A Safety & Kids issue AFTER TSHTF

[Northern Raider]

A Safety & Kids issue AFTER TSHTF

Here is a bit of a difficult point that mums and dads are going to handle carefully with their older kids 9 / 10 yrs and older.

In normal everyday living today we are constantly forced by societal needs and often fear based laws to being very strict with our children about NOT taking knives or lighters or expensive tools out of the house.

We find ourselves often sadly in the position of having to discipline our kids because they have been playing with matches, or broken dads very expensive flashlight, or been dragged into school because your little darling has been caught with his model making knife or Swiss army knife at school.

We have to re-enforce time after time because of fear and hysteria driven media campaigns that children, knives, guns and lighters should NEVER be mixed.


But AFTER TSHTF or a major disaster we find ourselves in a very serious quandary. We suddenly find it not only necessary but obligatory to INSIST that our children will now find themselves getting told off and disciplined if they are caught WITHOUT a knife, flashlight, lighter and preferably a watch and compass as well.

I have personally found it very difficult to help my son understand that as survivalists and Preppers we must live by TWO value systems not ONE like most of his friends.

Fortunately my lad is very astute and now at 12 years not only does he clearly appreciate the difference between those two worlds we inhabit, but he is also pleased to bits that we feel confident enough to trust him with such grown up tools.

It is soooo important that we as parents help our children’s grow into good citizens in today’s politically correct fear based society. But its equally important we teach our kids they too have important roles and responsibilities as young preppers.

Not only most our kids have their own BOBs etc, but they must also have most of the same tools we adults need, and after TSHTF they must ALWAYS have them about them unless told otherwise by us.

And of course they must also be comfortable in the safe handling and use of these tools through good RESPONSIBLE training from mum and dad providing of course YOU deem them mature enough to handle that responsibility.

BUT the Ban It mentality of mainstream society is simply not an option we as preppers and survivalists can afford.

OUR kids need to know the safe handling, use and maintenance of a knife,
Same again for rifles and bows.

They need to know the safe and right way to light a fire, and the safe and right LOCATIONS to light a fire as well (IE not in tents).
They MUST learn how to read and use a Map and Compass, and do basic first aid.

Ideally if funds allow (Har Har Har Har) they would greatly benefit with BASIC horse riding lessons, Swimming Lessons, Rock climbing lessons, Field craft and Wilderness skills.

My youngster will also be taught basic vehicle driving skills and motorcycle / quad riding skills.

They would benefit from cooking lessons and basic sewing lessons as well.

Sadly the paranoia involved in modern society means we have to tread carefully not to scare to death most of the bleeding heart liberal ban anything nasty do gooders.

BUT we must also ensure that our children are suitably trained and equipped so that if or when a disaster strikes the images on TV of traumatised children standing looking lost and wondering what to do next is not the fate of OUR kids.

[preppingsu]

Quite agree with all of that but how can you teach new skills when they roll their eyes at you and say 'stop nagging mum!'.
I have only just managed to get 17yr old to carry a compact emergency kit in his college bag.

[biller]

preppingsu i know just what you mean my son is 27 his emergency backup is mobile phone, credit card and green flag membership he would cut himself buttering bread my daughter is 7 she grew up in Bulgaria with a totally different lifestyle but explaining to her she couldn't do the same things hear as we did there wasn't easy especially emergency whistles her first day in her English school was a disaster playtime the teacher blew her whistle Abby ran to the doors thinking there was a bear, wolf or pack of wild dogs attacking the doors were locked and she went into total panic thinking she was trapped it took ages for her to get used to someone blowing a whistle 3 times is not an emergence or next door don't eat there rabbits she can catch a carp descale it and cook it on a camp fire as good as me but this doesn't help her in the UK today i think in a couple moor years being in the UK she will be the same as the other kids its a shame but pear perisher to conform is very strong.
i agree totally that thy need to know life skills its finding the right motivator to keep them interested

[preppingsu]

Biller,
I think its important for our kids to gain skills in many different areas and starting when they are young is best. I'm hoping my 11yr old will join the St John ambulance cadets to learn first aid.
Also, attending events like 'The Wilderness Gathering' (as previously discussed) could build bushcraft skills (I noticed they have workshops etc for kids). As they have these experiences they may not be drawn into the usual lifestyle that youngsters have today (needing the best mobile, latest fashion and computer games etc) They may still want these things but they would hopefully have a more balanced outlook on life.
Learning to grow fruit and veg if you have some space is something you could do together.
If she can fish take her fishing to a fishing lake or a river. OK, you can't keep the fish but its a different skill.
Encourage her to learn to cook other things or do that together.
Always make it a fun family activity so she doesn't worry about why you are doing these things.

[pol76]

Have you thought about getting your kids to try army cadets they do alsorts of training and have weekend camps so you can have some mommy and daddy time oh they also go away for a 2 week camp

max

[axelt123]

yea army cadets is good for the basics but HSE are getting more and more restrictive each year tho. join soon rather than later.

[buttystella]

my son is 11 and got so excited about being shown how to skin and gut a rabbit he was up early like it was xmas. He wants to learn about shooting,driving and loves camping. With academic schooling he is just the opposite. Will things change as he gets older when girls show off their enticements probably but he will have a good grounding before that happens.

[Carrot Cruncher]

yea army cadets is good for the basics but HSE are getting more and more restrictive each year tho. join soon rather than later.

I would recommend the Army Cadets as well, great fun for a kid and lots of usefull skills to learn as well. Also the D of E scheme was very good for learning skills and having fun on the way. Mind you, my experience of both was 30 odd years ago and they may well have changed since then. A chap where I work helps with some Air Cadets and they seem to spent a lot of time on camping on Dartmoor, especialy when leading up to the Ten Tors Challenge and it sounds like they have a good time

[bigpaul]

What about the scouts?? i joined when i was a kid and enjoyed it a lot!!

[axelt123]

What about the scouts?? i joined when i was a kid and enjoyed it a lot!!

Also good but with army cadet you also learn camo and evasion ect which would help alot WTSHTF as well as general hiking and nav ect

axel