I am doing the same but children can get frightened or be so scared they do nothing.
Even adults get scared....I had a fire (that raged from a small flame to an inferno within about 3 seconds) a few weeks ago in the kitchen and just froze in panic. There were 2 fire extinguishers within about 5 feet but my mind didn’t ‘move.’
While I am not stupid and *usually* react well in an emergency (all heads turn to me when there are broken bones or blood) this time I became paralyzed. Rather than put it out (duh), I frantically called 911 and got all the critters out in a stupid daze.
In hindsight, I go over all the ‘should have dones’ and ‘I knew betters’ (like grab an extinguisher and save the kitchen!) but the ‘connection’ wasn’t made at the time.
So, YES, an 11 year-old absolutely CAN shut down in a situation like that even though they’ve been taught all the Stranger-Danger stuff.
LMR
(PS - no one was hurt and Santa is bringing a brand new updated kitchen this year!)
Thank goodness nobody was hurt & Santa is bringing that new kitchen! I still think that a person can scare you into being silent. I have not kept up with this story so I don’t know the outcome but I can see a child freezing. Stick a gun or knife in my side or say something to terrify me & I am sure I would freeze up. Its easy to stay I would do this..Or my child would never let it happen. Hopefully not but you don’t know what you will do until it happens IMHO. Merry Christmas & enjoy the new kitchen!