Teaching Children 4+ What To Do In An Emergency

Teaching Young Children About Emergencies

Helping children understand what to do in an emergency is essential to keeping them safe. However, this concept can be challenging for younger kids to grasp. To make it easier, the education team at Kiddie Academy® has put together some helpful activities and resources you can use to teach emergency preparedness in a simple, age-appropriate way.

Who to Call?

• Show your child a phone and ask who they would call in an emergency (e.g., a parent, grandparent, neighbor, police, fire department, or ambulance).

• Talk about community helpers and how they assist in emergencies.

• Practice simple emergency drills at home together.

• Explain when and how to call 9-1-1.

• Use a toy or real (inactive) phone to role-play dialing 9-1-1 in a pretend emergency.

Emergency or Not?

• Help your child understand the difference between a true emergency and a problem that can be handled by a trusted adult.

• Use real-life scenarios and ask your child to decide: emergency or not?

  Examples:

  • Fire at a neighbor’s house (emergency) vs. someone took your toy (not an emergency)

  • Getting lost (emergency) vs. a friend calling you names (not an emergency)

Emergency Poem

Recite or write this poem together to help reinforce the seriousness of calling 9-1-1 only when truly needed:

I know a number that is really hot
It’s only for people in a hot, hot spot
If you see a fire, if you see a crime
The number is the same, every single time
This very special number is never for fun
This very special number is 9-1-1

Books to Read Together

• A Day in the Life of an Emergency Medical Technician by Heather Adamsson

• Dial 911! by Charles Ghigna

• Impatient Pamela Calls 9-1-1 by Mary Koski

By weaving these activities and lessons into your everyday routines, you’ll help your child gain the confidence and knowledge they need to respond calmly and appropriately in an emergency.