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MamaBear2
LIF Infant
Member since 1/16 233 total posts
Name:
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Lockdown drill and Kindergarten
My daughter is in Kindergarten and yesterday she told me they had a lockdown drill. Now I know this is the norm these days, but she was saying she is scared now and doesn't want to have to do this for real.
I am not al all prepared for questions and answers on this subject. It is a totally different time then when I was in school.
Does anyone have any advice?
Thanks!
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Posted 3/8/18 2:42 PM  |
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NervousNell
Just another chapter in life..
Member since 11/09 54921 total posts
Name:
..being a mommy and being a wife!
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Re: Lockdown drill and Kindergarten
I am curious how the teacher positioned it to them.
I feel like at that young of an age, they need to be very careful on how the present it so as not to scare them too much.
I remember DD coming home last year in first grade and I asked her about the drill (they notified us that there would be one that day). She wasn't scared at all. She said that her teacher put on a crown and when that crown was on, it meant everybody had to be quiet and nobody could talk. And how they practiced being quiet and they all did very well. And how they all went in the closet/cubby area and locked the doors.
Later that day the teacher send us all an email about how well they did, how they weren't scared and how she was so proud of them.
It made me tear up because it is a sad effing state of affairs that they have to do this shit in schools now.
No advice on how to talk to her about her fears because I didn't have to, but i am sure you can look online too for some advice. I am sure there is plenty written on it in this day and age, sadly.
Message edited 3/8/2018 3:08:38 PM.
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| Posted 3/8/18 3:07 PM |
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Katareen
5,000 Posts!
Member since 4/10 7180 total posts
Name:
Katherine
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Lockdown drill and Kindergarten
I would contact the teacher or the principal and ask them how they address the subject with the children. IMO Kindergarten is too young to give them the realistic story of what’s going on. Last year in K, the teacher told the kids in DD class that they were having a contest to see which class could be quiet the longest. The kids weren’t frightened at all.
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| Posted 3/8/18 3:08 PM |
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jams92
Member since 1/12 6105 total posts
Name:
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Re: Lockdown drill and Kindergarten
I do not have any advice on what to tell your child, but wanted to say that my dd in Pre-K had a lock down drill recently. I was pretty surprised by this.
I think she is too little to really understand what was going on; all she took from it was to follow the teacher's directions when told or if an alarm goes off and to hide. After the drill it has not come up again since (thankfully) because explaining it will not be easy
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| Posted 3/8/18 3:45 PM |
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RainyDay
LIF Adult
Member since 6/15 3990 total posts
Name:
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Lockdown drill and Kindergarten
Why weren't the parents ingormed of something like this before it took place?
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| Posted 3/8/18 4:18 PM |
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charon54
My two boys!
Member since 5/05 7279 total posts
Name:
Rebecca
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Re: Lockdown drill and Kindergarten
Sadly, it's something all the schools do now. I seem to remember when my sons were in kindergarten it was posed as if a wild animal was loose in the school. Now they are in 1st and 3rd and they know it's in case someone who shouldn't be in the school is there. I would reach out to the school guidance counselor for help making your daughter comfortable.
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| Posted 3/8/18 4:53 PM |
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MrsT809
LIF Adult
Member since 9/09 12167 total posts
Name:
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Re: Lockdown drill and Kindergarten
Posted by RainyDay
Why weren't the parents ingormed of something like this before it took place?
I think it's a requirement that all schools do a certain number a year just like fire drills. They may give warnings before the first one but there should be unannounced a well (meaning even the principal doesn't get warning).
Dd has had them last year in prek and again this year in k. She knows it's in case someone gets in that shouldn't be in the school. I don't think she gets what their intention could be at all though.
I would talk to the teacher and see if she can put her at ease and let her know you don't expect anything bad to happen just in case. Maybe remind her that they do fire drills the same way even though there's never been a real fire at school (I'm assuming).
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| Posted 3/8/18 5:15 PM |
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BargainMama
LIF Adult
Member since 5/09 15657 total posts
Name:
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Lockdown drill and Kindergarten
Sad world we live in that kids even have to do these kinds of drills. Makes me sick! It's even more sad that I've had to tell my kids if someone is coming in their classroom and shooting at them, to jump out a window (hiding in the corner isn't going to do shiit), or just play dead
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| Posted 3/8/18 6:02 PM |
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Disneygirl17
LIF Toddler
Member since 11/16 496 total posts
Name:
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Re: Lockdown drill and Kindergarten
My kids, in 2nd and 5th, just told me that they announce it’s a lockdown. They don’t say whether or not it’s a drill. They know they have to hide and be quiet
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| Posted 3/8/18 6:36 PM |
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Lockdown drill and Kindergarten
It’s a sad and scary world and to think of little kids doing this is scary, HOWEVER, given the years of gun violence in schools, I want it to be drilled into my kids heads what to do in the event of an emergency and how to keep themselves safe. Also, things like this have occurred for decades- in the 1950 it was bomb drills in school with the war going on, I was in 7th grade during 911 and we had “turtle time” drills as they called them and it was the same, what to do in the event of a terror attack.
