Teaching Drop, Cover, and Hold On
Children as young as 5 can learn Drop, Cover, and Hold On. Practice the sequence as a game: "When the ground shakes, drop to your hands and knees, get under the table, and hold on." Make it fun with regular practice drills at home. Schools in earthquake-prone areas conduct ShakeOut drills — practice at home to reinforce what they learn at school.
Age-Appropriate Explanations
For young children (5-8): Use simple language. "The ground sometimes shakes because rocks underground move. When this happens, we get under the table and hold on." For older children (9-12): Explain tectonic plates in basic terms and why certain areas have more earthquakes. For teens: Involve them in household earthquake preparedness planning.
Create a Family Communication Plan
Every child old enough to use a phone should know how to contact a designated out-of-area family contact. Write the contact number on a card they keep in their backpack. Agree on a neighborhood meeting place in case you cannot return home and the school is closed. Practice the plan twice a year.
Earthquake Safety at School
Schools in earthquake zones conduct regular earthquake drills. Talk to your child about what to expect in these drills and reinforce that the goal is to protect them, not to cause fear. Students should know to get under their desks, cover their heads, and wait for a teacher's all-clear before moving.
Managing Earthquake Anxiety in Children
Some children develop earthquake anxiety after experiencing or learning about earthquakes. Normalize preparedness as a positive response — we prepare because we know what to do, not because we expect disaster. Limit exposure to graphic earthquake news coverage for younger children. Answer their questions honestly but calmly.
What to Tell Kids About After an Earthquake
After a felt earthquake, reassure children and explain what happened. Tell them aftershocks may occur and what to do if they do. Let them help with age-appropriate recovery tasks — this gives children a sense of agency and reduces anxiety. If the family needs to evacuate, involve children in packing their own small bag.
