For Parents & Educators
Reworking lockdown drillsto include the critical thing they're missing:
Collaboration between schools and families.
Research shows that lockdown drills go better for everyone when students and staff know a drill is coming. And the evidence is clear that children handle hard things better when the adults in their lives are able to talk about it with them. Connecting what happens at school to the conversations at home is how children build resilience instead of fear.
Endorsed by the creator of the FBI's Active Shooter Program
There's a better way to prepare children.
Emily Romrell realized her soon-to-be kindergartner was about to face lockdown drills and knew she needed to be ready for that conversation. Other books existed, but they used metaphors to talk around what actually happens. So she studied lockdown drill practices across the country, consulted national experts in school safety, and wrote the honest, age-appropriate version.
The conversations can be empowering rather than scary. And when the right words exist, every family and classroom deserves access to them.
Some conversations can't wait.
Talk to your child about lockdown drills so they don't have to face it alone, because it matters now.
Ask your school about anonymous reporting to prevent school shootings, because it matters now.
Prepare your child to put their safety first in any situation, because it matters now.
Learn whether your school's lockdown drills are following best practices, because it matters now.
Have the safety conversations you've been putting off, because it matters now.
Keep showing up, because it matters now.
Join parents and educators reworking lockdown drills to give children resilience instead of fear.