Preparedness With Kids – Rogue’s 31 Days To Readiness [Day 17]

When you add kids into the preparedness equation, things can get a little tricky. I tend to think the younger, the easier to teach about preparedness. When you introduce kids to something new, they’ll either be accepting or they’ll reject, there’s usually no middle ground.

For younger kids, usually any age under 10 years old, they’re very receptive of new ideas.

For my kids, they’ve been involved in the prepper life since birth. I’ve been teaching them ‘preparedness’ skills and ideas without them even know it was for ‘preparedness’. It’s just life.

That’s exactly how preparedness should be; it’s just life.

It’s one more layer of defense when it comes to ensuring your own safety and security during an emergency or disaster. One might say it’s a type of insurance.

You want the best for your family so a logical solution is to be prepared for the unexpected.

Here are some ways we can be prepared with kids:

• Involve them – No matter what you do, involve them. With my kids, they’re not old enough yet to have to explain why we’re doing certain things; like making a bug out bag. But regardless, most things don’t need an explanation. If you say, “Hey, let’s go throw some seeds in the ground!” They’ll be more than eager to help, especially if it involves spending time with you; their parent who they look up to. Start a fire, let them help you can or dehydrate, build kits together, make some paracord bracelets, run fun mock drills, etc.
• Think of their needs – This is probably more specific to younger kids, but making sure their needs are covered is extremely important. What are their favorite foods? Do they have any favorite books or crafts? Are they growing out of their clothes faster than you can clothe them? Are they still in diapers? Do they require special medications or dietary needs? These are all especially important to think about for emergencies and disasters when you may not have immediate access to stores. Have backups for all of their needs.
• Teach them – It’s not the responsibility of anyone else to teach our kids, especially not when it comes to safety and security. While not everyone is out to get us, there are certainly bad people out there and our kids need to understand how to handle these people. There are amazing books out there to help with these sensitive subjects. Plus, sometimes, reading from a book sinks in deeper than a talk from mom or dad. Find books about firearm safety, stranger danger and more.
• Get outdoors – Of course, one of the best ways to empower kids is to teach them about the great outdoors. Go hiking, camping, fishing, canoeing, etc. The list can go on. Teach them about wild edibles, let them help build a fire, let them pack their camping bag, etc. Make sure they’re comfortable so they want to keep camping over and over and over again. We’ve been taking my kids camping since they were around 2 months old. Because they’ve done it so much, it’s something they always talk about doing and absolutely love to do; it’s second nature.
• Understand that they’re a kid – I know this seems obvious, but let me explain. Some people might have unrealistic expectations of kids. They’re kids and need to be treated accordingly. While I’m fairly straight forward with my kids, I also understand that I need some tact, as well. I need patience, understanding and even more patience. I need to check myself and my stress level so that I don’t freak them out. Kids are so receptive. They hear and see everything. We need to be careful about how we act and react.Think about how they’re feeling and try to remain calm, even during a stressful situation. Kids will still be kids, even during a time of crisis and we need to understand how best to handle them. Especially when you’re trying to focus on the stressful situation. Have a quick talk with them, have a surprise activity book or craft available for them, etc.

Kids can be quite helpful if you give them a chance. Sure, they’ll probably make a mess or not get it perfect the first few times, but they’re learning. Give them a chance, teach them, be patient and they’ll get it in no time.

Involve your kids in your lives and everything associated with that, including preparedness. They’ll thank you for it when they’re an adult.

See you in day 18!