This paper deals with research into the evacuation of children from pre‐school educational institutions. The research was designed to determine possible values for their pre‐movement time and to thoroughly investigate the parameters of their movement along the emergency escape routes. All the stages of the research conducted are described including the preparation and arrangements for the actual observation studies and the collection of basic empirical data and their statistical treatment. This includes the analysis of the pre‐movement time for pre‐school educational institutions, a theoretical analysis for establishing the relationships between speed and density of flows of children of different age groups during their upward and downward movement on stairs, through door openings, along horizontal routes at a normal walking speed, and while running. It also includes the categorization of movement by a degree of emotional state and psychological abilities of those people involved. The use of the results obtained for evacuation planning under various conditions in pre‐school educational institutions is also discussed. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.