Illustrarischi is an educational kit created by Save the Children for children aged 3 to 6. It introduces safety and risk prevention in a simple and playful way. The tool addresses four main risks (earthquake, flood, fire, and biological hazards) through engaging activities and illustrations, fostering awareness and dialogue among children, teachers, and families.
Map
Illustrarischi
General information
The kit consists of four thematic sections:
- Terra Tremarella (Shaky Earth): teaches what to do during an earthquake.
- Nuvoloni Pasticcioni (Clumsy Clouds): explains flood risks and safe behaviors.
- Fuocherello Pazzerello (Cheeky Little Fire): introduces fire prevention and safety actions.
- Mostrini Invisibili (Sneaky Little Monsters): covers biological risks, promoting hygiene and protection.
Each section includes illustrations and hands-on activities to make learning interactive and age-appropriate. The goal is to help children develop basic safety skills while encouraging active participation and collaboration with adults.
The tool was developed by Save the Children Italia within its Emergency and Risk Reduction programs, in response to the growing need to educate young children about safety and risk prevention. Italy is a country exposed to multiple natural hazards—such as earthquakes, floods, and fires—alongside health-related risks. These events can have severe impacts on communities, including schools, which are central to children’s lives.
Status
Purpose
Topics For Preparedness
Hazard Type
Geographical Scope - Nuts
Geographical Scope
Population Size
Population Density
Needs Addressed
Illustrarischi responds to the lack of age-appropriate resources for teaching risk prevention and safety to preschool children. Young learners (ages 3–6) are highly vulnerable during emergencies such as earthquakes, floods, fires, and health crises, yet traditional safety education often targets older students or adults. This gap means that early childhood educators and families have limited tools to introduce basic preparedness concepts in a way that is engaging, non-threatening, and developmentally suitable.
Preschool children (ages 3-6)
The tool is designed for awareness and education, not for managing real-time emergencies. Schools should have basic safety routines in place (e.g., evacuation routes, assembly points, and simple drills) so that the activities connect to existing procedures. It does not require an advanced Disaster Risk Management Plan or organized operational response, ust a minimal framework for safe practice during drills.
The tool only requires standard classroom infrastructure (tables, chairs, safe spaces for drills) and basic safety provisions (clear evacuation routes, assembly points). No advanced resilient systems or specialized equipment are needed.
The tool is designed for interactive learning between teachers and children, encouraging questions, role-play, and discussion about safety behaviors. It goes beyond simply providing information because children actively participate in activities and drills.
Engagement happens through storytelling, role-play, and hands-on activities that allow children to practice safety behaviors in a fun, non-threatening way. Teachers guide the process, encouraging dialogue and participation, rather than passive information delivery. Activities include games, songs, and visual aids, making the learning experience experiential and collaborative.
The tool helps children grasp basic concepts of risk and safety behaviors through stories and activities.
It goes beyond mere awareness because children actively practice routines (e.g., evacuation steps, hygiene habits).
Illustrarischi strengthens foundational capacity by equipping educators and families with practical, age-appropriate methods for teaching risk prevention. Through interactive activities and storytelling, teachers gain confidence in integrating safety routines into daily practice, while families reinforce these behaviors at home. The tool fosters a culture of preparedness that supports long-term empowerment, helping children internalize simple safety habits early, which can evolve into more complex resilience skills as they grow.
Vulnerable Groups
Governance
Emergency Preparedness
Infrastructure Readiness
Engagement Level
Empowerment Level
Implementation
The program is designed for preschool children (ages 3–6) and uses simple language, colorful illustrations, and playful characters to teach safety through four modules focused on earthquakes, floods, fires, and biological hazards. Learning is interactive, with games, role-play, and songs that make concepts engaging and memorable, while take-home materials encourage family involvement. Free and accessible online, the project stands out for its innovative approach that turns complex ideas into playful narratives, reduces fear through positive reinforcement, and fosters resilience from an early age. It is also aligned with national school safety initiatives, promoting widespread adoption.
Italian
Save the Children Italia
Save the Children Italia has a high level of experience in Disaster Risk Management (DRM), particularly in supporting children during emergencies. More specifically, the work of the Emergecy Unit of Save the Children Italia spans all DRM phases: mitigation and prevention through disaster-risk education, preparedness via training and planning, response with immediate aid and psychosocial support, and recovery through safe spaces, education continuity, and child protection. They have extensive experience in national emergencies, such as the 2016–2017 Central Italy earthquakes, and collaborate closely with civil protection authorities. Additionally, they develop practical manuals and toolkits for frontline staff, demonstrating their capacity to translate DRM principles into actionable interventions for children in both acute and longer-term emergency contexts.
The actors involved include:
- Save the Children Italia: developer and promoter of the tool, providing resources and guidance.
- Preschool teachers and educators: primary implementers who deliver activities and integrate them into classroom routines.
- School administrators: ensure alignment with safety policies and organize drills.
- Families and Caregivers: reinforce safety behaviors at home and participate in awareness activities.
- Local education authorities / Ministry of Education: support through local/national initiatives.
