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Fire Prevention Week | How to Teach Kids Fire Safety

This is a post sponsored by the National Fire Protection Association and SparkySchoolhouse.org.

There are some things that are triggers for parents, that keep them up worrying at night. For me, that’s fire prevention and fire safety. I sleep with a fire extinguisher by my bed, unplug everything I can at night, and have a fire safety plan with my family. But am I doing what I’m supposed to? Fire Prevention Month is October and Fire Prevention Week 2018 is October 7-13. Here are some great tools and resources for parents, teachers, and kids. And I’ll tell you the one thing I did for fire prevention safety that my kids still haven’t forgiven me for.

Fire Prevention for kids

Resources for Fire Prevention Week 2018

As a parent, I find that it can be difficult to talk to my younger kids about fire safety without scaring them. Then they start thinking about fires and getting worried.

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) is parents and teachers’ go-to source for Fire Prevention Week 2018 resources. I’m loving the apps they have for children! They teach kids about fire safety rules in a fun way.

So about that time I scared my kids…

We have a family fire safety plan, so in case there’s a fire, the kids know to get out of the house and meet at our spot outside, so we know everyone’s safe. Well, I wanted to see if they were paying attention and if they’d even wake up when the smoke alarm went off.

Around midnight, after they were all asleep, I set off the smoke alarms on purpose. My kids freaked out. Not one of them came down the stairs and exited the house. They all stood by the railing screaming for their dad and I.

Perhaps not the nicest thing I’ve done, but it really showed me that we need to practice our plan more and talk about fire safety more. If it’s out of sight, it’s out of mind.

For Fire Prevention Week 2018, enjoy these apps for kids.

Fire Prevention Apps for Kids

Sparky the Fire Dog is the main dog in charge with some friendly fire prevention apps for kids to teach without the scare factor. Not only are there apps for kids to play games, watch videos, and learn about fire safety, but you can print activities and coloring pages for trips on the go or at home.

Click on the links below for more information and to visit the sites to check them out. It's Fire Prevention Week 2018, and Sparky apps can teach your kids about fire safety in an enjoyable way.

Sparky.org

This is the NFPA’s site for kids to learn on their level through activities, videos and web-based games. As you can see, there are many different options.

I came home the other day and heard what sounded like a smoke alarm but it wasn’t super loud. I asked the kids what that noise was. From her bedroom, I heard my 3rd grader yell, “Oh, that’s the Sparky app you showed me.” Mom win. Kids need to know what smoke alarms sound like, so they can be prepared.

Sparky Apps for Kidsweb  

My kids love these games! One of their favorites is Sparky’s Firehouse Game and Make Believe where you virtually visit a firehouse and pick different items to try on.

Play make believe in a firehouse with Sparky the Firedog in these fire prevention week games.

Fire Prevention Activities and Resources

Sparky Printables and Activities

Here’s where you’ll find a ton of printables like coloring pages, mazes, puzzles, hats, stories, holiday printables, and more! My girls couldn’t get enough. They’re great for home and to bring along while they have to attend older siblings’ games. Not that we know anything about that 😉

Print coloring pages and activities for fire prevention week 2018.

SparkySchoolhouse.org 

Sparky Schoolhouse is NFPA’s teacher portal for fire safety education. As a mother of 5 students, I appreciate when teachers use these resources to educate my children and our community. The homepage has lessons and resources divided by grade level as well as music, videos, and crafts.

Another reason I’m passionate about fire safety is because my brother-in-law is a firefighter. It all hits close to home, but most importantly, we need to be prepared to be safe. Sometimes my husband makes fun of me about how neurotic I get about changing batteries in smoke alarms or making sure there aren’t too many things plugged in the outlets. I may mutter things like spontaneous combustion, too.

Look, Listen and Learn

The 2018 Fire Prevention week focuses on LOOK, LISTEN, and LEARN. Take a good look around your home. Identify potential fire hazards and take care of them.

Listen for the sound of the smoke alarm. You could have only minutes to escape safely once the smoke alarm sounds. Go to your outside meeting place, which should be a safe distance from the home and where everyone should know to meet.

Learn two ways out of every room and make sure all doors and windows leading outside open easily and are free of clutter.

So bam!, husband. All the things I’ve been preaching for years. Now it’s nice to know I’m backed by the NFPA.

These resources are here for us, so let’s spread the word!