This is a post sponsored by the National Fire Protection Association and SparkySchoolhouse.org
A fire is one of those things we never want to think about. It can destroy a life or make you homeless in just seconds, it can leave scars that will last a lifestyle and it’s something we think it’s never going to happen to us…
But the reality is that it could happen to us is. A fire can happen to anyone and that’s why it’s so important to talk to our children about what we should do in case of a fire. The better prepared we are, the better the outcome could be.
October is Fire Prevention Month, and October 7-13th is Fire Prevention Week so it’s the perfect time to start talking to your kids about fire prevention!
Plus learning about fire doesn’t have to be all dull and boring for kids. About 2 years ago I discovered Sparky, a friendly dog that teaches kids about fire through different activities, apps, video-based games, printables, etc. Sparky has all the resources you need to teach your kids about fire and it even has resources that you can share with your child’s teacher.
Sparky is a creation from the National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA) and every single resource they offer is completely free!
Why you should talk about fires with your children?
When you’re in the middle of an emergency, like a fire, we don’t really have time to think. Everything happens fast and you need to move fast and act fast. This means that if you haven’t rehearsed what to do in case of a fire, you might just freeze, make mistakes or not know what to do when it happens.
This is why rehearsing and going over what to do in case of fire is so important. If your brain has all this information it will tap into it if needed, and you or your child will be able to act faster, which, a lot of the time, is the difference between life and death.
It is never too early to teach your children about fire. In fact, if you haven’t started yet, you should start today. Sparky not only makes that easier, but Sparky’s site is filled with all kinds of resources. These resources are even divided into age groups, so you can find activities for kids for all ages and grade levels.
Have fun while learning about fire prevention with Sparky
It’s no secret that children learn better through play. In fact, children retain information a lot better when they learned it through play and action, then if someone just explained it to them.
That’s why I love using Sparky’s resources so much because they are really educational yet fun, and the options are endless!
This is what Sparky’s site looks like, and as you can see there is plenty to chose from! They can learn all about fire trucks (I didn’t even know there were different types until we did this activity), watch fun videos on fire safety, play games online or download the apps to your tablet, and the activity section is filled with lots of printables.
My children like more hands on activities so we ended up downloading different apps and printing out almost all the materials.
Sparky’s games and apps section has both apps you can download and games that kids can play on a computer.
The ones you can play in a computer are Sparky’s Fun House and Sparky’s Firehouse, both which my kids enjoy. Most of the apps state they are for kids 4 and older but my 3 year old has played with them without needing my help.
Sparky also has a section with printables with activities, coloring pages, sign and banners. I like to check this section regularly and print out activities that the kids can do after school.
I encourage you to browse this section because they are some really good activities. I found this sheet where you can track if your fire alarms are working and it complemented so well our fire safety lesson.
Now, once a month, the kids check all the fire alarms at home and put a check mark if they’re working properly.
Tell your child’s teacher about Sparky
All schools have to do fire drills, it’s the law, but how they teach our children about fires will depend on the teachers and the resources available.
Sparky’s teacher section has lots of resources for teachers, divided by grades, and they’re all free! Make sure you share this site with your child’s teachers so they can tap into these free, fun and educational resources.
Let’s not think a fire is something that would never happen to us. Let’s educate ourselves and our children on fire prevention. It’s as simple as using these resources, talking to your children about what to do in case of a fire and keep the conversation going throughout the year.
Fire prevention saves lives!
Quick access links:
Here’s a summary of Sparky’s resources for easy access:
- Sparky’s site: all the resources can be found here
- Sparky’s games and apps
- Sparky’s printables and activities
- Sparky’s Schoolhouse: this is the teacher portal for fire safety education
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