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| Posted 3/8/18 6:39 PM |
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MyBabyG
LIF Adolescent
Member since 1/15 793 total posts
Name:
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Lockdown drill and Kindergarten
My DD is in K and I just Asked her if they ever do lockdown drills and she said yes. She said they sit very quietly with the lights off and the door locked.
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| Posted 3/8/18 7:53 PM |
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LuckyStar
LIF Adult
Member since 7/14 7274 total posts
Name:
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Re: Lockdown drill and Kindergarten
Posted by jams92
I do not have any advice on what to tell your child, but wanted to say that my dd in Pre-K had a lock down drill recently. I was pretty surprised by this.
I think she is too little to really understand what was going on; all she took from it was to follow the teacher's directions when told or if an alarm goes off and to hide. After the drill it has not come up again since (thankfully) because explaining it will not be easy
I think all schools and daycares have them. My DD's daycare has been having them and they have babies as young as 6 weeks there.
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| Posted 3/8/18 8:01 PM |
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NYCGirl80
I love my kiddies!
Member since 5/11 10413 total posts
Name:
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Re: Lockdown drill and Kindergarten
Both of my children in day care have lock down drills, too. DD just told me she wanted the teacher to hold her, which is typical during fire drills, too. DS didn't even really mention it.
I think it's sad that our children have to practice these things, but given what's been happening, I'm glad they are doing it to be prepared for something that they hopefully never have to face.
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| Posted 3/9/18 9:26 AM |
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StaceyWill
It's a girl!!!
Member since 6/10 21539 total posts
Name:
Stacey
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Re: Lockdown drill and Kindergarten
After reading this, I asked my DD, (who is in K). She said the school bell (I guess some sort of alarm) rings and they close the lights and stand all together in the corner very quietly.
And to the OP - I'm so sorry your DD was scared. 
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| Posted 3/9/18 10:03 AM |
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2BadSoSad
LIF Adult
Member since 8/12 6791 total posts
Name:
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Re: Lockdown drill and Kindergarten
Posted by RainyDay
Why weren't the parents ingormed of something like this before it took place?
They dont have to be, its an emergency drill. No different than a fire drill. They have to do them, regardless. What would you say if they told you "no, i dont want my child to participate" so in the case of a real emergency, they dont know what to do and put themselves and the entire class in danger?
Anyway, my child in K has had a few and like the above posters mentioned, its all about how they position it. My child was also told it was a "quiet game". I have a child in 5th in the same school and even for him they dont really know why or tell them. They tell them its an emergency preparedness drill and thats it.
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| Posted 3/9/18 2:19 PM |
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EricaAlt
LIF Adult
Member since 7/08 22665 total posts
Name:
Erica
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Re: Lockdown drill and Kindergarten
Posted by 2BadSoSad
Posted by RainyDay
Why weren't the parents ingormed of something like this before it took place?
They dont have to be, its an emergency drill. No different than a fire drill. They have to do them, regardless. What would you say if they told you "no, i dont want my child to participate" so in the case of a real emergency, they dont know what to do and put themselves and the entire class in danger?
Anyway, my child in K has had a few and like the above posters mentioned, its all about how they position it. My child was also told it was a "quiet game". I have a child in 5th in the same school and even for him they dont really know why or tell them. They tell them its an emergency preparedness drill and thats it.
Same for my kids. They don't explain why they are doing it, which is fine. To the kids it's sort of a game where they have to gather together and be quiet.
My boys are in 3rd and 1st now, but don't say too much about it.
When my DS was in preschool he said it was more like hide and go seek. They stay quiet until the director finds them. That's how he put it.
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| Posted 3/9/18 2:56 PM |
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mnmsoinlove
Mommy to 2 sweet girls!
Member since 3/09 8585 total posts
Name:
Melissa
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Re: Lockdown drill and Kindergarten
When I worked in daycare they practiced lock down and sitting in a closet with 1 year olds trying to keep them from screaming was awful. I remember thinking how on earth is this going to keep any of us safe. I understand the need to practice them and glad my dd school does these drills but it’s just such a sad and sick thing!! My little one in K hides in a corner they don’t have a closet in their classroom and their door has a big glass window. It’s sort of silly like huddling into a corner will save them? Ugh even writing that makes me feel sick to my stomach. Why is the world so evil? 
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| Posted 3/9/18 3:01 PM |
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