15 Ways To Teach Kids About Preparedness

It’s easy to teach kids how to be prepared, we just need to think a bit differently when it comes to teaching kids.

Kids don’t know anything until they’re taught. We need to be patient, understanding and make it fun!

Kids are incredibly smart and catch on very quickly. We need to make sure that we’re teaching them proper safety precautions and instilling those safety reminders often, as kids can get carried away sometimes, especially when they get excited.

There are so many ways to teach kids about preparedness without ever calling it ‘preparedness’ or making it seem like they’re being taught something. Little activities done on a regular basis will teach basic skills and knowledge to lay a foundation which will carry on throughout their lives, especially as you teach them more advanced skills.

Give them a chance to learn and they will surprise you. Many ‘preparedness’ skills, knowledge and activities, are simply teaching kids about life and self-sufficiency which will make them a well-rounded individual.

Here are 15 ways that we can teach our kids to be prepared:

1. Situational awareness – it’s easy, each time you go out into public, ask them to describe what someone is wearing. Or ask them to count the blue cars that they pass on the way inside. Or ask them to spot something very specific. This is engaging their situational awareness. Kids are amazingly aware of their surroundings, even when it seems like they aren’t. Engage that awareness by giving them a task. Make it a fun game and they’ll be all over it. “Whoever spots 5 green cars first, wins!”
2. Build a fire – let kids be involved in the fire making process. I’ve had my 3 year old involved in the fire making process since she was 18 months old. Whether that was through collecting small sticks to “helping” me cut the wood, to actually throwing the sticks in and even creating the fire and putting the fire starter in. It’s all a process and one that involves them and educates them about how to make a fire.
3. Involve them in cooking and baking – kids love to help, especially when it comes to cooking and baking. I know that they might create a mess and there’s sometimes a hot oven or stove involved, but we must teach them about proper technique, proper handling around hot objects, etc. Will they make mistakes? Sure. But as long as we’re there and assure them that it’ll be alright, mistakes happen, and then show them the right way to do things, they’ll be learning while also having fun. Cooking and baking are skills that should be taught early on.
4. Knife safety – we’ve been teaching our kids about knife safety since before they could crawl. Sometimes I would hold a knife up and say, “this is a knife, it’s sharp, ouch! We want to be careful around knives, they’re great tools, but they need to be handled properly.” And then I would demonstrate how to properly handle and use the knife. As my children are getting older, I got my oldest a wood knife by CRKT and she’s been practicing knife safety with that. I also allow her to use scissors to cut paper, which is also a great way to teach about sharp objects. Knife safety should be taught as soon as possible.
5. Books – to give kids a primer into gun safety, knife safety, positive body image and preparedness, books are a fantastic way to do that. There are a lot of great prepping books for kids. Books offer a foundation to get their minds engaged in the information, then we take that information into the real world.
6. DIY projects – doing DIY projects with our kids is so much fun. Make a bird feeder out of pine cones, make a homemade fire starter then test it, make a rocket stove, etc. There are so many great DIY projects that are especially a lot of fun for adults.
7. Stranger danger – I don’t teach ‘stranger danger’, but I do teach my kids that some people are not to be trusted. I show them the signs of someone who wants to do something bad and I also teach them techniques about how to get away. I do this in a fairly fun, but also serious way. I often remind them and ask them questions about what they would do in certain scenarios. If they don’t answer correctly or don’t know the answer, that’s ok! It’s a process, we go through it again and gently remind them. Stranger danger can be a bit confusing for kids, so it’s a constant process.
8. Firearm safety – I truly believe that firearm safety should be taught as soon as possible. With us, it started out when they still babies and I’d let them watch as I put on my concealed carry firearm. I’d just sit them down, say, “I need to put my firearm on”, put it on and that’s it. Didn’t make a big deal about it. Just did it. They’ve seen it on, we talk about it sometimes and that’s it. Now that my oldest is almost 4, she’s shot her first .22 and outside of that, she’s been to the gun range with us many, many times. Exposing them to firearms is important. Educating them with a book on firearm safety is also a great way to lay an educational foundation. Take the fear away and educate them.
9. Gardening – one of the best ways to teach kids about self-sufficiency is through gardening. Get them out there with you and have them plant it, water it and generally take care of it.
10. Fishing and hunting – take them fishing, go hunting, let them see where food comes from. Teach them about the circle of life, responsible fishing and hunting, etc. Our daughter watched us fish for 3 years then she demanded her own pole and now we’re teaching her how to fish and she loves it.
11. Wild edibles – I love wild edibles and because I’ve been searching for wild edibles since my daughter was born, she now loves them, too. I’ve always just gone out and searched for them and because of my interest, she got interested in it. When I tried something (after positively identifying it), she would try it and absolutely loved just taking food from a bush or tree. An amazing skill and empowers them to learn.
12. Hiking and camping – getting outdoors to enjoy a hike and go camping are great ways to teach kids about nature. While you’re out, teach them about collecting water, teach them about bugs and animals and foliage, making a fire, setting up a tent, making food, etc. Teach them how to make their own hiking or camping bag, etc. I’ve taken our kids camping and hiking since they were 2 months old and they absolutely love camping and going for walks/hikes. They’re outdoor kids simply because we took them out regularly.
13. Bug out bag – get them involved in the creation of their own bug out bag. Depending on their age, they may not care at all, but they’ll be there and they’ll see it happening and hear you talk about it. That’s laying the foundation. My child is 3 years old and I’ve been making a bug out bag in front of her/with her since she was born. Now she calls it by the term ‘bug out bag’ and even kind of understands what goes into it. She loves to pack and unpack it and put things into it. Of course, I guide her along, but whenever we inventory it, she’s all into it and loves being involved. She even loves to carry it!
14. Animal care – teaching kids about animals is important. Taking care of animals is a skill they should learn. If you have a pet, let them fill their water bowl, feed them, brush them, walk them, etc. Animal care is an important part of preparedness, especially if you ever plan to have chickens or other livestock. If you don’t have pets, consider finding a local farm that you can visit and help to take care of the animals a few times a month. There’s also 4-H programs.
15. Lights out – kids love to turn off the lights and turn flashlights on. Do a lights out drill with kids and have some fun! Cook with your propane grill or BBQ or over the fire, play board games, set up your tent in the living room, etc. Kids absolutely love when the lights go out, it’s such a fun time for everyone, and it teaches kids the things we do when the lights go out.

Whenever you teach kids, just teach them. Don’t announce that ‘it’s time to learn about preparedness’; just do it. Everything we do can be part of preparedness, life lessons, etc., just teach them as we go.

Guide them, teach them and don’t be afraid to just do the activities in front of them. Simply by doing the activities in front of them, you’re teaching them. Such as sewing, dehydrating, canning, etc. These are all things that they’re watching you do and because you’re doing it, they’ll instantly be interested in and eventually want to get involved.

Make it fun, be patient, be understanding and teach kids about preparedness little by little everyday.