Prepping kids

[Starkeychick333]

I have a 7yr old daughter who I need to consider in beginning my prepping. Having children to plan for is a whole different ball game from the 'standard' single bloke facing the world on his own scenario!

I have always brought up my daughter to be independent and she pretty much is, but now I am thinking about how I 'train' her to be part of 'prepping'.

What are you all doing to plan for SHTF and kids?

[Yorkshire Andy]

Have a power cut night ... No TV no mains lights etc

Get out the board games and make a night of it, our 8yo isn't a fan of the dark ... When she was 4 we had a power cut mini melt down later gave her a torch... Problem solved

Go camping and enjoy the outdoors

[Deeps]

Not sure what you consider SHTF but Andy's suggestions would be more along the line of practical 'prepping' for kids. Keeping kids amused is half the battle so if there's no lecky have you got other toys, books etc.

Basic first aid and where you keep some important bits and bobs could be handy too, maybe too early to show her where the gas, water and lecky isolations for the house are but maybe in a few years.

Are you someone who goes camping or has other outdoor pursuits ? If so is it something your daughter could or would be interested in ? Are you a gardener ??

Figure out what works for you guys and enjoy it, especially with kids, no point pushing them into something they don't like, it can push them the other way.

[Yorkshire Andy]

Oh and don't forget a fire drill but don't scare the crap out of them !

Our night time drill is kids lay on bedroom floor and await to be rescued by us.. then we will escort them where they need to be....

Our room where escape ladder is or out the front door...

Daytime it's get out the house stand by the shed or front gate

[Arzosah]

There are a couple of threads on here about schools and their attitudes to first aid and emergency events ... checking them out might be a good idea to know what issues there might be.

[TLB]

Have you thought about Scouts or the Brownies?

Having been a scout leader for donkeys I know that what they do for young children is offer a wide range of activities that often children wouldn't get access to. Many of these are useful in prepping such as the First aid badges, navigation etc. Backwoods cooking is a relatively new one which also involves learning how to light fires etc.

My three boys all went through Cubs and into Scouts but have opted to end it there. You can't pressure them to learn if they don't want to but having said that, my eldest is now enjoying his D of E and enjoying it all the more as he is able to help his friends (though they did get lost on their practice run...).

Make everything you do fun and if there are some areas that she really enjoys, develop them together.

PS, make sure you prep foods she eats and not just the long life options!

[HomeHardener]

Have you thought about Scouts or the Brownies?

Having been a scout leader for donkeys I know that what they do for young children is offer a wide range of activities that often children wouldn't get access to. Many of these are useful in prepping such as the First aid badges, navigation etc. Backwoods cooking is a relatively new one which also involves learning how to light fires etc.

My three boys all went through Cubs and into Scouts but have opted to end it there. You can't pressure them to learn if they don't want to but having said that, my eldest is now enjoying his D of E and enjoying it all the more as he is able to help his friends (though they did get lost on their practice run...).

Make everything you do fun and if there are some areas that she really enjoys, develop them together.

PS, make sure you prep foods she eats and not just the long life options!

I completely second this!
I’ve grown up in a string scouting family, although I’m now 26 and don’t have the time to participate how I’d like too.
Scouting is a great way for children to start learning the prepping basics without even realising.
Simple fire lighting techniques, first aid, map reading, pitching a camp and even the team work and leadership skills you acquire, would all play a vital roll in many situations.
I took my scouting as far as my d of e gold and queen scout award which look great on your cv too.

[Arzosah]

Scouts and Brownies and whatnot are a great idea.

And, I know its not "shtf", but teaching emergency phone numbers to children can be really important - 999 most of all. I've worked with a few adults who, as children, saw the adult who was caring for them collapse (and die) and were frozen in place, in horror. Witnessing, and feeling they were responsible for, an avoidable death, leaves a toxic legacy.

[jansman]

My wife taught our girls, before they were at school, to recite their names, address, and phone number, and how to dial 999 (ONLY if something really bad happened to mum or dad).Not only that, they could WRITE it too. I guess it’s why she is a teacher now.

Then it was our fire plan.

[Arwen Thebard]

I don't have any experience of the subject but read this blog article not long ago.

https://wordpress.com/read/feeds/124962 ... 2260741788