How to prepare with kids?
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I would also suggest kid friendly (healthy) snacks like graham crackers, fruit leather/snacks made from fruit juice (no high fructose corn syrup or food coloring), breadsticks/pretzels with dip cheese kits, raisins, trail mix, and candy to help things seem normal for them.
I'm not sure about adding clothes, but as a mom of 2 kids ages 2 and 7, they do have a tendency to get dirty and have accidents, so it might be a good idea to pack an extra pair or two.
I'm not sure about adding clothes, but as a mom of 2 kids ages 2 and 7, they do have a tendency to get dirty and have accidents, so it might be a good idea to pack an extra pair or two.
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1,761 Posts
mine's a work in progress so far...
-change of clothes
-extra shoes
-small FAK
-personal care items(toothbrush, paste, chapstick,tp)
-snacks, vitamins
-couple of garbage bags folded up in a ziplock
looking at it there are changes I want to make, but that's what's in it as of today.
-clothes need updating, he just went through a growth spurt
-more snacks are needed and WATER(and water filtration)
-I thought I had toys in there, but must have taken them out at some point, time to restock!
-id envelope with contact info for both of us and also some relatives locally and out of province
-his health care #s (Quebec medicare & private health insurance, in QC we use a combo of both, everyone has medicare for emergency, GP, hospital care and private insurance covers dental, vision, and meds)
Looking at this I realized that I haven't made bags for my older children, who have already moved out. I'm going to start working on bags to give them for Christmas : D Not sure it's what they want, but I'll put some cool things like gift cards and $ in there too. Besides, they're much too polite to ever say anything other than "thanks Mom!"
-change of clothes
-extra shoes
-small FAK
-personal care items(toothbrush, paste, chapstick,tp)
-snacks, vitamins
-couple of garbage bags folded up in a ziplock
looking at it there are changes I want to make, but that's what's in it as of today.
-clothes need updating, he just went through a growth spurt
-more snacks are needed and WATER(and water filtration)
-I thought I had toys in there, but must have taken them out at some point, time to restock!
-id envelope with contact info for both of us and also some relatives locally and out of province
-his health care #s (Quebec medicare & private health insurance, in QC we use a combo of both, everyone has medicare for emergency, GP, hospital care and private insurance covers dental, vision, and meds)
Looking at this I realized that I haven't made bags for my older children, who have already moved out. I'm going to start working on bags to give them for Christmas : D Not sure it's what they want, but I'll put some cool things like gift cards and $ in there too. Besides, they're much too polite to ever say anything other than "thanks Mom!"
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6 Posts
I agree with everyone's replies but I would like to add this simple suggestion: please consider your children(s) mental prepping for the next emergency. Most families have the general necessities covered, water, food, shelter, clothes, warmth, even some olives or toys, but rarely do we stop and think about what our children will be feeling at the very moment we they have to grab their "BoB" and run!
Children are more susceptible to stress and may freak out when things go bad. This is particularly worsened if you have a special needs child. It is so very important to give the child a focus that they can use to keep calm even when there is a lot of chaos going on around them.
The best way to avoid screaming children at a time when you really need them to stay calm is give each child in your family/group one singular responsibility. For example, my son is "in charge" of heat and my daughter is "in charge of morale". My son has learned several different ways to start a camp fire, he's versed in all fire safety and has even presented (of his own choosing) a report at school on the importance of staying warm and dry during emergencies. My daughter is a very bubbly person and very sweet. She is also an "Aspie" (Autistic Spectrum, high-functioning) and she was put in charge of morale because, as she says "it's important that everyone smile... A lot!" She has playing cards and puppets in her bag and she is in the process of learning a lot of jokes and shadow puppets.
Both of my children are totally vested in their responsibility and when we have our drills, they take them seriously. My son has even gotten to insisting on coming with me to the store when I go to buy more fire wood for the fireplace. "Mom, that's MY job!" LoL
The foundation for all this is simple though: my children have something to focus on if anything "bad" were to ever happen. I can confidently say that if I turn to them and tell them to get their things they won't be running around screaming in pure fear because all I have to do is ask them to "help me with your chore"...
This might seem like a mental trick, but it's really empowering your children and preparing them mentally. The rest is easy, just pack their bag just,like yours, but in mini size.
PS: I would have them help pack it, so it becomes "theirs". You'd be surprised how territorial they then get about keeping it clean and ready.
Hope this helps. Sorry so long.
Children are more susceptible to stress and may freak out when things go bad. This is particularly worsened if you have a special needs child. It is so very important to give the child a focus that they can use to keep calm even when there is a lot of chaos going on around them.
