Fire Safety: A Simple Experiment

Continuing with our "Fire Safety" theme, we did this little experiment and then talked about "Stop, Drop, and Roll."

You need:

Candle

Match

Glass jar or cup

1) Light a candle. Predict what will happen if you place a glass jar over the candle.

2) Place a cup or jar over the candle.

3) The candle will quickly go out.  Share that fire needs three things to continue burning (heat, fuel, and air).  Placing the jar over the candle depletes the air, so the candle goes out. 

When I light a match, I try to do it so the littlest girls don't see.  I think it is safer that way, because they can be little copycats!  This would also be a good time to discuss safety around matches and safety around an open flame.   

After this experiment, we practiced "Stop, Drop, and Roll."  Make sure your child knows they should not run if their clothes are on fire.  Practice stopping, dropping to the ground, and rolling all the way over several times.  I tied this in with the experiment by talking about how the fire is smothered (by the lack of oxygen) when we "stop, drop, and roll" just like our candle went out (because of the lack of oxygen). 

Fire Safety: "Don't Touch, Get Help" Game

A very simple (and inexpensive) book for teaching your child basic fire safety is Arthur's Fire Drill.  I love how this book explains "Stop, Drop, and Roll", making a fire escape plan, not hiding from the firefighter (even though the mask may look scary), and not playing with matches. 

This quick game teaches your child what to do if they find matches or a lighter.

You need:

Matches (or)

Lighter

1)  Talk about what to do if your child finds a match or lighter.  Then, "hide" a few matches or lighters around the house (I just put them out in the open).  Invite your child to find them.

 

2)  When they find the match, have them say, "Don't touch.  Get help."  Practice not touching the match or lighter (very challenging for some preschoolers)!  Then, they can come tell you.  You can then pick them up and put them away!

I was surprised at how much they loved this.  We had to play it several times, and they asked to play again tonight! 

Tasty Tuesday: Fire Truck Snack

Do you promise not to laugh?!!  This is our attempt at a fire truck with food items we had on hand!

You need:

Bread

Strawberry jam

Round cookies (Oreos, Vanilla Wafers, etc.)

Pretzel sticks

Red gum drop or Dots candy

1)  Cut a small corner from the top of the bread slice.

2)  Cover the bread with strawberry jam, place a red candy on top (for the siren).  Cut the crust off the small corner piece of the bread.  Use it for a window in the truck.

3)  Add cookies for wheels.  Make a ladder from pretzel sticks.

It was fun to make and pretty tasty to eat!

I'm linking up to ABC and 123:  Show-and-Tell 

Fire Safety

Two years ago, my in-law's home was destroyed in a fire.  It was really a difficult time, and it made me much more conscious concerning fire safety and my children.  It is one of those things you don't think will ever happen to you, but it is essential to plan ahead and teach your children what to do.

This is National Fire Prevention Week, so I wanted to share a few ideas for teaching preschoolers about fire safety.  One of the first things to do is have a home fire escape plan.

You need:

Working smoke alarm

1.  Make sure you have several working smoke alarms in your home.  Test them on a regular basis. 

2)  Have a practice fire drill.  First, we talked about what to do when you hear the alarm.  Then, I turned on the alarm, and we practiced several ways of escaping from our house.

The first time my two year old heard the alarm, she ran and hid.  It's loud, and it's scary, so that is a natural reaction!  Let them hear the alarm many times and practice getting out of the house!

3)  Have a designated meeting spot outside of the house.  During your practice fire drill, make sure to meet at the spot.

I found this helpful video on YouTube.  It is a great guide for what you need to teach your young children about fire safety.