The following is a summary of a Stakeholder Prepping Podcast.
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Something that a lot of us overlook is the idea that preparedness is fundamentally a whole-family-unit endeavor. The effectiveness of any emergency plan hinges not on the dedication of a single individual, but on the cooperation and understanding of the entire family. When emergencies or disruptive events occur, a family unit operates at its most resilient when every member, including children, is an active participant rather than a passive bystander. The core challenge for parents is shifting the family’s mindset away from visualizing doomsday scenarios and toward fostering confidence, problem-solving skills, and responsibility in their children. This comprehensive approach to family preparedness involves intentional education, practical drills, strategic game-ification, and the provision of age-appropriate gear.
By involving children in the process, parents equip them with the mental fortitude and physical tools necessary to navigate unexpected challenges without succumbing to panic. The primary goal of involving children in preparedness is empowerment. Children who are aware of a family plan, understand their role, and possess a basic skill set are significantly less likely to experience paralyzing fear during a crisis. Instead, they gain a valuable sense of control, which is crucial for managing stress during high-stakes situations.
While children of all ages benefit from a secure environment, the most effective skills-based training targets those who have developed sufficient reasoning and physical abilities. For the purpose of practical skill integration and gear usage the ideal age range is typically seven to fourteen years old. Children in this range are old enough to retain important information, participate in physical drills, understand the consequences of their actions, and carry lightweight personal gear.
Teaching preparedness does not have to (and honestly, should not) be a stern lecture. Effective learning is engaging, interactive, and framed as a shared activity. By integrating preparedness into daily life through games and role-playing, parents ensure the lessons are retained through positive association rather than anxiety. One of the most effective tools for mental rehearsal is the simple “What If” Game. This is a no-pressure exercise that can be played during routine activities, such as dinner or a car ride, to prompt quick, critical thinking. The game involves posing common emergency scenarios and asking children to articulate the immediate response. Some examples:
- “What if the power went out right now and it was completely dark? What’s the first thing we would need to find?” (find your flashlight)
- “What if we were separated in a busy store or park? What’s the plan for our designated meeting point?”
- “What if you smelled smoke? (alerting an adult) What if your clothes caught fire? What are the three steps you take immediately?” (Stop, Drop, and Roll.)
This constant mental rehearsal builds a library of pre-planned responses, making the appropriate action almost automatic when a real emergency strikes. When you start planning this way with your family, preparedness tasks can easily be converted into engaging activities. Here are a few examples of activities and drills you can run with your children that place an emphasis on preparedness but that don’t scare them silly:
- “Go Bag Scavenger Hunts” – Instead of simply packing a kit, turn it into a treasure hunt to find all the items needed for a “picnic in the dark” (flashlights, blankets, snacks).
- “Dark Dinners” – Periodically eat dinner by the light of a flashlight or headlamp. This normalizes the sensation of low light and provides practical experience in locating items and navigating without primary lighting.
- Cooperative Survival Games – Board or card games designed around resource management can be highly educational. For example; the game “Ravine” by Stellar Games is a cooperative survival card game that teaches children about resource management (balancing health expenditure with foraging for supplies), risk assessment (weighing potential rewards against physical cost), and the absolute necessity of teamwork and cooperation to achieve a shared survival goal.
Beyond games, there are concrete skills and information children must master to act competently during a crisis. These are universal life skills that build immediate and long-term confidence.
- Knowing Vital Information: Every child, from a young age, should be able to state their full name, address, and at least one parent’s phone number. Older children should also know the family’s emergency contacts, the location of important documents, and the designated primary and secondary meeting points.
- How and When to Call 911/Emergency Services: This is a crucial skill. Practice dialing, explaining the situation (location and nature of the emergency), and emphasizing the importance of staying calm and listening to the dispatcher. Teach them the difference between an emergency and a non-emergency.
Fire Safety: Beyond “Stop, Drop, and Roll,” children must know how to test a door for heat, crawl low under smoke, and proceed immediately to the exterior family meeting place.
- Basic First Aid: Children can easily learn how to apply pressure to a cut, recognize a sprain, and fetch the first-aid kit. Simple, hands-on practice (like applying a bandage to a family member) reinforces this learning.
- Basic Navigation and Knot Tying (Older Children): Simple skills like reading a basic map, understanding cardinal directions, and using a compass are invaluable outdoor skills. Similarly, learning to tie a few simple, useful knots (like a square knot or half-hitch) can be beneficial for securing items, hanging a tarp, or basic repairs.
- Gear Competency: Ensure the child is proficient in operating their own equipment, such as turning on and off their flashlight or headlamp, and successfully changing batteries in the dark
Individualized gear is a powerful physical component of preparedness, reinforcing a child’s sense of ownership and utility within the family. Each child should have their own lightweight “Go Bag” that is easy for them to carry independently. Its contents prioritize comfort, basic safety, and distraction. For older children, a kid-friendly multi-tool (such as one with a detachable or less sharp blade, like the Leatherman Leap or the Kilimanjaro Ascend) is an excellent way to introduce tool safety and function without the immediate risk of a standard knife.
Tracking and communication skills can also be taught in this age range. Modern technology is invaluable and utilizing AirTags or similar GPS trackers in a bracelet, necklace, or woven into a backpack provides a critical layer of safety for quickly locating a child in a chaotic situation. Simple walkie-talkies or integrated GMRS/FRS radio units are excellent for short-range family communication when cell service is down. These also help teach children proper radio and phone etiquette.
Hearing Protection is a critical piece of your kids’ load-out. Since children’s ears are significantly more sensitive, providing them with high-quality, comfortable hearing protection is vital. In a high-stress scenario involving loud noises or potential gunfire, hearing protection can significantly reduce sensory overload, helping the child remain calm and compliant. It can also serve as a useful tool to filter out upsetting adult conversations during a prolonged crisis.
And lastly, teaching children medical preparedness is tantamount. Beyond standard over-the-counter children’s medications (like children’s Tylenol or ibuprofen), comprehensive family readiness should include specialized prescription kits (like antibiotic, anti-parasitic, or allergy/asthma medications) assembled in consultation with licensed healthcare providers. This foresight ensures the family is medically self-reliant for a variety of conditions, from travel-related illness to seasonal allergies and asthma complications.
Converting a family from a group of individuals into a resilient unit requires consistent effort, creativity, and the right tools. Preparedness with children is not a single activity but an ongoing lifestyle built on teaching, practicing, and equipping. By replacing the notion of fear with the tangible skills of problem-solving and by turning essential drills into engaging games, parents empower the next generation. This strategy does more than merely secure their survival. It instills lifelong lessons of self-reliance, cooperation, and confidence, ensuring that the family is ready to face any challenge that lies ahead.
