As part of WBEZ’s “Kids Ask” series, we are talking with kids, parents and experts about the tough questions asked by young children. We then explore the answers, and sometimes the unknown, together.
Six-year-old Edie asked her mom, Betty Tran, why her school did a lockdown drill after experiencing her first one this fall. Lockdown or safety drills are required in Illinois schools and they have become normal for a lot of students. But many parents still find the subject difficult to talk about.
Tran didn’t shy away from answering Edie’s question. The mom was struck by the juxtaposition of her daughter’s innocent follow up questions and the reality of safety drills.
“A part of me is sad that it’s part of the day to day,” Tran said. “I think it’s very necessary, but at the same time the fact that it [exists] is disheartening.”
Do you have a curious kid in your life? All questions are welcome. Email WBEZ reporter Susie An at san@wbez.org.
Susie An covers education for WBEZ. Follow her on Twitter @WBEZeducation and @soosieon.
