As the school season ramps up, it’s essential to revisit the topic of school security, particularly concerning the increasing incidents of school shootings.
Over the years, these tragic events have become alarmingly common. In response, at least 35 states, have implemented laws requiring schools to conduct lockdown drills.1 These drills are designed to ensure that staff and students are prepared in the event of a violent threat, such as an active shooter on campus.
For many children today, lockdown drills have become a routine part of their school experience. In fact, most children have gone through several drills in their lives, often making them more familiar with these types of emergency procedures than their parents.
However, as parents, it’s natural to wonder how we can better prepare our children to handle these threats without instilling unnecessary fear or anxiety. One effective way to do this is through engaging activities that challenge them to think critically about their surroundings and potential dangers.
It’s crucial that children understand our commitment to their safety and feel empowered to make protective decisions on their own. While they should be aware of potential dangers, it’s important to foster awareness without instilling undue fear, striking a balance between understanding risks and maintaining a sense of security.
In this article, we’ll explore the realities of today’s threats to school safety, and two fun and practical ways to sharpen your child’s situational awareness and overall preparedness, without causing undue worry.
Reassuring Your Kids: The Real Chances of a School Shooting
First, it’s important to reassure your children that the likelihood of them being injured in a mass shooting is very low. Many Americans mistakenly believe that most mass shootings occur in schools, largely due to intense media coverage.
For example, the Columbine shooting garnered national attention like no other event, and according to the Pew Research Center, it was the top news story of 1999 and ranked third among news stories for the entire decade.2 This high level of media attention is understandable, as the idea of children being attacked, especially in a school setting, is particularly horrifying and draws widespread concern.
In reality, mass shootings at schools are less common than often perceived. According to a report by the National Institute of Justice, only 7.6% of public mass shootings occurred within the K-12 school setting.3
While the likelihood of a mass attack at your child’s school is low, it remains important to emphasize safety and preparedness in case they ever find themselves in such a situation.
Can young children retain safety information and remain calm?
Young children have shown they can remain calm and follow safety instructions during emergencies, even in intense situations.
For instance, in 1996, a man carried out an attack at Dunblane Primary School in Scotland, resulting in the deaths of 15 students and one teacher. A physical education teacher observed that students were “amazingly calm.” The teacher later testified at an inquest, stating, “The children were very surprised, and they were very, very good when we tried to silence them. They immediately were very quiet. They just put their fingers to their lips and they were very quiet.”4
Similarly, at a horrific attack at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown Connecticut, staff kept young students calm by involving them in activities like reading and drawing. The State’s Attorney report highlighted that, “The staff used various ways to keep the children calm, from reading to having them color or draw pictures. Those hiding in rooms closest to the shooter kept silent.”5
Research shows that children can in fact retain information regarding response to a variety of emergencies. For instance, one study showed “, evidence that early childhood education students can be equipped through low-cost interventions to acquire and apply certain essential first aid skills, such as dialing emergency services, understanding the purpose of first aid kit items, and recognizing vital signs in individuals, that may be crucial in saving lives in the future.”6
Enhancing Safety Through Interactive Games:
Engaging Children for Effective Learning
Games make learning engaging and interactive, especially for safety topics like fire emergencies and active shooter protocols. They capture children’s attention, motivate them through fun and competition, and enhance their retention of critical procedures. Games also offer instant feedback, helping kids practice safety protocols and develop problem-solving skills, making them better prepared for real-life emergencies.
Now let’s explore two games that can help your children improve their overall safety in a variety of situations.
The Safety Game
Situational awareness is crucial in preparing for active shooter attacks and other emergencies because it equips individuals with the ability to quickly assess and respond to their environment.
- By being conscious of their surroundings, children can identify the location of exits, which is vital for making a swift and safe escape during an emergency.
- Awareness of where medical supplies are located is equally important, as it enables them to provide or receive help promptly if someone is injured.
