Each work day in the United States, 69 million children are separated from their parents for an average of nine hours while in school or child care. Though it’s scary to think about, there are several questions parents should consider to ensure their children are protected in case an emergency strikes during the school day. Do your children know your home address and phone number? Do they know the name of their school or teacher? Does their school have an emergency safety plan in place?
“At Primrose School of Prestonwood, it is our goal to prepare children as best we can for life, including emergency situations,” said Dr. Pratiksha Rigley, Franchise Owner of the school. “That’s why we teach age-appropriate safety and life skills and partner with families on taking steps at home to plan for the unexpected.”
Emergency Preparedness in Primrose Classrooms
Primrose students develop foundational safety abilities and skills through the Primrose Happy Hearts Character Development and Life Skills Program. All Primrose students learn to recite their names, addresses and phone numbers, as well as the name of their school and teachers. By creating a fun and engaging atmosphere for learning and reinforcing safety lessons through songs and games, children retain the necessary skills and are better prepared for potential emergencies.
Safety skills and lessons are also appropriately tailored for each age group. Younger Primrose students, including toddlers and 3-year-olds, learn to avoid dangerous objects, including cleaning products, hot stoves and electrical outlets. Additionally, younger learners practice the “stop, look and listen” mantra, which means stop walking or running, listen to the parent, teacher or caregiver present, and look around before taking another step. Over time, this method helps children become more aware of their surroundings, which is an important step as they continue to practice safety in a variety of settings.
Older students in Preschool through Kindergarten classrooms learn the basics of first aid and emergency preparedness, including how to dial 911. For this age group, Primrose teachers also expand on “stop, look, and listen” by teaching students traffic safety, such as the meaning of traffic lights and the importance of looking both ways before crossing the street at crosswalks.
Safety in Primrose Schools
To ensure student safety during the school day, each Primrose school has a Safe School Plan in place, which includes extensive emergency preparedness training for staff, step-by-step guidelines for emergency response and teaching essential safety skills to children. The Safe School Plan is practiced monthly by teachers, staff and children and is continuously updated and designed to keep parents well informed in the event of an emergency.
“The safety and well-being of the students entrusted to our care is our highest priority,” said Dr. Rigley. “Parents take comfort in our commitment to provide a safe environment and equip children with essential skills to keep them safe, no matter the situation.”
On the Primrose Schools® Pointers for Parents blog, families can find additional information and resources about emergency preparedness and safety, including materials from the Get Ready. Get Safe. initiative from Primrose national partner, Save the Children®. These resources help families become better prepared for emergencies so they will be ready and know how to stay safe if disaster strikes.
To learn about Primrose School of Prestonwood, visit primroseprestonwood.com or call 469-791-9131. For more helpful parenting tips and information, visit our blog at www.PrimroseSchools.com/blogand sign up for the Pointers for Parents newsletter.