Disaster Education for Children: Learning from the Floods in Sumatra – The tragedy that occurred in Sumatra had a significant traumatic impact, not only on adults but also on children, especially those who lost family members. The disaster was so severe that it had a major impact on the community. More than 900 people died and many others were reported missing.
Despite this, the government has not declared the floods and landslides in Sumatra as a national disaster. Disaster education for children is crucial, to be carried out by relevant government agencies as well as parents. Building awareness about disasters can begin at a young age.
4 Effective Ways to Build Children’s Awareness of Flood Disasters
Everyone agrees that young children tend to absorb information from others more quickly in a fun way. Building awareness in an effective manner is the right step. At this age, children are more active and easily attracted to things such as games and pictures. Check out the following educational series:
1. Through a Creative Approach
Playing is one of the most effective ways for children to absorb information well. Encourage them to learn about the importance of disaster knowledge through singing, games, or other artistic activities. Use cute animated visuals and various types of storybooks that depict disasters.
2. Simple Simulations and Survival Training
Ensure children know simple ways to survive. What to do when a disaster strikes. For example, duck or take cover under a table during an earthquake, or seek higher ground during a flood. Evacuation drills like these can be conducted through interactive learning.
3. Supported by Interactive Technology
We would also like to introduce several interactive supporting technologies that can be used as teaching materials for children. One example is the use of VR educational applications, also known as Virtual Reality. This type of learning is quite effective in conveying information to elicit responses from children.
4. Supported by the Curriculum and the Role of Educators
Building awareness of disaster hazards among children is not only the responsibility of parents, but also of communities and government agencies. Educators must also play an active role. The curriculum needs to include teaching materials on the importance of early education about disaster emergency response.
Read Also : Flood Disaster Strikes: Educating Children about Flood Risks & Self-Protection
There are several school activities that can be developed with sustainability potential, such as organizing Disaster Preparedness Day. Children are given special activities to focus on disaster education. Not only that, involve disaster experts to provide in-depth education about the types of disasters and how to deal with them quickly.
