How to Raise Your Children to Be Preppers

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Tricia Drevets March 9, 2020

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You’ve heard the old adage that says, “children learn what they live.” If your family is living a
preparedness lifestyle, it holds true that your kids are learning many skills just by being with
you on a daily basis.

However, if you want to make sure you are covering the basics so your kids will grow up to
be self-sufficient, there are some steps you can take. Here are 15 important topics to cover
as you raise your children to be preppers.

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1. Situational Awareness

It’s a big phrase for little ones, so don’t scare them off by over-doing it. However, a big part of
emergency preparation should include being aware of your surroundings. Teach your
children to notice changes in the weather, in the environment, and in the people around
them.

When they visit a friend’s home or a new building, explain the importance of knowing where
the exits are. Could they find their way out in the dark if they had to? How far away from
home are they if they had to escape? Would they know in which direction to travel? What
natural or human-made landmarks can they recognize?

One way to teach situational awareness is through simple role-playing games. Kids enjoy
playing a simple “What If” game in many situations. Here’s an example. If you are at the
movies waiting for the show to start, take a few minutes to play “What If.”

What if the power goes out in here, how would you get out? Or if you are at the beach, what
If the weather suddenly changes and the waves start acting differently?” You get the idea.

Playing these types of thoughtful games in a non-stressful situation gives you the opportunity
to teach your kids essential safety rules and behaviors that will help them stay calm and
focused in a real emergency.

2. Self Defense
Structure your self-defense lessons based upon the age and maturity levels of your children.
Even when they are very young, you can talk with your kids about what to do if someone
tries to kidnap them.

As your child grows, you can begin lessons in wrestling, martial arts, or boxing, and begin
instructions on how to load and use a firearm.

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3. First Aid

Depending on the age of your child, here are the first aid basics they should learn. Once
again, role-playing games can help make this knowledge stick.

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4. Outdoor Survival Skills

Teach your kids how to survive in the wilderness by focusing on “learning by doing” on
camping trips and other outdoor excursions.

Here are some topics to cover: using a map and compass, how to find and to purify water,
how to build a fire, how to build a shelter, how to forage for food, how to fish, and how to
hunt.

5. Money Management
Teach your children from an early age the importance of living within their means and paying
their bills on time. Set an example of a debt-free lifestyle and share with them the importance
of saving money for the future.

6. Growing and Raising Food

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Let your children work beside you as you plant and tend your garden. When they are old
enough, give them a garden plot that is all their own. Plan meals around their harvest.

Assign kids “real” jobs with your animals and livestock so that feeding and caring for animals
is a natural part of their lives.

7. Cooking Indoors and Outdoors

When they are little, assign your kids basic kitchen prep chores so they get used to working
alongside you in the kitchen. As they mature, allow them to plan and prepare a meal for the
entire family on a regular basis.

Take these skills to another level by teaching them how to cook without modern
conveniences in the outdoor grill, over an open fire outdoors or in the fireplace.

8. Food Storage
Make sure your kids know about your emergency food pantry, where it is, and what it
contains. Teach them how to prepare freeze-dried meals and how to rotate pantry supplies
for freshness.

Take them shopping with you when you buy items for your pantry, explaining your selections
and their shelf dates. Make food preservation and long-term storage preparation a family
project.

9. Simple Household Repairs and Maintenance

Ask your child to come along with you as you winterize your home or repair a leaky faucet.
Give brief, clear explanations as you work, including the names and uses for your tools.

This category also should include vehicle repairs and maintenance. Teach your kids how to
change a car tire and how to do simple auto maintenance, such as changing the oil and filter.
Make sure they know where supplies are stored and details such as how long stored fuel will
last.

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10. Emergency Drills

Plan and practice together what to do in the event of a fire, earthquake, hurricane, tornado,
flood, or another emergency. The more times you review these plans, the better able your
children will be able to remain calm in the event of an actual emergency.

Review what steps to take to get outside help if it is needed. Create and post an emergency
contact list in a convenient spot. Discuss some of the emergency stations that might require
you to evacuate your home and set up a designating meeting place in the event you will be
arriving there from different locations.

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Your meet-up plan will vary according to what emergency is unfolding, but here are a few
examples.

House fire – meet in front of neighbor’s driveway

Flood– meet at a place of higher ground that you specify
Earthquake – gather under the dining room table
Serious event – meet at a specified bug out location

11. Survival Kit

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Let your children help pack their own survival kits. Here is a list of items to include in the bag.

Water (one gallon of water per person per day)

Food (at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food)
Battery-powered radio and extra batteries
Flashlight and extra batteries
First Aid kit
Whistle (to signal for help)
Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation
Dust mask
Plastic sheeting and duct tape
A jacket or coat
Long pants
Long-sleeve shirt
Sturdy shoes
Hat and gloves
Sleeping bag or warm blanket

12. Emergency Lighting and Power

Do your kids know where your candles, lanterns, and flashlights are stored? Teach them fire
safety and how to use candles as well as woodburning stoves and cookstoves safely.

If you have a generator, show your children how to get it up and running. Teach them how to
refuel lighting devices and change or recharge batteries.

13. Trust Their Instincts

Part of becoming self-reliant is learning to trust yourself and your gut instincts. Model for your
kids a sense of self-respect that helps them heed their inner voice when it comes to keeping
safe.

For example, share examples of when it is best to hide in a dangerous situation and when it
is best to run away.

14. Family Legal Documents

Show your children where important papers are stored and how to access them in case
something happens to you.

15. Simple Sewing Skills

Knowing how to repair clothing and sew on a button are essential life skills that children can
quickly learn – if you take the time to teach them. Add knot-tying to these skills, and you will
be amazed at how they will come in handy in an emergency.

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As you know, children have lively imaginations. Avoid overdoing it was details on disasters
that might befall them and stick to letting them learn by your example. We don’t want them to
become fearful about the future; we just want them to be prepared. Keep in mind that
children who are raised in a prepper lifestyle tend to become more self-reliant adults.

If you’d like to learn more about raising your kids to be more self-reliant, here are some
additional resources.

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