Dear Teachers

QA DEARTEACHERS &

BY PEGGY GISLER AND MARGE EBERTS

TALKING TO YOUR CHILDREN ABOUT SCHOOL LOCKDOWNS

QUESTION: My children in elementary school

are very aware of the shootings that have occurred at schools. Their school has statemandated lockdown drills four times a year. Every time this has happened, it has shaken them up. How can I calm them down? – Bewildered

ANSWER: Lockdown drills have become almost as common as fire drills. Studies are showing these drills may upset children, as has happened with yours. Because lockdown drills have stressed your children, you will need to talk to them about the drills in a calm and confident manner. Affirm that the drills can be hard and scary. Do emphasize that the drills will help keep them safe in case anything bad ever happens. Ask open-ended questions to find out why the children are scared. One thing that you can’t really say is that everything will be fine.

You may find it helpful to follow some of the National Association of School Psychologists recommendations for talking to your children about violence in schools:

• Tailor your explanations to be age appropriate.

As your children enter middle and high school, welcome their thoughts on gun control and safety.

• Review the school safety procedures with your children. • Keep an eye on your children’s sleep patterns, appetite and anxiety after drills.

Don’t be afraid to talk to a mental health professional for help, especially if your child has experienced past trauma or has special needs.

• Limit how much news your younger children see about school shootings or other violent events on television.

School lockdowns are not all the same. In less threatening drills, teachers lock their classroom doors, turn out the lights and have the children hide in the corners or a closet. There are others that are quite realistic and frightening with the noise of gun fire, knocking on doors and shouting. This type of drill can be very disturbing, and schools should avoid having them. To lessen children’s apprehension about drills, schools should always announce that a drill is a practice drill, and teachers need to explain before and after the drills how they’re designed to keep the children safe.

Unfortunately, the more frequently schools have practice lockdown drills, the more likely young children will think that they are a confirmation that a school shooting is likely. Some child and adolescent psychologists believe that these drills are doing more harm than good. However, it has been shown that well-executed lockdowns can slow a gunman until the police arrive.