Hopefully, you’ve been learning from what I’ve shared with you so far.
As you develop your skills and purchase supplies, you may even feel that you have all of the basics taken care of. But what if you have small children? As preppers, we may have learned that we must first ensure our own survival; as parents, we will never consider putting ourselves before our children.
Teaching and prepping children for any survival situation isn’t easy. Every child is a tremendous responsibility from the day of their birth. When taught right, children can be more resilient and confident in any disaster. Here are 8 essential survival skills to prepare your children for the worst.
Cooking and Food Storage
Teach your child how to cook using alternative cooking methods in emergency situations if there’s no electricity and the microwave doesn’t work. Show your children where to find your canned food. Teach them now, and they’re going to be able to cook with common staples throughout their lives. Cooking is a wonderful life skill that any child can master.
Heating
Children need to develop basic life skills, including how to keep warm while the temperature is cold. What heating methods and devices are you going to use if your electricity goes out? Teach your children how to use these safely and let them try to use them when age-appropriate.
Lighting
Every child should have a back-up lighting source. Have your children learn how to turn on the flashlights on their cellphones so they don’t injure themselves in the dark. Teach them where to find lighting supplies at home like batteries, matches, and lamp oil.
Water
Teach your kids how to access clean drinking water if the faucet no longer works. Healthy sources of water are bottled water, stored water, and safe public water systems. If you understand the fundamentals, disinfection and purification of water are quite easy.
Gardening and Food Production
Most kids don’t know where their food comes from. A garden helps children learn to eat nutritious vegetables and fruit. Learn how to grow food with your children. Let them help you plant seeds and watch them enjoy the pleasure of seeing their gardening efforts grow.
Evacuation
An emergency family plan is necessary. Discuss the different threats that require you and your family to evacuate your house. Each person should have a survival kit including an emergency contact list. Let your child assist you with preparing their emergency kit with the necessary supplies and how useful they can be in an emergency.
Self-Defense
There may be a moment when a fight is the only means for survival. However, the skills and sensitivities of each child are unique. Some kids are bolder while others may refuse to fight. Talk with your child over possible situations, understand the right time to hide, and know when to resort to a fight.
First Aid
Children must be able to administer first aid. If someone is wounded, a little knowingness and practice will make them an asset. Your children can learn how to handle small injuries. Play multiple scenarios and allow them to call or run for help.
You Fellow Patriot,
Steven Bryant
