Helping Children Feel Safe

Talking About School Lockdowns

In today’s world, safety drills are a normal part of school life. Just as children once practiced lining up for fire drills or “duck and cover” earthquake routines, students today also learn lockdown procedures. While it’s something none of us wish were necessary, these practices are an important part of keeping children safe—and helping them build the muscle memory that allows calm, confident action if ever needed.

A Thoughtful, Proactive Approach to Safety

At Woodland Hills Private School, your child’s safety is always our highest priority. Part of keeping children safe is being prepared. That’s why we conduct one lockdown drill each fall and spring, and sometimes an additional practice at different times of year or in different parts of campus. Practicing under varied conditions helps both students and staff strengthen their ability to think, respond, and communicate calmly—because real emergencies are never predictable, and preparation matters most when situations are unexpected.

Over the past several years, we’ve also incorporated professional training from school security experts as part of our annual staff development. These specialists have led in-depth, staff-only training exercises on campus, including debrief sessions that allow our team to reflect and improve after each practice. These experiences help staff build confidence and “muscle memory” for decision-making in complex situations, so that every adult knows exactly what to do to keep children safe. When we conduct drills with students present, the tone is far gentler and developmentally appropriate—focused on familiarity and calm, never fear.

Our goal is to ensure children feel protected and cared for, not scared. Here’s how we approach it at school, and how you can help reinforce that same sense of calm and confidence at home.

• How We Talk About Lockdowns at School

  With our preschool and early elementary students, we use simple, concrete language. Teachers might say:

  “We’re practicing how to stay safe and quiet in our classroom, just like we do for fire or earthquake drills.”

  We emphasize that teachers and grown-ups always have a plan to keep children safe, and that their job is simply to listen and follow directions. We never introduce frightening details or hypothetical situations. Instead, the focus is on routine and empowerment—knowing what to do helps everyone stay calm.

  For older elementary students, we add a bit more context—acknowledging that different types of drills help us prepare for different situations. The tone remains calm, matter-of-fact, and focused on readiness rather than fear.

• Why Practice Matters

  The purpose of these drills is to help both students and staff build muscle memory—so that, in any situation, safety routines feel familiar and second nature. Just like learning to stop, drop, and roll or buckle a seatbelt, practicing in a reassuring way helps children respond calmly and confidently.

  We also vary the timing and context of our drills throughout the year. This helps staff and students know how to respond in different scenarios and strengthens our ability to communicate effectively as a team. During one of our recent drills, for example, we practiced using our internal communication system, which allows our staff to stay in constant contact with one another and the main office in real time. These small, well-coordinated steps are what make our safety plans effective without ever making the day feel tense for students.

• Safety at WHPS: A Proactive, Layered Approach

  Beyond drills, we have a number of proactive measures in place designed to keep our campuses secure every day. One of those is our partnership with Securenet, the professional security firm that staffs our school.

  We chose Securenet not only because of their on-site professionalism and rapport with students and staff, but also because of their impressive network of nearby accounts throughout the Woodland Hills area. This provides specially trained backup—both armed and unarmed—available to us at a moment’s notice. While it’s very unlikely we will ever need that level of support, it was one of the features we deeply valued when selecting a company to protect our community.

  Just as important, safety at WHPS isn’t only about procedures—it’s about people and relationships. As a small, close-knit school, our staff and families know one another well. We notice when something or someone seems out of place. We say hello to visitors, walk outside if someone looks like they’re working on their car across the street, and keep our eyes open for anything that doesn’t feel right.

  Security experts consistently emphasize that prevention begins with awareness and connection. Those everyday acts of attention—combined with a trusted security presence and strong communication—help keep our community safe and grounded.

• How Parents Can Talk About Lockdowns at Home

  When children hear about a lockdown drill, it can spark curiosity or even a few worries. They may also bring their own background knowledge into the conversation—sometimes based on real events they’ve overheard or seen on the news, and other times through imaginative play that may sound intense or “violent” to adults.

  While schools can’t always predict what children might say or imagine during play, we closely monitor conversations and interactions on campus. When questions or misunderstandings arise, teachers and administrators address them right away—gently, calmly, and with developmentally appropriate explanations. We ask parents to partner with us in this same approach at home.

  If your child comes home expressing concern or confusion, please use the talking points below and also let your child’s teachers or program directors know. This helps us maintain consistency and reinforces the reassuring messages we share at school. Our approach—whether the topic is safety, natural disasters, or any serious event—is to listen first, find out what the child has heard or believes, correct misconceptions in simple terms, and close with reassurance about adult care and safety.

  🧸 For Preschool & Early TK–Kindergarten

  Keep it simple and gentle.

  “Sometimes we practice staying very quiet and safe inside, just like when we practice for a fire. It’s just one more way teachers help everyone be safe.”

  Normalize it.

  “Just like we wear seatbelts or helmets, practicing is something we do to be prepared. The teachers always know what to do.”

  If your child mentions something that sounds scary or dramatic:

  “That’s not something happening at your school right now. Your teachers and grown-ups are just practicing to keep everyone safe.”

  If your child shows the theme in pretend play (for example, “bad guys” or “hiding”), you don’t need to stop the play immediately. Instead, observe and guide with calm reassurance:

  “I see you’re pretending to hide to stay safe. That’s good practicing—but remember, school is a very safe place and your teachers take care of you.”

  Model calm.
  Children take their emotional cues from adults. If you stay relaxed and confident, they will too.

  📚 For Elementary-Age Children

  Be honest, but reassuring.

  “Sometimes schools practice for emergencies that are very unlikely, just in case. The goal is always to keep everyone safe.”

  Ask what they know first.

  “What did you hear about the drill?”
  “What do you think happens during one?”

  This helps you gauge what’s fact versus what might be imagination or peer conversation.

  Correct misconceptions with care.

  “It sounds like someone said that happens a lot, but it actually almost never happens here. Drills are just to help everyone know what to do, the same way we practice fire drills.”

  Acknowledge feelings without amplifying fear.

  “It makes sense that you felt a little nervous—new things can feel that way. But you did exactly what you were supposed to do, and that helps your teachers keep everyone safe.”

  Encourage ongoing trust.

  “Your job is to listen and follow your teacher’s directions. The adults know exactly what to do.”

  When to Reach Out

  If your child mentions something that concerns you—whether it’s fear, confusion, or comments they heard from other students—please reach out to your teacher or program director. We want to know so we can follow up consistently and supportively at school.

  Our teachers use the same steady, developmentally appropriate process for any serious topic that arises:

  1. Listen first. Ask what the child heard or believes.

  2. Correct misinformation in simple, factual terms.

  3. Reassure that adults are in charge of keeping everyone safe.

  4. Return to calm, redirecting to normal classroom routines.

  This consistency between home and school helps children feel grounded and secure.

Building a Sense of Safety Through Connection

Research shows that children feel most secure when they trust the adults around them. The more consistently we communicate that grown-ups are in charge of safety, the less children will feel the burden of imagining “what if.”

At WHPS, every safety practice is designed not just around logistics but around child development—ensuring that what we say, how we say it, and how we practice is always age-appropriate and emotionally supportive.

By working together—home and school—we can help children build a sense of confidence that lasts far beyond drills. They learn: I know what to do. My teachers and family will take care of me. I am safe.

A Final Word to Parents

If your child ever shares something that worries you after a drill, please reach out to your child’s teacher or our school office. We’re always here to support those conversations.

Safety isn’t just about procedures—it’s about relationships, trust, and community. And that’s something we’re proud to practice every day.