Frequently Asked Questions
What age group benefits the most from this book?
The Elephant in the Room is written for children three to seven years old. At this developmental stage, children can be traumatized or stressed by the “why” of lockdown drills. This book is a way to teach them necessary lockdown procedures, while protecting them from the real-world “why”.
At what age do we explain the "real" reason we practice lockdown drills?
Around the age of seven, a child has developmentally progressed beyond a belief in magical thinking. They begin to ask about Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy. They no longer believe they are their favorite superhero, but understand they’re pretending. At this point, they can be told— gently— why we practice lockdown drills.
Isn’t it important to tell children the truth about lockdown drills?
In just a few years, a child will have reached a developmental stage which allows them to hear the “real why” of lockdown drills without becoming stressed or traumatized.
However, telling them before this time creates an undue mental burden. Children at an early stage of psychological development are unable to understand an event is unlikely. When told, “a bad person may enter the school to hurt us,” they believe this could occur at any moment. As a result, children become stressed, less focused, and hesitant to come to school.
How do I use this book in my classroom?
The method is simple:
- Read the story, then discuss.
- Calmly practice your local lockdown procedures.
- Review the story and the procedures.
In just a few days, your students will be proficient.
Some of my students know the "real" reason for lockdowns. How can I use this strategy if there is discussion otherwise?
While discussing lockdown procedures, students will sometimes mention "bad guys with guns" in school. Simply guide the conversation back to the story, assuring your class you would protect them if a bad person were in the school.
Won't my students think lockdown drills are a game? How can I get them to take it seriously?
The Elephant in the Room is effective because it utilizes children's natural sense of make believe. As adults, this can be difficult to understand-- we are distantly removed from this developmental stage, and well aware of the real life dangers present in our world.
However, if you employ this technique with the same sincerity and urgency with which you approach all lockdown procedures, young students will follow suit.