MONROE - Four years old is not too young to learn about fire safety at Rainbow Childcare.
And they remember what they've learned, according to Amy Burkhalter, their teacher.
"They come back the next day saying, 'We checked our fire alarm' and 'I know where our safe spot is,'" she said.
Burkhalter won a grand prize of $500 for the childcare center when she entered her fire safety curriculum in the Safe Kids and United States Fire Administrations Preschool Fire Safety Contest in February.
For two weeks, the four-year-olds of Burkhalter's class learned what to do, and what not to do, if they see fire or smoke.
"Don't hide, go outside" was just one of the mottos the children learned.
They also practiced stop-drop-and-roll.
"We would say, 'Oh, look, you brushed against a candle and your sleeve is on fire. What should you do?" Burkhalter said.
Using a blanket to simulate smoke, she also taught the children how to crawl close to the floor, where fresh air is available.
Children took the lessons home, and parents helped them learn their family's fire safety plan; find a safe spot, often a tree in the yard; and check the home fire alarms.
Other classroom lessons involved art, stories, role playing using doll houses, an Elmo video about firefighters, and identifying what's hot and what's not.
Firefighters did not come to the classroom during the two weeks of fire safety activities, but Burkhalter said the children remembered when they came to the classroom for Fire Prevention Week last October.
Retention of the lessons has been amazing, Burkhalter said.
"Each week, we will talk a little bit about it, and they remember what they learned," she said.
The $500 prize money has gone a long way in the classroom.
Burkhalter used about half the money to replace the kitchen play center. Those units were starting to splinter, she said.
"We got a good set, which should last a long time," Burkhalter said.
With some smart shopping in catalogs, Burkhalter also purchased art supplies; a stack of wooden puzzles; hard-covered book series by Eric Carl and Dr. Suess; play foods for the kitchen, compact disks and, science magnets, among other things.
"I wanted to make the money go as far as I could," she said.
And they remember what they've learned, according to Amy Burkhalter, their teacher.
"They come back the next day saying, 'We checked our fire alarm' and 'I know where our safe spot is,'" she said.
Burkhalter won a grand prize of $500 for the childcare center when she entered her fire safety curriculum in the Safe Kids and United States Fire Administrations Preschool Fire Safety Contest in February.
For two weeks, the four-year-olds of Burkhalter's class learned what to do, and what not to do, if they see fire or smoke.
"Don't hide, go outside" was just one of the mottos the children learned.
They also practiced stop-drop-and-roll.
"We would say, 'Oh, look, you brushed against a candle and your sleeve is on fire. What should you do?" Burkhalter said.
Using a blanket to simulate smoke, she also taught the children how to crawl close to the floor, where fresh air is available.
Children took the lessons home, and parents helped them learn their family's fire safety plan; find a safe spot, often a tree in the yard; and check the home fire alarms.
Other classroom lessons involved art, stories, role playing using doll houses, an Elmo video about firefighters, and identifying what's hot and what's not.
Firefighters did not come to the classroom during the two weeks of fire safety activities, but Burkhalter said the children remembered when they came to the classroom for Fire Prevention Week last October.
Retention of the lessons has been amazing, Burkhalter said.
"Each week, we will talk a little bit about it, and they remember what they learned," she said.
The $500 prize money has gone a long way in the classroom.
Burkhalter used about half the money to replace the kitchen play center. Those units were starting to splinter, she said.
"We got a good set, which should last a long time," Burkhalter said.
With some smart shopping in catalogs, Burkhalter also purchased art supplies; a stack of wooden puzzles; hard-covered book series by Eric Carl and Dr. Suess; play foods for the kitchen, compact disks and, science magnets, among other things.
"I wanted to make the money go as far as I could," she said.