Lock Down drill at school...

[N&B'smom]

Anyone know what exactly this will mean for my 7 year old? I just got a call that his school will do this on Monday and I want to fill him in so he's not frightened in any way. Anyone know what he can expect???

Shelby

 

[Kitty 34]

What a coincidence. We just had a Lock Down drill this afternoon but it was at our middle school.

 

[mickeyboat]

My kids (6 and 7) did these at their schools last week.

The kids were told in advance what they were supposed to do, and practiced. There was an announcement over the loud-speaker. They had to all sit against the walls under their cubbies while the teachers closed the shades and shut and locked the doors. The school secretary and principal went down the halls checking to make sure all of the doors were locked. That's about it.

My kids knew the drill was in case there was an intruder in the school, but they did not seam fearful. They didn't have bad dreams or really even talk about it much, except that Hannah complained because she was squished while they were sitting under the cubbies.

I think the school did a really good job showing the kids what to do without making them afraid.

Denae

 

[mom23boys]

My son's school does this. He was in 1st grade last year and I was helping in the class for 2 of them.

When they say it is a lockdown. The Teacher immediately locks all doors to the outside and the classroom one. Then she turns off the lights and the kids hide by where there coats are on hooks. They must remain quiet and still. It was hard to watch, and I was nervous myself. They were used to it. They had done it before.

I did tell my son that if a stranger gets into the school the Teachers will do this to protect the children.

Hope this helps.

Sharon

 

[N&B'smom]

Okay, I must be a weirdo but just thinking of my son practicing for such a thing makes me feel sick to my stomach. The fact that we have to do these things is just horrific. I can picture him sitting against a wall and even though it's practice, it scares the crap out of me. I'm sure he'll be fine. It's me I'm worried about! Just the thought of this being necessary is so scary.

Shelby

 

[daisyduck123]

We have these drills often at my school. The kids are so used to them, that I don't think it even phases them in the least.

 

[Sparx]

They lock the doors and turn off the lights and his teacher tells him to get in a corner of the room.

Just remind him that nothing scary will be happening, and its basically like playing hide and go seek, but he's hiding.

 

[CEDmom]

My DD is 7 and in 2nd grade. They just went through this at her school this week. The teachers have been spending time talking to the kids about it and what to expect. She was in art class when they did it and they all went into the supply room. Each classroom has a designated spot for the kids to gather in - usually away from doors/windows. The blinds are drawn and windows and doors locked.

We talked about it some at home but she really wasn't scared about it. She looks at it as another form of a fire drill.

You're not a weirdo. It is frightening to think about why this has to be done.

 

[MrsPete]

We do these occasionally at school. The idea is scarey, but the reality isn't. The teacher locks the door, closes the blinds, etc. The kids stay in their desks and continue class.

It's no more scarey than the tornado drills, which we've been doing forever.

 

[Octoberbeauty]

My son just had one yesterday (2nd grade), but they didn't let us know ahead of time that they were having it. Guess it's just going to become a regular thing in this day and age.

 

[SplshMtnLvr28]

Wow. I'm in high school and we've never done one of these for practicing. There have been a few shootings and tons of bomb threats around here, I sure feel safe.

 

[Becky2005]

Wow. I'm in high school and we've never done one of these for practicing. There have been a few shootings and tons of bomb threats around here, I sure feel safe.

Actually your school might not do lockdown....I know ours doesn't (at least grade school), they have a totally different approach to it. I like their approach better.

So, my kids have never had a lockdown drill either. My DD is in Middle School now and she has never once mentioned a lockdown drill.

Fire drills & tornado drills, yes we have (and yes the kids complain...I remember the tornado drills well myself and it wasn't too bad unless you were the one where the teacher was huddling over -- happened to me once & it was a pain because you couldn't really shift positions since they were basically breathing down your neck! I don't know if the teacher still do that but when we had the drills, we were all lined up near the lockers in the halls hands on the back of our necks & once all kids were in place, the teacher took the same position basically somewhat overtop whichever kid happened to be on the end closest to their classroom. Hard to describe it.)

 

[xCourxCorex]

My sisters (1st and 4th grade) had a real lockdown situation yesterday at their elementary school. The school is across the street from a small park/baseball field. The police were persuing a man with what they believed to be a weapon, and alerted the school. The kids had to go a corner together until their teacher said it was ok to move. The police found the man with a pellet gun, and things went smoothly back to normal, from what I heard. The girls said they weren't scared but I can't imagine that they weren't a little bit. We have had one lockdown drill at my high school, and it's pretty scary to me! Hope he isn't too scared by the drill - it's only practice in case something bad did ever happen, like a fire drill!

 

[mepperson]

My DD had a "real" lockdown at school her second day of kindergarten! Someone had left a "suspicious package" in the parking lot. The bomb squad was there and everything. It was awful - I was in tears. But, the kids were fine. They moved them all to the farthest rooms and kept them calm. the kids had no idea. It was probably just someone dropped their sack lunch out of the car!!!

But, they do the lock-down drills a couple of times each year. They have a predetermined "safe" room that they go to, lock the doors, etc. My DD is matter-of-fact about it, just like a fire drill or tornado drill that they also do.

 

[golfgal]

Students may not practice lock-down drills but the staff probably does during an in service day or whatever. I know our district has 2 student/staff lock-down drills and 3 staff only drills.

 

[Beth76]

double post

 

[Beth76]

My son's in K and his school has done this already. It didn't phase my son. It's no different from a fire or tornado drill. I'm sure the teachers do a good job of talking to the class about it. I didn't even know about it. I would just let the teachers handle it. I'm guessing you would scare your son more by making a big deal out of it.

 

[luv2crash]

My kids school does lock down drill. My daughter's classroom has a bathroom so the girls go there and the boys go to a corner behind the teachers desk. The teacher locks windows and pulls blinds, locks the door, tapes paper to cover the little window in the door and turns out the lights.

 

[dizluvr71]

My DS's school had their first lockdown drill last week. Along with there various emergency drills they do, they also each year have sent home a ziploc bag with DS's name, teacher's name and class room # labeled on it with a note to the parent. The parent is to then fill the bag with a bottled water, a snack and for K-3 kids a small stuffed animal or family photo and for 4th & 5th graders a note from Mom and Dad and then return them to school. This was the first year I had to write a note for DS and I tell ya it was difficult to write something to reassure him that even though we have been delayed in getting him from school we would be there shortly and that we love him and to not panic and behave . . . . . . Well you get the idea. It's a crazy world we live in nowadays.

 

[Talking Hands]

Have had lockdown drills at the elementary school where I subbed and a couple of actual lockdowns at the high school. Kids actually stay at their seats in most of the
classrooms as the doors only have a small opening and we shutter the windows. Teacher has to move though as the teacher's desk is right across from the door. Lock doors and turn out lights and no talking or cell phone use although we do text back and forth between class rooms. Love AIM on my cell.