safety activity

Our church stake (several wards together) put on a "safety activity" for the primary children. They had a police officer, several firefighters, a karate and self defense instructor, a life guard and a couple other people from the community come to teach the kids. The activity was very organized and the kids were grouped and escorted around the stake center to each of the community leaders. We got there late and only got to go to three of the groups. Our first was about water safety, taught by the lifeguard. She mostly just lectured, but the kids were all fairly attentive.

Then we went to the self defense instructor. He taught the kids about how using your words and your body can keep you safe. I took pictures of the part when he showed the kids how to stand if a predator tried to take them away. He had them yell as loud as they could "Stop! This is NOT my mom!" and "Stop! This is NOT my dad!" and hold a defensive position with one foot back and arms out. Matix ate it up. We talked about bad guys the whole way home.  He knows just what to do.  Hawk didn't like being in the front next to the instructor, so he sat back by Paul. The instructor was very intense, but it made the lesson stick.

Last were the fire fighters. Inside, two firefighters talked about what to do in case of a fire. Matix and Hawken have a book about it and we have read it enough times that they knew all the answers to the questions he was asking. Including feeling the door to see if it was hot before opening it. Then one of the guys got dressed in his suit, explaining each part and why he needed it for protection. The other firefighter kept reassuring the kids that it was still "Firefighter Cade" under all that stuff. They were SO good with the children and let them all go up to give him a high five to show them that he is not scary. I guess lots of kids will see a firefighter in their house and hide because they are scared of him.  Lulli was the only one of ours who was nervous, but later warmed up with Paul holding her.

Outside, other firefighters showed the kids the truck and all the tools on it. The kids got to go through it and get little firefighter badges. They loved it.

After everything was over, they each got a goody bag filled with things and little activities to do at home. The coloring book about gun safety was a favorite. Then they got enormous popsicles. What a fun day! At first I thought, A safety activity??? Maybe we'll go to that... We'll see. But I'm so glad we did.