Have kids prepare sheets of paper with rough floor plans of three rooms in your house. Have them roam independently throughout the rooms of their choosing to self-identify potential fire hazards. They might find smoke alarms with missing batteries, flammable items too close to the oven, home entertainment equipment left plugged in and unattended, or extension cords with frayed wires. They should place these hazards on the corresponding floor plan. Then, as a family, come together and walk throughout the house with your children and construct a plan to rectify the problems that they identified as well as those that you find on the walk-through. This activity not only helps find the potential fire risks in your home, but children get better acquainted with the risks in their everyday surroundings.
As a family, identify all of the exits throughout your house. Then, together with your children, chart a course to at least two of these escape points; having a backup to a home's primary exit can help prevent confusion if that threshold becomes blocked by fire. Practice escaping through these routes together and establishing a safe meeting place outside once the exit is completed. Follow this by beginning the drill in each family member's individual bedroom. This run-through is the perfect opportunity to show your children how to cover their mouths to prevent smoke inhalation, how to touch a doorknob to be sure it's not too hot, and how to "stop, drop and roll." Be sure to continue to practice your fire escape drill as a family at least once a month.
Together with a few other families from your neighborhood, ask a local fireman to come speak to your children about the different aspects of fire safety. The fireman can provide useful statistics about fires in your town and dispense advice about the best ways to both prevent and escape from fires. His experience in these serious situations can not only help convey the true danger of fires, but also reinforce the necessity of the preparations you've already made with your family. This is also a valuable opportunity to gather advice about your planned escape route from an experienced professional. For some fun, ask if the children can try on some of the fireman's equipment. The next night, have the children write a thank you note to the fireman that also explains what they learned during their time with him.