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Emergency Safety for Families
Most days, family life feels predictable and routine. Sometimes, though, the unexpected happens: a natural disaster, a fire or another emergency. While infrequent, families must be prepared to handle these events to ensure their children’s safety. Here are some resources to help families develop a comprehensive plan so they’re ready when an emergency occurs.
Create an emergency plan and stay up-to-date on what’s happening in your community
Families can prepare for natural disasters by developing an emergency plan. Ready.dc.gov has information on how to create an emergency plan. It also has a checklist of items to include in an emergency kit, such as water, nonperishable food and a radio kit in case of an emergency.
AlertDC is the District of Columbia’s official emergency notification system. It provides emergency alerts, notifications and updates from DC public safety officials via text message and/or email. Sign up to receive notifications from AlertDC here.
Talk with your child care provider about their emergency plans
If your child is enrolled at a child development facility, ask your child care provider about their emergency readiness. You can ask to see the facility’s emergency plan, which must include a schedule of emergency drills (e.g., fire drills) that help children and staff know what to do if necessary. Families can find more questions they should ask their child care program in this article from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and this list from Child Care Aware of America.
Practice fire safety at home
Every year, roughly 350,000 house fires occur in the US, and about half start in the kitchen. Safe Kids Worldwide has a suite of fire safety resources for families, including printed materials and videos on preventing fires and burns. There are also videos, games and other materials for children ages 3 to 6. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) published a fire safety checklist for homes that provides guidance on proper placement of smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors and other safety tips.
Resource Highlights
- New car seat regulations – The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration issued new regulations to protect young children from side-impact crashes. Read this article from Parents to determine if your family needs to buy a new car seat.
- Teaching children to stay positive – Even during difficult times, it’s possible to look at things in a positive light, taking a glass-half-full approach. Sesame Workshop published an article with activity ideas to help children practice positivity.
- A guide to free, family-friendly museums in DC – The Mommy Poppins website compiled a list of 18 free museums in the DC area suitable for kids and families. Ten of the 18 are in DC, and some have designated children’s exhibits and/or play areas as well as free family programs such as art workshops and story times.
Let’s Read Together!
Families should read to young children each day. In addition to reading books daily, adults can read cereal boxes, traffic signs or grocery labels, all of which demonstrate the essential nature of language and knowing how to read.
Here are some e-books available at the DC Public Library (DCPL) that families can enjoy together this week:
- I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen – A bear almost gives up his search for his missing hat until he remembers something important.
- Johnny Boo is Bored! Bored! Bored! by James Kochalka – Even ‘the best little ghost in the world’ gets bored sometimes! But for Johnny Boo and his friends, fun is never far away.
- Hello, I’m a Sloth by Haley Rocco – In this nonfiction book, a friendly sloth tells readers about his life. For example, he climbs down from his tree once a week to poop and swims really well.
- Everyone’s Awake by Colin Meloy – It’s a crazy night because the entire family is awake and doing all sorts of imaginative, random things. For instance, Grandma’s doing needlework, Dad’s baking bread, brother’s making a list of all the books he’s ever read and so on.
- The Whole Hole Story by Vivian McInerney – Zia imagines what might
Vroom Brain-Building Tip
- Today’s Tip: The Hand Wash
Enlist your child as your partner when you wash up before a meal. Say, “It’s time to wash our hands, yours and mine.” Put soap on both your hands and lather up. Be silly as you dry your hands off together. Do you shake dry? Toss the towel back and forth? Make a hand jumble?
- Brainy Background
Making your child your partner in hand washing helps them learn about this vital routine. A back-and-forth conversation with words and gestures builds your relationship, too. Acknowledge your child’s effort with a compliment: “You can wash your hands!”
Week of January 26, 2026
- Music and Movement Monday: Use sticks to tap out a rhythm.
- Tasty Tuesday: Bake some easy veggie muffins.
- Wellness Wednesday: Watch this video and learn about germs.
- Textured Thursday: Create a simple snowball rescue sensory bin.
- Family Fun Friday: Make paper airplanes and see whose can fly the farthest.
Week of February, 2026
- Music and Movement Monday: Follow Mister Boom Boom and make music with your body.
- Tasty Tuesday: Bake some healthy brownies with banana.
- Wellness Wednesday: Stretch your body with seated yoga.
- Textured Thursday: Build a ‘yellow brick road’ on the floor using cushions. How far can you travel without falling off?
- Family Fun Friday: Make a marble roller coaster out of cardboard tubes.
DC Public Library
There are 26 local libraries within DCPL. They are a great, free resource for families looking to have some fun. Nearly every day, families can stop by their local library to enjoy stories, songs and games presented by librarians. Click here for a list of libraries and their addresses, and here for a daily schedule of events.
DCPL also runs a program called Books from Birth. It’s open to all children younger than age 5 who live in DC. All enrolled children receive a free book every month until their fifth birthday, mailed directly to their home! Families can register a child here.
Strong Start
Strong Start is DC’s early intervention program, offering free services for children under 3 with developmental delays or disabilities. Strong Start provides therapeutic and other services for DC infants, toddlers and their families.
If you have questions about your child’s development, call Strong Start today at (202) 727-3665 or submit a Strong Start referral online.
Product Recall Alerts
The US Consumer Product Safety Commission recently announced the following recall:
- Joyful Journeys Baby Loungers because they violate federal safety standards for infant sleep products and pose a risk of serious injury or death.
- Lterfear Multifunction Pounding Game because the toy contains high-powered magnets that can detach. If ingested, the magnets can cause serious injuries or death.
We are here to help! If you need support in navigating these resources or help planning experiences for your children, please contact one of our team members today. Please contact us at DC Child Care Connections (202) 829-2500.
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