How To Talk To Your Kids About Emergency Preparedness (Without Freaking Them Out!)

We’d all love to be able to shield our children from natural disasters, civil unrest, or even just getting lost while hiking.  But the fact is, 90% of the children in the United States live in areas at risk for natural disasters such as tornados, hurricanes, earthquakes, and floods.  In addition, manmade emergencies and disasters can happen anywhere and at anytime.  The bottom line is that emergencies happen and kids are often far more aware of things than we think.  The best thing we as adults can do is prepare them by giving them skills and knowledge, thereby making things a bit less scary.

Your approach will obviously differ based on the age of the child and the emergencies they’re most likely to encounter.  A preschooler can learn about stranger danger, how to call 911, and not to play with matches.  Your high schoolers though can tackle evacuation procedures, first aid, and map reading. 

Fortunately, there are a lot of great videos, books, games, and other materials that have been developed to help.  Organizations such as FEMA, Ready.gov, and even the military have recognized the need to include children in emergency preparedness.   A great introduction to the subject is the short, fun video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbzvomQYJpE.

Some important points: 

• This should be part of your FAMILY emergency preparedness!  Show them that you believe preparedness is important to both you and your family as a whole.  Train and prepare as a family – take a CPR class together, go hiking or camping, check the batteries in your smoke detectors and flashlights.
• Learn to swim.  Everyone, regardless of age or location should be taught water safety and, if possible, swimming lessons.  Check with your local YMCA, university, or other community swim facility for low-cost or free lessons.
• Encourage your kids to get involved with organizations such as scouting, Civil Air Patrol, the Junior Ranger Programs through National or State Parks, or local community programs.  These groups provide training in everything from first aid to problem solving, and camping skills.
• Discuss disasters and emergencies most common in your area.  If a news report warns of an upcoming weather event, be sure they understand the key terms.  Do they know the difference between a warning and a watch?  Review any plans you already have in place and ask if they have any questions.
• Be sure to include all ages in family fire drills, hurricane or wildfire evacuation plans, or earthquake response discussions.
• If anyone in your family or household has a medical condition, be sure your children know what to expect, symptoms, what to do…find an adult, call 911, and render aid if appropriate.

Try these activities:

• Teach kids to plan/think ahead.  Soccer practice?  What do they need to bring (water, shoes, soccer ball).  Don’t just hand things to them…make them think it through.
• Turn off the lights, tv, and all electronics for a day. (Water works, but nothing in fridge/freezer is available).  Find out what your challenges would be and how to overcome them.
• Watch movies or tv shows together, not only about disasters, but anything where kids or others have to make decisions or come up with solutions.  Decide if the characters made good or bad decisions.  How would your children do it differently?
• Help them pack an emergency backpack (often called a Bug Out Bag or BOB) with items such as a flashlight, emergency whistle, change of clothes, compass, and other age-appropriate items.  Be sure they know how to use each item and that they regularly check any batteries or other perishable items such as snacks or water.
• Make it a group activity!  Invite neighbor kids, cousins, and more for a “camp-out” at your place.  Pitch a tent, start a campfire, make a paracord lanyard, play a decoding game.  Follow a map/directions to find prep supplies (little flashlights, glow sticks, bandanas, whistle, etc. 

Here’s some great government-provided tools to use:

https://www.ready.marines.mil/Ready-Marine-Corps-Kids/Fun-Activities

https://www.ready.gov/sites/default/files/2019-06/prepare_with_pedro_activity_book_eng.pdf

https://www.smgov.net/uploadedFiles/Departments/OEM/Preparedness/KidsActivityGuide.pdf

https://www.ready.gov/kids/disaster-facts

These items will help jumpstart your child’s preparedness journey. 

(Note:  These are affillitate links so while it doesn’t cost you anything,  I do make a small amount it you purchase through these links.)

Equipment:

Portable First Aid and CPR Kit for Children:  https://amzn.to/46oX8Uc

Children’s 72-hr Emergency Survival Kit: https://amzn.to/3WFMxB7

3 Season Sleeping Bags: https://amzn.to/3LI7C7B

Emergency whistle and compass: https://amzn.to/46qsD05

LED Flashlight (2 pack): https://amzn.to/3Wmh9WW

Rechargeable, water-resistant flashlight: https://amzn.to/3Wmh9WW

Dinosaur headlamp : https://amzn.to/3WIHOi9

LED Headlamps (5 pack): https://amzn.to/4fjla79

Activity Kits:

Children’s Outdoor Survival Science Kit: https://amzn.to/4di1TkG

Be Amazing!  Kids’ Survival Camping Experiments:  https://amzn.to/4dbuUP0

Paracords!  https://amzn.to/3A12Rn7

Books and Activity Guides:

Off Grid Kid:  Interactive Outdoor Skills Guide for Kids:  https://amzn.to/4c5AEsB

101 Things Every Kid Needs to Know:  https://amzn.to/3WFz107

“Playful Preparedness”  https://amzn.to/3Wq5VjZ

“Let’s Talk Emergencies!” https://amzn.to/3YiHNCJ

“Survival Skills for Kids” https://amzn.to/3WqAYMy

Kids vs Nature series – #1 Surviving Moose Lake: https://amzn.to/4di2Fy6

The Campground Kids series  – #1 Grand Teton Stampede: https://amzn.to/3WqpBEs

Natural Disasters Activity Book for Kids: https://amzn.to/4dkLKed

The Everything Kids Weather Book: https://amzn.to/46li66p

What Should Danny Do?  https://amzn.to/4c1DbUH

What Should Darla Do?  https://amzn.to/3AbzLkP

Emergency Survival Kits -Step by step Guide : https://amzn.to/3Wvoio2

Disaster survival planning and recovery for pet owners, kids, and the at-risk population:  https://amzn.to/3WqqahK

It’s important that we as parents and caregivers give children the knowledge and skills needed to help them feel more confident and less fearful in an emergency situation.  By planning ahead and talking about emergency preparedness as a family, you provide assurance that you have a plan to keep everyone safe and secure.  So plan now and be prepared!