emails so I kind of skimmed it and didn't think much of it. I think I just saw "drill" and thought fire drills/tornado drills from when I was a kid. </p> <p>My daughter comes home and explains what they did and how they hid in the bathroom and practiced putting tables against the door and stuff. She said it in a matter of fact way but guys, I couldnt' take it. I started tearing up (good thing I was driving and in the front and she was in the 3rd row) bc I was imagining a situation where they have to barricade the doors.<br /> What has our world come to where 5 year olds on the second week of school are practicing moving tables to the doors? My heart aches that we are in this situation and especially for all the parents and children who have personally been in an actual situation where a lockdown is required. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-talk-to-kids-about-lockdown-drills#post-2846523 Wed, 19 Sep 2018 20:55:27 +0000 Mama Bird 2846523@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We just found out our school is doing one soon. I kind of freaked out and asked the teacher to give us a heads up, but she said she can't because she's not given the date in advance. So then I turn around and start explaining the whole thing to my first grader... he kind of rolls his eyes at me, and tells me he knows all about it and it's kind of like a fire drill, except you hide and lock the door. I suppose "it's a kind of drill" is a pretty good explanation for a kid who's already done a drill or two in school. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-talk-to-kids-about-lockdown-drills#post-2846477 Wed, 19 Sep 2018 19:00:45 +0000 PinkElephant 2846477@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'd explain that a lockdown drill is teaching him what to do in an emergency, and emphasize that while there will probably never be one, it's important to know just in case. I don't think he needs to know details of what said emergency might be, only that sometimes, it might be necessary to do things different than usual if instructed by his teacher.</p> <p>Sadly, I had to have this talk with my kindergartner last year... she had a lot of questions, and for weeks after her first drill would, unprompted, ask people everywhere we went, (cashiers at Target, librarians, the front desk staff of our gym/club) what we were to do if there was a lockdown there. It broke my heart.</p> <p>I talked through things with her - how important it was to listen to the grown up in charge, whether that was her teacher, someone else from the school, or a fireman, and how important it was to do what they said without hesitation. We talked about places she might be asked to hide in her classroom, and the various exits from her classroom (a connecting door to the next classroom, and the second-floor windows as a last resort - I actually told her that if someone she trusted was waiting to catch her and said jump, she needed to do it). This may sound intense to some, but much of the conversation was initiated by her, not me, and she seemed calmer after she had answers. We never talked about the scenarios under which she might need to do these things - that is the part that I think would have made it too terrifying for her.</p> <p>I'm not sure if I feel better or worse that she came home from the first day of first grade ready to share this updated info with me on her own. She said "if someone bad ever comes in the school and the door is blocked, we might go out the window." :( </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-talk-to-kids-about-lockdown-drills#post-2846473 Wed, 19 Sep 2018 18:47:40 +0000 catgirl 2846473@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>A friend of mine, who is a teacher, just shared this link on Facebook recently. Some of it might be a little above a four year olds understanding but I think some of it could be helpful.<br /> <a href="https://www.huffingtonpost.com/judith-simon-prager-phd/talking-to-kids-about-a-lockdown_b_4117330.html" rel="nofollow">https://www.huffingtonpost.com/judith-simon-prager-phd/talking-to-kids-about-a-lockdown_b_4117330.html</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-talk-to-kids-about-lockdown-drills#post-2846469 Wed, 19 Sep 2018 18:37:52 +0000 erinbaderin 2846469@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I got word from my son’s kindergarten teacher that they’re having their first lockdown drill on Friday - I had asked her to let me know so I could talk to him about it in advance, because I read an article from a kindy parent who said that she realized her daughter didn’t really know what was happening, thought they were hiding from a bad man named Lockdown who wanted to hurt them, and was terrified. Except I’ve realized I don’t have any idea what to say. He’s four, so I really don’t want to get into “sometimes somebody might come into the school and want to hurt you”, but how do I explain this? It’s hard to even think about, the fact that I have to do it makes me sick to my stomach. Any advice? </p>