Ten Tips for “Stay Safe” Drills with Young Children

Key Takeaways

“Stay Safe” procedures, unlike traditional lockdown drills, use language and strategies tailored to young children’s developmental levels, helping to reduce fear and confusion.
Regularly practicing these drills equips educators and other early childhood program staff with the confidence and skills needed to manage crises calmly and effectively, ultimately enhancing safety and emotional support for children.

"Stay Safe" drills offer a calm and thoughtful way to prepare for emergencies while fostering a sense of security and confidence for both children and caregivers.

Ensuring the safety of children of all ages in group settings is essential.

Unlike traditional lockdown drills, “Stay Safe” procedures use language and strategies tailored to young children’s developmental levels, helping to reduce fear and confusion.

Before engaging in “Stay Safe” procedures, consider the following:

Need for Research and Customization: There’s a significant gap in research on the impact of “Stay Safe” drills on young children, particularly in communities disproportionately affected by gun violence. Customizing these drills for different populations is crucial to addressing their unique needs.

Holistic Safety Approach: Ensuring a safe learning environment requires attention to both physical and emotional safety. The mental health of educators, other program staff, and children, especially those with past trauma, must be considered in planning and executing drills.

Addressing Systemic Inequities: The disproportionate impact of gun violence on Black children highlights the need for equity-focused approaches in emergency preparedness, recognizing the broader societal and systemic factors that affect safety in educational settings.

Learn more about safety procedures in child care centers in our upcoming virtual event

Director of Early Childhood at Georgetown University, Neal Horen, PhD, will discuss on creating effective, developmentally-appropriate stay safe procedures, such as “lockdown” and “active shooter” drills, for early childhood settings.

When engaging in "stay safe" drills with infants and toddlers:

Age-Appropriate Language: Use simple, reassuring language children can easily understand. Avoid frightening details and emphasize safety.
Consistency and Routine: Regularly practice the drills to ensure children and adults remember the steps and feel more secure through repetition.
Focus on Empowerment: Emphasize to children and adults that these drills are to keep them safe and empower them to act confidently if needed.
Identify Safe Adults: Help children recognize trusted adults (teachers, parents, police) they can turn to in emergencies.
Maintain a Calm Environment: Conduct drills in a calm and controlled manner to minimize anxiety and prevent unnecessary fear.
Tailor Drills to Specific Scenarios: Customize drills for different situations, such as fire, intruder, or natural disasters, so adults and children know how to respond appropriately.
Role-Playing: Use role-playing to make the drills interactive and engaging, which can help reinforce learning.
Open Communication: Encourage children to ask questions and express their feelings about the drills, providing reassurance as needed.
Family Involvement: Involve families in the drills to ensure continuity of safety practices at home.
Review and Adapt: Regularly review and adapt the drills based on feedback and the evolving needs of the children to keep them effective and relevant.

Related resources

Related rsearch

Dailey, S. F., Hosek, B., & Walter, H. L. (2023). A Thematic Analysis of Teacher Experiences During Active Shooter Lockdown Drills. The Qualitative Report, 28(11), 3333-3357. https://doi.org/10.46743/2160-3715/ 2023.5915z
Schildkraut, J., & Nickerson, A. B. (2022). Effects of Lockdown Drills on Students’ Fear, Perceived Risk, and Use of Avoidance Behaviors: A Quasi-Experimental Study. Criminal Justice Policy Review, 33(8), 787-813. https://doi.org/10.1177/08874034221089867
Association for Psychological Science. (November 2, 2023). Do Lockdown Drills Create Anxiety? New Research Says No https://www.psychologicalscience.org/news/utc-2023-oct-lockdown-drills.html
Moyer, M. W., (June 28, 2022). The Science on Lockdown Drills: There is a lot of confusion and conflation out there. https://melindawmoyer.substack.com/p/the-science-on-lockdown-drills

What does trauma do to a baby's brain?

Next Up

resource

Coping After a Natural Disaster

Babies and toddlers are affected by natural disasters, even though they may not understand what they see or hear. Learn how you can support young children in coping with uncertainty.