How to teach your child what to do in an emergency.

One of your biggest fears happens. You're at the park and your little one wanders off. They are looking for you but can't find you. Do they know how to help themselves?

Or you're carrying a load of laundry upstairs, you slip and fall down. You've hurt yourself, are unconscious or otherwise unable to help yourself. Your toddler is home with you but that's it. Do they know what to do?

I have tried a few different ways to help toddlers and older children be prepared for an emergency. The best thing they can do is call someone to help. Once a child is of speaking age I teach them how to unlock my phone. I keep a simple trace pattern and they usually remember it easily. I also teach them how to open the phone and how to dial 911. This is done as a game.

I start with number recognition. I tape colored squares with numbers on them to a piece of printer paper. I slowly introduce the numbers and eventually can play a find the number game. I call out the number and they have to point or color the number. Then we switch roles. Once they can recognize numbers it's time to introduce a sequence of numbers. 911, their parent's phone number, my number etc.

A full phone number is introduced is a song. To the tune of Baa Baa Black Sheep.

"Mama's number is 123-345-6783"

"Daddy's number is 065-482-7934"

"Rowan's number is 465-760-3526"

Once thy know the song I have them push the paper buttons as they sing it. Eventually I allow them to use my phone to call their parent's now and again to chat, but also so they can see that it works.

911 is taught with a song as well. This time to the tune of Wheels on the Bus

"In an emergency dial 9-1-1, 9-1-1, 9-1-1. In an emergency dial 9-1-1, to get help right away."

I also teach a script to children in the event they need to actually call emergency services. I includes a song a with their address. Wheels on the Bus again for this tune. It can be used for your address, the address of daycare, or a family member's house.

"My address is 123, 123, 123, my address is 123 Main Street in Boston Mass."

"Grandma's address is 7 Bailey, 7 Bailey, 7 Bailey, Grandma's address is 7 Bailey Street in Boston Mass."

"Daycare's address is 26 Shore, 26 Shore, 26 Shore, daycare's address is 26 Shore Road in Boston Mass."

When I feel they are ready, about 3 years old, sooner if you think they are ready, I sit them down and say.

"Rowan or another grownup is always here to take care of you. But things happen. An emergency could happen and your grownup might need YOU to call someone for help. What do you think is an emergency?"

I let them come up with ridiculous emergencies, my stuffy fell out of bed, and also some real emergencies, Rowan fell down the stairs. Then we talk about which ones might need someone other than me or their grownup to help.

"Who comes when there is an emergency?"

I usually have this conversation during community helpers week. That way we've been learning about EMS, police and fire. It's also the week I introduce the 911 song. We talk about who comes for what emergency and how sometimes more than one helper will come.

"When you call 911 they are going to ask you where you are. You are going to tell them 'My grownup taught me a song with the address. I'm going to sing it to you so you can come help.' Do you know your address song?"

At this point we sing it together or they sing it alone, depends on the kiddo.

At the conclusion of the conversation we play "Emergency Emergency!"

They pretend to call 911 on a toy phone or with their hand as a phone. I answer as if I am emergency service.

*Ring, Ring*

"911, What's your emergency?" or "911 do you need medical or fire?" switch it up. Not all dispatchers answer the same way and you don't want your child thrown off by it.

We come up with funny situations -The zoo animals escaped and they are eating all the books at the library. - or serious ones -Mama cut herself chopping veggies-

My job as dispatcher is to tell them who I am sending to help. Alternatively, kiddos want to BE the helpers. In that case I answer a call and make up the scenario. "911 what's your emergency. -pause- Oh my someone is stealing all the books from the library? I'm sending police right away. / Did you say that there is a fire at the grocery store? And all the popcorn is starting to pop?! I'm sending firefighters right now!" And off the helper goes sometimes in fits of giggles.

We play as long as they want. Sometimes they request the game later or the next day. I ALWAYS oblige playing this game as it is a fun way to help prepare them.

Alternatively, if they get lost at the playground they can go up to a person with children. I emphasis a person with children, they are a safe person to approach.

I give them a bit of a script here as well.

"Excuse me, I lost my grownup, will you call them and tell them where I am?" Hopefully the kind stranger will say yes and ask for the phone number. "My grownup taught me a song to remember their phone number, can I sing it for you?" Giving them some power in a situation like that will be an amazing gift.

I've been using these songs and games since I started nannying nearly a decade ago and they have never gone wrong. A child with anxiety may find it overwhelming, so I introduce them slowly or only start talking about everything during community helpers week when we discuss who needs the helpers when. They may hyper-fixate on the game Emergency Emergency but it usually calms down when we start being silly with the emergencies.

Best of luck! You've got this!