Things To Teach Your Children:
Memorize Emergency Contact Info – Teach your children at a young age to memorize their name, your name, specific telephone numbers, and addresses, so that if they are ever separated from you in a state of emergency they have a chance of getting back.
Have A Meeting Spot – Find a place that is designated as your family meeting spot should some kind of disaster strike. Have everyone memorize the address or specific surroundings so that they will be able to find this place again when necessary.
Instill A Love For The Outdoors – Play games outside, take your family on walks and hikes, go camping, and teach them about the outdoors. Help them have a love for nature.
- Along these same ideas, take the time to teach your children the importance of fire safety, and how to use it. Teach them basic survival skills when you are out on a hike or out camping.
Exercise Regularly Together – Go on hikes, bike rides, and suggest sports and games to play that keep them physically active. Having everyone in decent shape will come in handy should disaster strike.
Grow Your Own Garden – Grow your own food year round; have the children help tend to the garden and learn how to grow their own food themselves. This will also help them have a love for fresh, homegrown, food, rather than processed food that will not be available should a disaster strike.
Teach Them Self Defense – Whether this is through a class like self defense, taekwondo, karate, or if it is a few simple lessons at home, make sure your child knows how to defend themselves against others.
Teach Them First Aid – Depending on the age of the child, you may want to teach the basics at home, or have them take a First Aid and CPR certification class. They may find that they need to use these skills should a disaster strike.
Extra Items To Pack If You Have Children:
Baby Carrier Pack – With infants and small children, this will make it easier to move around outside quickly and with children in tow rather than waiting for them to catch up.
Extra Food & Supplies – Depending on their age, you might want to pack a separate bug-out bag for them and even have them carry it themselves.
Toiletries – If the child is young you will want to remember wipes & diapers.
Games/Entertainment – Bring things that will entertain your children; there will be lots of down time, which could cause some boredom.
Specific Food – If you have small children that can’t eat solid food, be sure to bring jars of baby food, or plan a way to make the food you eat edible for them as well.
Prepping with children can be fun! Teach them why it is important and make it fun for them to learn more about it.