Through October, Primrose Schools^® will be sharing information and resources from national partner Save the Children^® and its Get Ready. Get Safe. initiative to help families get prepared for emergencies This blog post marks the seventh post in the nine-week series. 

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As parents, we try to prepare our children for any possible situation they may find themselves in, from teaching simple tasks like memorizing their phone numbers to how to react when they see someone hurt. In the context of emergency situations, it’s vital to introduce the concept of community helpers for kidsto help them recognize and trust the people who are charged to serve and protect, like firefighters, doctors and nurses, and the police.

It’s common for young children to avoid strangers, as that is generally a lesson we teach at home and in schools. However, in an emergency situation like a house fire, children will need to recognize and understand that the stranger in a uniform is there to help and bring them to safety.

For kids, community helpers are people who work together to make the community a better place for everyone. Primrose students learn a list of community helpers and their duties to serve their city or town. Primrose teaches these lessons not only to increase vocabulary and general knowledge, but also to prepare children with an understanding of how to interact with these community helpers in the event of an emergency. You can learn more about Primrose’s safety curriculum by checking out this post by Dr. Gloria Julius, Primrose Schools vice president of education and professional development.

While some children have the opportunity to learn about community helpers at school, parents should build on the conversation at home. This week’s Get Ready. Get Safe. Family Plan Checklist item is to read about and discuss community helpers with your children. Following is a list of recommended books about community helpers for kids:

• I Love Trucks! by Philemon Sturges (Ages 0-2)
• Whose Hat is This?: A Look at Hats Workers Wear by Sharon Katz Cooper (Ages 2-6)
• Whose Vehicle is This?: A Look at Vehicles Workers Drive by Sharon Katz Cooper (Ages 2-6)
• Clothesline Clues to Jobs People Do by Kathryn Heling (Ages 3-6)
• Scholastic: Listen and Read Community Helper Online Books (Ages 3+)

You can further reinforce the importance of community helpers for kidsby talking about helpers when you see them around town or even planning a visit to your local police or fire station. You can also encourage pretend play by acting as community helpers with costumes or other props. These activities help children understand their role in the community and also learn that there are people who can help provide safety and comfort if a disaster or emergency does occur.

Stay tuned for my next post when I’ll be sharing a list of questions to ask your child care provider or school to make sure they are prepared for emergencies! In the meantime, you can help get your children excited about emergency preparedness while they learn with this Safety Activity Sheet from Primrose.

Get Ready. Get Safe. Family Plan

Safety Activity Sheet