- Understanding the environment also involves recognizing potential hazards and safe areas, which can guide effective decision-making and actions during a crisis.
In high-stress situations like an active shooter scenario, strong situational awareness helps children spot dangers and act decisively. Training them to observe and interpret their environment prepares them to navigate safely, avoid danger, and assist others, empowering them to make crucial decisions for their safety and survival.
For those of us who grew up playing road trip games like “Punch Buggy,” where the goal was to be the first to spot a particular type of car, the concept of the Safety Game will feel familiar.
The Safety Game is designed to be both fun and educational, teaching children to identify specific safety items while out in public. Instead of looking for cars, children are encouraged to spot:
- emergency exits
- fire extinguishers
- AEDs (Automated External Defibrillators)
- medical trauma kits
This game serves two main purposes:
- Helps enhance children’s situational awareness, making them more attuned to their surroundings.
- Embeds the locations of these critical safety items in their minds, so that in the event of an emergency, they already know where to find exits or helpful equipment.
The Safety Game can be played anywhere, from the grocery store to a movie theater, and can be adapted to different environments, making it a versatile tool for building awareness.
The “What If?” Game
Another effective activity is the “What If?” game, where you ask your child a series of hypothetical safety-related questions.
It’s important to tailor the scenarios to their age to ensure the discussion is both informative and reassuring. For example, you might ask, “What would you do if you smelled smoke in the house?” or “If you heard gunshots at school, what would you do?”
Encourage your child to provide detailed, step-by-step responses rather than general answers.
This approach helps them think through their actions in a potential crisis and provides you with a chance to correct any misunderstandings and reinforce best practices. The “What If?” game is a valuable tool for boosting your child’s confidence in handling emergencies.
This exercise aligns with a concept known as mental scripting.
Used by athletes, military personnel, first responders, and other high performers, mental scripting involves visualizing oneself in a scenario and mentally rehearsing responses in detail.
This technique is especially beneficial in high-stress situations where quick decision-making is crucial. It helps your child avoid common reactions like freezing or denial and fosters a conditioned response to emergencies.
Balancing Preparedness with Peace of Mind
The goal of these games is not to make children paranoid or fearful, but rather to empower them with knowledge and skills that could one day save their lives. By turning safety awareness into games, you can teach your children to think critically about their environment in a way that is both engaging and reassuring.
It’s important to remember that while we can’t shield our children from all the dangers of the world, we can equip them with the tools they need to navigate those dangers effectively. As parents, it’s our responsibility to strike a balance between preparing our children for the worst while ensuring they feel safe, secure, and supported.
By incorporating these games into your child’s routine, you can help them develop the situational awareness and problem-solving skills they need to stay safe, all while keeping the focus on fun and learning.
References
1 Schildkraut, J. (2022). Lockdown drills: Connecting research and best practices for school administrators, teachers, and parents. Praeger.
2 Pew Research Center. (1999, December 28). Columbine shooting biggest news draw of 1999. Pew Research Center.
3 National Institute of Justice. (2023). Public mass shootings research (Special Report). U.S. Department of Justice.
4 Transcript of Proceedings at the Public Inquiry into the Incident at Dunblane Primary School on 13th March 1996 before the Hon. Lord Cullen. (1996)
5 Report of the State’s Attorney for the Judicial District of Danbury on the Shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School and 36 Yogananda Street, Newtown, Connecticut on December 14, 2012. (2013)
6 Al Sulaiman, N., & Alqahtani, M. (2022). Effectiveness of an Intervention to Enhance First Aid Knowledge among Early Childhood Education Students: A Pilot Study. Journal of Pediatric Nursing, 62, 144-150
Greg Pass is the Director of Training and Research at First 30 Group, a leader in Active Shooter Safety Training. He is a retired police lieutenant from the Washington, D.C. National Capital Region with an extensive background in active shooter training and response. He also serves on the board of directors for the VTV Family Outreach Foundation, a nonprofit organization committed to assisting survivors of mass attacks across the country.
