On Thursday, February 6th, 2020, Knox County Schools had a difficult decision to make. Kids across the county were in classes and rain was pouring so quickly outside that the hilly streets around Knoxville were beginning to flood and bodies of water were rushing. Around 10 am, parents were notified by text, email, and phone call that students would be dismissed starting with Elementary at 10:30 and Middle/High school an hour later. This sent some parents into a panic as they had to leave work quickly to meet their child off the bus or get to the school and pick them up. We all know how people in Tennessee drive when it rains, it can take forever to get anywhere, a normal 10 minute drive can turn into 20 minutes or more! That morning I was in the middle of a Theatre Acting class when the call came in and I did not have my cell phone on me. I missed the call. Thankfully, I have a teen that can drive himself home but I thought about the little kids that ride the bus home and may or may not have had a parent home or a key to get in out of the rain?
This is where back up plans become one of the most important things you can teach your child! Things will happen, school can get cancelled at a moments notice, and you cannot always be two places at the same time as a parent. Here are some helpful ideas so your child will know what to do in case of an emergency or when the unexpected happens.
1. Make sure they know your full name (not Mama or Papa Brown, but your legal name, in case somebody needs to look you up to contact you)
2. When your child is young, start teaching them your phone number and home address. If you have a business card stick it in a place in their bag they will remember in case they forget, or make a simple card and laminate it or place in a ziplock bag and attach inside their backpack with duct tape or velcro. You can also place your work number on there in case they are unable to reach you on your cell phone.
3. Do you have a neighbor you can trust? Make sure your child knows who they are and how to get to their home in case they ever need help or if they arrive home on a school bus in bad weather and you are not there yet. If you live in an apartment, you can tell your child to go to the clubhouse and have the staff call you. Make sure they know where the safe places they can go are and have that person call you once your child arrives so you know where to find them! This is a good idea for any time, not just emergencies, because life happens and there might be that one day you are stuck in traffic or in a wreck and cannot be there to meet the bus. Your child needs to know what to do if you are not there. You do not want them standing at the side of a busy road where they just got dropped off waiting for you! If your child is younger and rides the bus it is a good idea to have a trusted adult always there at pick up to make sure all the kids make it safely to their home.
4. Create a back-up plan for lost keys. If your child is anything like mine they have 5,000 things stuffed into their giant turtle pack they have to carry around all day at school. Keys can sometimes get lost or misplaced. Does your family have a plan for if this happens and your child arrives home and cannot find their key? Can they go to a neighbors until you get home, is there a hidden house key they can use?
5. Teach them not to panic! Kids get scared, and understandably so. They are creatures of routine and when things happen they don't expect that can cause confusion and uncertainty they all react in different ways. Walk them through the steps of what they should do if they find themselves in a situation where they are unsure what to do. Role play a few different scenarios and teach them how to calm their minds instead of panicking or crying hysterically. If they are crying they will not remember the things you have taught them. For some kids closing their eyes for a few seconds and breathing deeply will work. For other kids you may need a cheat sheet in their backpack reminding them of what to do or where to go. Put a piece of gum or their favorite candy in their bag for emergencies only and attach a sticker with your phone number on it, anything that will help them remember what to do and to not panic.
Raising kids can be hard but also one of the most rewarding journeys we as parents will ever embark on. The schools do their best to look out for our kids and make the best decisions based on every situation. While they will never leave a child behind at school and will wait with them until their parent arrives when schools have to dismiss early, they cannot be there at home when your child gets off the school bus, so back up plans are very important. You may want communicate with their teacher and see if there is an alternate plan for emergencies, so your child doesn't end up at an empty home. Perhaps they can stay at the school until you or a loved one can arrive? Have your child be a part of helping you create that plan and both of you will feel much better knowing it is in place just in case it is ever needed!
Shelley Lapham-Pastore is a local Mom, Creative Arts Teacher, and the Publisher of Macaroni Kid Knoxville.
