District Highlights Yell and Tell Safety Program For Children

A safety program in the is teaching little kids to speak up if they see something scary or dangerous.

The program, Yell and Tell, is the brainchild of Jean Davidson, a life-long teacher and one of the Davidson family of Harley-Davidson motorcycles. Davidson and others spoke to the school board about the program Wednesday night.

She said she was compelled to develop the program after her grandson’s preventable death.

Her 4-year-old grandson Ryder and another 4-year-old friend had fallen into a water-filled irrigation ditch while another older child stood by, scared and unsure of what to do. The bystander child finally ran and told an adult, who was able to save one of the children but not Ryder.

Fifty-six children have become heroes, saving another’s life or prevented an injury, because of the Yell and Tell, according to Davidson. The program is being taught by YMCA’s, schools and police and fire department here in the states but also in four other countries, she said.

Here in Waukesha, St. Luke’s preschool teacher Amy Dorow knows first-hand the effectiveness of the program, as a parent.

About three weeks after her daughter Grace participated in the lessons, she had the opportunity to put her knowledge to use. A fun trip to the waterpark turned scary when Grace’s 7-year-old sister become trapped under the water after her intertube flipped.

And although she was quiet and shy at the school board meeting, Dorow said Grace yelled and alerted her to the potentially-dangerous situation.

The program has simple lessons for the children. To the tune of Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star, children are taught to “see it, feel it, yell it and tell it.”

The first step is to see the danger. The second is to recognize the scary feeling or know that something’s not safe, and then to yell for help and tell an adult. There are videos, hand-outs and coloring pages, all age-appropriate for young children.

One goal is to let children know that it’s OK to feel scared but then know they have to do something, Davidson said.

Four-year-old kindergarten lessons concern water and poison. Five-year-old kindergarten lessons include child enticement and fire.

“It gives kids the skills to step up, take action, use those skills to be a hero,” said Debbie Wells, supervisor of early learning for the school district.

Another youngster, Tyler Hartley, used Yell and Tell skills when he alerted paramedics to help his grandfather who was having a heart attack. Tyler’s grandfather was at the school board meeting to see the boy receive a certificate recognizing his heroism.