That is why I believe it is just as important to teach children why disasters happen as much as what to do in a disaster. I encourage schools to incorporate safety messages when they are teaching the science of earthquakes, fire or weather. As children get older, they also develop a sense of altruism. They want to help. By teaching them how to help themselves and how to help each other, we will also help them psychologically and emotionally recover from the event.
Children are a direct conduit to their family.
We have been using children to teach adults for years. We ask them to take information home and teach their parents. I once made a suggestion to a classroom of 6 th graders that if they did a scavenger hunt at their house, they could probably find most of the items on the disaster supplies checklist. I received a call from a parent, telling me of her experience coming home after work and finding everything for a disaster supplies kit spread out on the living room floor.