Dramatic play is a valuable educational resource for preschool-aged children. Through dramatic play, children are able to experience the world around them in a safe environment. Set up a dramatic play center so that children can practice fire prevention and safety. Turn large cardboard boxes into buildings by cutting doors in them. Place children's fire fighter costumes, flashlights, garden hoses, toy fire trucks and play phones in the center. Allow children to freely play with the items, practicing calling 911 and pretending they are fire fighters.
Children will be delighted to take a trip to a fire house, not to mention they will learn a lot about fire prevention from the men and women who actually fight fires. Call your local firehouse to arrange the trip--undoubtedly they will be happy to accommodate your preschool children. Prior to the trip, prepare children by telling them what they can expect to see and allowing them to ask questions about the trip. Purchase dress-up fire hats and allow children to wear them on their trip. After the field trip, re-visit what children learned by creating a fire prevention list and displaying it in your classroom or home.
Preschool children learn a lot through craft making and enjoy making them, too. For this craft project, you will need one egg carton per child, red paint and black construction paper. Cut the tops off of the egg cartons. Have children paint the egg carton tops red. While the cartons are drying, help them cut two circles from the black construction paper. Once the cartons are dry, have them clue one circle to the front and back of the bottom of their egg cartons. On another piece of black construction paper, help children cut out three capital H's. Have them glue the capital H's next to one another on the upper portion of the back of their egg cartons. This H's should resemble a ladder.
Have a discussion with children about the different things that cause fires--such as matches and lighters. Explain to them that they should never play with such things, as they can create a dangerous situation and if they find them, they should immediately give them to an adult. On construction paper, draw pictures of matches and cut them out. Hide the construction paper matches around a room. Have children go on a hunt to search for the matches. Each time they find a match, they should bring it to an adult. Through this activity, children learn not tp play with matches.