The best way to avoid screaming children at a time when you really need them to stay calm is give each child in your family/group one singular responsibility. For example, my son is "in charge" of heat and my daughter is "in charge of morale". My son has learned several different ways to start a camp fire, he's versed in all fire safety and has even presented (of his own choosing) a report at school on the importance of staying warm and dry during emergencies. My daughter is a very bubbly person and very sweet. She is also an "Aspie" (Autistic Spectrum, high-functioning) and she was put in charge of morale because, as she says "it's important that everyone smile... A lot!" She has playing cards and puppets in her bag and she is in the process of learning a lot of jokes and shadow puppets.
Both of my children are totally vested in their responsibility and when we have our drills, they take them seriously. My son has even gotten to insisting on coming with me to the store when I go to buy more fire wood for the fireplace. "Mom, that's MY job!" LoL
The foundation for all this is simple though: my children have something to focus on if anything "bad" were to ever happen. I can confidently say that if I turn to them and tell them to get their things they won't be running around screaming in pure fear because all I have to do is ask them to "help me with your chore"...
This might seem like a mental trick, but it's really empowering your children and preparing them mentally. The rest is easy, just pack their bag just,like yours, but in mini size.
PS: I would have them help pack it, so it becomes "theirs". You'd be surprised how territorial they then get about keeping it clean and ready.
Hope this helps. Sorry so long.
Bubby is in charge of plant ID and animal traps and yes he takes his job VERY seriously lol. He even planned and packed his kit (with a little help) and carries it everywhere.I agree with everyone's replies but I would like to add this simple suggestion: please consider your children(s) mental prepping for the next emergency. Most families have the general necessities covered, water, food, shelter, clothes, warmth, even some olives or toys, but rarely do we stop and think about what our children will be feeling at the very moment we they have to grab their "BoB" and run!
Children are more susceptible to stress and may freak out when things go bad. This is particularly worsened if you have a special needs child. It is so very important to give the child a focus that they can use to keep calm even when there is a lot of chaos going on around them.
The best way to avoid screaming children at a time when you really need them to stay calm is give each child in your family/group one singular responsibility. For example, my son is "in charge" of heat and my daughter is "in charge of morale". My son has learned several different ways to start a camp fire, he's versed in all fire safety and has even presented (of his own choosing) a report at school on the importance of staying warm and dry during emergencies. My daughter is a very bubbly person and very sweet. She is also an "Aspie" (Autistic Spectrum, high-functioning) and she was put in charge of morale because, as she says "it's important that everyone smile... A lot!" She has playing cards and puppets in her bag and she is in the process of learning a lot of jokes and shadow puppets.
Both of my children are totally vested in their responsibility and when we have our drills, they take them seriously. My son has even gotten to insisting on coming with me to the store when I go to buy more fire wood for the fireplace. "Mom, that's MY job!" LoL
The foundation for all this is simple though: my children have something to focus on if anything "bad" were to ever happen. I can confidently say that if I turn to them and tell them to get their things they won't be running around screaming in pure fear because all I have to do is ask them to "help me with your chore"...
This might seem like a mental trick, but it's really empowering your children and preparing them mentally. The rest is easy, just pack their bag just,like yours, but in mini size.
PS: I would have them help pack it, so it becomes "theirs". You'd be surprised how territorial they then get about keeping it clean and ready.
Hope this helps. Sorry so long.
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2,259 Posts
I would have loved something like that as a kid. I remember being put in charge of my father's dinner pail when I was 12-- I think I grew a foot taller then and there.
It IS a mental trick-- but a lot of life is about mental tricks. Feeling empowered is important, especially when you're stressed.
Side note-- jeez, there's Aspies coming out of the woodwork around here!! Go figure.
Something I am going to start doing, I think, is having my little ones carry a family photo when we go out.
I can see how it could be a bad thing in a SHTF scenario-- if "THEY" were wanting to round people up for nefarious purposes, a photo just screws the chances of a family member getting away.
But I can also see how it could be extremely useful to a panicked child separated from the family in a store (or a worse situation). "What does [child]/your mommy look like??" Much easier to train a child to trot out a picture than to train them to give a description.
It IS a mental trick-- but a lot of life is about mental tricks. Feeling empowered is important, especially when you're stressed.
Side note-- jeez, there's Aspies coming out of the woodwork around here!! Go figure.
Something I am going to start doing, I think, is having my little ones carry a family photo when we go out.
I can see how it could be a bad thing in a SHTF scenario-- if "THEY" were wanting to round people up for nefarious purposes, a photo just screws the chances of a family member getting away.
But I can also see how it could be extremely useful to a panicked child separated from the family in a store (or a worse situation). "What does [child]/your mommy look like??" Much easier to train a child to trot out a picture than to train them to give a description.
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