Earthquake Safety Story: 3 Safety Habits to Learn With Your Child
What Does Your Child Do When the Ground Suddenly Shakes?
If the house suddenly shakes while playing in the living room, even a grown-up freezes for a moment. So how about a child? Not knowing what to do, they easily freeze in place or burst into tears in fright.
Because an earthquake comes without warning, the safest thing is to practice in advance so 'the body remembers first' in that moment. And the gentlest way to teach a child safety rules is through story.
Curious about the earthquake safety story? We look at the lesson of the earthquake safety story through pictures. Meet the key scenes of the story too. Read the earthquake safety story together with your child and talk it over. We've gathered all kinds of stories about "20. Shake Shake, Under the Desk!"—earthquake safety education, toddler safety stories, earthquake evacuation, and more.
Why Learn Earthquake Safety in Advance?
What decides a child's safety in an earthquake is 'calmness' and 'evacuation actions that come naturally.' Learning for the first time in a dangerous moment is too late. Only actions repeated like play beforehand come out naturally in a real situation.
Especially for toddlers, practicing the head-protecting posture and where to go when it shakes helps them follow a grown-up's directions far better in a real event. The key is to learn within reassurance, without stirring up fear.
Hori and Dad's Turtle Game
In the story Shake Shake, Under the Desk!, baby tiger Hori doesn't know what to do when the house shakes. But instead of scaring him, Dad calmly reaches out a hand and leads him under a sturdy desk.
Dad calls the desk 'the turtle's strong shell' and turns it into a game. Wrap your head snugly with both paws, and you become a baby turtle who isn't scared of anything. It's the moment fear turns into a sense of calm within imaginative play.
3 Evacuation Promises From Tangobook
The heart of this story is three promises that are easy for a child to memorize. One, when it shakes, get under a sturdy desk! Two, wrap your head snugly with both hands! Three, when the shaking stops, hold a grown-up's hand and go outside slowly!
Tangobook's story repeats these promises like a refrain, helping your child remember them naturally. Just by following the story, your child learns with their body 'what to do when it shakes.'
Practicing Earthquake Drills Together at Home
After reading the book, actually practice. Pick the sturdiest dining table or desk at home, and when you call out "Shake, shake!", get under it together and play at wrapping your heads.
Add the imagination of becoming a turtle tucked into its shell, and your child joins in far more happily. If you practice all the way to the last step—holding a grown-up's hand and coming out slowly once the shaking stops—your child won't panic in a real situation either.
Scared but Calm—We're Okay Together
An earthquake is a scary moment, but the calmness of the grown-up beside them and the promises learned in advance keep a child safe. Like Hori, your child learns on their own that "even when I'm scared, if I stay calm, I'll be okay."
The Hori Life Stories warmly capture safety, emotions, and habits at a child's eye level. Turn the first page together with your child now on Tangobook with a 7-day free trial. An ad-free story you can hand over with peace of mind is waiting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. How do I teach my child earthquake evacuation?
A. Rather than scaring them, teach it like a game of ducking under the desk when things shake. Learning how to protect their body in advance with an earthquake safety story means less panic in a real situation.
Q. Is it okay to practice evacuation as a game?
A. Repeat the motion of getting under a desk and wrapping your head when it shakes, like play. Learning it as fun practice rather than something frightening helps your child remember it naturally with their body.
Q. How do I reassure a child who's afraid of earthquakes?
A. Reassure them by making clear that a grown-up is right there to protect them. Once they know how to stay safe, the urge to act grows bigger than the fear.
Classic Stories to Read Together
If you enjoyed this story, try reading these classic stories too.
- 01. Eat Everything for Rainbow Power!
- 02. Brush Brush, Sparkle Sparkle!
- 03. Bubble Bubble, Squeaky Clean!
- 04. Pee in the Potty, Well Done!
Curious about "20. Shake Shake, Under the Desk!"?
Meet it yourself on Tangobook with beautiful illustrations and Korean & English audio.
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