Every parent’s priority is their child’s safety. In an unpredictable world, we must equip our kids with the knowledge and skills to navigate potential dangers. One such danger is an earthquake, a natural disaster that can strike without warning. In this blog post, we’ll guide you through teaching your child “what to do if there is an earthquake.” We’ve also included a Goal Mine class video that your kids can watch to learn these steps independently.
Table of Contents
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1: Awareness | Understand what an earthquake is and identify its signs. |
| 2: Drop, Cover, Hold On | Drop to the ground, cover head and neck, seek shelter, and hold on until shaking stops. |
| 3: Find an Adult | Find a trusted adult immediately after the shaking stops and follow their instructions. |
Step 1: Awareness
Firstly, it’s crucial to instill a sense of awareness in your kids. They should understand what an earthquake is and why knowing how to respond is essential. Earthquakes are sudden shaking or trembling of the earth caused by the movement of tectonic plates beneath the earth’s surface. This movement can cause buildings to shake, items to fall, and, in severe cases, the ground to crack.
Read more: What to Do If You Are Lost
Teach your kids to identify the signs of an earthquake. This could be a sudden shaking or rattling of items around them or feeling the ground move beneath their feet. Most importantly, they should know that it’s time to act when they feel these signs.
Step 2: Drop, Cover, Hold On
Now, on to the action. The universal safety advice during an earthquake is to “Drop, Cover, and Hold On.” This means that as soon as they feel the shaking, kids should:
- Drop to the ground to prevent being knocked over.
- Cover their heads and necks with their arms and seek shelter under a sturdy piece of furniture, if possible.
- Hold on to their shelter until the shaking stops.
Read more: Real World Life Skills for Kids
Practicing this with your kids regularly is important, so it becomes second nature. Run drills at home, turning it into a game to make it less scary and more engaging.
Step 3: Find an Adult
After the shaking stops, kids should find an adult immediately. This could be you, a teacher, or any trusted adult nearby. Teach them to stay calm and follow the adult’s instructions. They should know not to run outside immediately after an earthquake, as aftershocks could still occur.
Encourage them to communicate clearly. They should be able to express if they are hurt or if they know of any dangers like fallen power lines or broken glass. Clear communication can help adults assess the situation and take necessary actions.
Goally | Best Videos to Teach Life Skills
Give your kid an independent future. Goally has 100+ video classes teaching life skills like “How to Choose a Restaurant,” “How to Interrupt Politely,” and “How to Get Ready for School.”
Goally takes kids on an adventure that includes interactive practice and checkpoints along the way! No web browsers, YouTube, or social media.
In Short
Preparing your kids for an earthquake doesn’t have to be a daunting task. By breaking it down into these simple steps – awareness, drop, cover, hold on, and find an adult – you can equip them with the knowledge they need to stay safe. Remember, the key is regular practice and open communication. For a more interactive learning experience, we recommend Goally’s dedicated Tablet. It unlocks the rest of our video lessons, including more detailed instructions on “what to do if an earthquake occurs.” These lessons are designed to be engaging and easy to understand, making learning these essential skills a breeze for your kids.
Goally
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