Implementation steps include:
- Download the kit from Save the Children’s resource library and review all four modules (earthquake, flood, fire, biological risk). Ensure materials are printed or displayed for classroom use.
- Brief educators on the objectives, age-appropriate delivery methods, and how activities align with school safety routines. Practice storytelling and role-play instructions.
- Introduce the concept of “safety and prevention” in a positive, playful way. Explain that the activities will help everyone learn what to do in special situations.
- Run each module using its illustrated story and interactive exercises (games, songs, role-play). Reinforce key behaviors (e.g., evacuation steps, hygiene habits).
- Connect activities to real safety procedures. Conduct short, age-appropriate drills (e.g., earthquake “safe spot” practice, fire evacuation walk-through).
- Send home handouts or simple tasks for parents to reinforce learning. Gather feedback from teachers and families to improve future sessions.
The tool is downloadable for free and primarily uses printed materials and basic classroom supplies (paper, markers, posters). No advanced technology or infrastructure is needed, but schools may require minimal external support for teacher orientation or printing resources. Activities can be implemented with existing local capacity and do not depend on sustained external funding or complex systems.
The tool does not require a comprehensive, monitored multi-phase program or advanced planning.
The implementation typically involves a short-term cycle (e.g., a few weeks or integrated into a school term) with simple steps: preparation, teacher orientation, classroom activities, drills, and family engagement. Monitoring is informal (teacher observations, feedback), not structured with KPIs or long-term evaluation.
Experience of the Implementing Organisation in DRM
Target Audience
Resources Required
Timeframe & Phases
Participation Results
Introducing safety concepts at the preschool stage proves highly effective, as early engagement helps normalize preparedness behaviors and reduces fear over time. Play-based methods such as storytelling and games make complex risk topics both understandable and enjoyable for young children, while teacher confidence, boosted through short orientation sessions, significantly enhances content delivery and drill management. Family involvement further strengthens impact by reinforcing routines at home, and integrating activities into daily classroom practices prevents curriculum overload, ensuring sustainability. Finally, the use of clear visuals and age-appropriate language is essential for reducing anxiety and improving comprehension.
Preschool risk-prevention programs face several challenges, including teachers’ limited familiarity with safety content, tight schedules that leave little room for extra activities, and resource constraints such as insufficient materials for visual aids. Family engagement can also be inconsistent, and some children may experience anxiety when discussing hazards like earthquakes or fires. To address these issues, adaptive strategies include offering short training sessions to build teacher confidence, integrating activities into existing routines rather than adding separate lessons, and providing digital resources with low-cost printing options. Simple communication kits for parents help reinforce learning at home, while playful narratives and positive reinforcement create a psychosocial approach that normalizes safety behaviors and reduces fear.
The tool is designed for basic safety education and introduces multiple risks in a simplified, age-appropriate way. Schools need a simple preparedness framework—such as evacuation routes, assembly points, and hygiene protocols—to connect activities to real-life routines.
Risk & Mitigation Plan
Scalability and Sustainability
Illustrarischi is designed for long-term sustainability through its low-cost, high-access approach. The kit is freely downloadable online, requires only basic classroom resources, and integrates easily into existing preschool routines and annual safety initiatives. By fostering local ownership among educators and reinforcing learning at home through family engagement, the tool creates a community-driven model that ensures continuity without reliance on significant external funding or infrastructure.
The tool is designed with scalability and adaptability at its core, offering modular content that can be easily integrated into diverse preschool routines without disrupting existing curricula. Its digital format ensures broad accessibility, allowing schools to download resources and adapt them to local contexts with minimal cost. Activities are flexible and can be tailored to different classroom sizes, cultural settings, and hazard profiles, while simple language and visual aids make translation and customization straightforward. Additionally, the approach supports incremental implementation, starting with basic modules and expanding as capacity grows, ensuring that programs can scale from individual classrooms to entire school networks while maintaining effectiveness.
The tool demonstrates a developed level of technology and innovation by combining digital accessibility with interactive, play-based learning methods. Resources are available online for free download, enabling broad reach and easy integration into school programs, while activities such as games, role-play, and songs enhance engagement and comprehension. Its modular design supports adaptability across different classroom contexts and cultural settings, and low-cost implementation strategies (e.g., using projectors or classroom boards) further strengthen scalability.
Direct costs are minimal, as the program relies on free downloadable materials and low-cost printing options. Schools can use existing classroom resources such as boards or projectors, reducing the need for additional purchases.
Operational costs are kept low through short teacher orientation sessions and integration into daily routines, eliminating the need for dedicated staff or extra classroom time. The approach leverages existing infrastructure and family involvement, ensuring long-term viability without significant recurring expenses.
Early engagement with safety concepts fosters resilience and reduces fear, while play-based methods make complex topics accessible and enjoyable for young children. Teacher confidence is crucial and can be strengthened through brief training sessions, and family involvement significantly enhances retention of safety behaviors. Embedding activities into daily routines prevents curriculum overload, and using clear visuals and simple language improves comprehension and reduces anxiety.