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My husband and I are natural preppers! Not the fanatical kind but we believe it is never to early to prepare for an emergency. We encourage our children to embrace emergency preparedness and not be afraid of “worst case scenario”. Aside from owning a generator, solar panels, having plenty of Duracell batteries on hand and much more we also have our own yard chickens and have a bountiful garden all year long. But we also decided to encourage the kids to prepare by creating Kid-Friendly Bug Out Bags.
A bug out bag is commonly known as a 72 hour bag in the event of an emergency. Items you may need for survival would be included into a bug out bag. Naturally what my husband might have in his bug out bag may differ than the kids but creating a kid friendly bug out bag can be a great conversation starter for the entire family.
Tip: Be sure to use long lasting, durable materials in any emergency preparedness kit. For instance, do you want dead batteries when the power is out? Are you always tired of your short battery life? Perhaps a durable battery like Duracell can your emergency prep long lasting when you need it the most. Walmart has a 12 ct of AA Batteries for $10.97 which makes my kid’s bug out bags affordable and easy on my pockets.
What’s in our Kid Friendly Bug Out Bag?
1. Shelter
Our family loves to camp so finding adequate shelter is first and four most our main goal. A tarp is a great way to provide protection from the elements and allows for a warm dry place to sleep. Be sure to include a small bundle of rope. It can hold your tarp in place and also be used in various other emergency prep scenarios.
A ground tarp can be used to provide shade in the sun and keep you free from rain. This easy to roll item can be included in your kid-friendly bug out bag and leave plenty of room for your other items. When your emergency is over, you can create a slip and slide out of it as well. Believe me, it works!
2. Light & Other Basic Gear
Aside from keeping warm a night, a fire can come in handy but a flashlight is perfect for young, small hands. A good flashlight (in various sizes) will keep your children safe and allow them to have comfort in the event of a power outage. Dependable batteries is something every family should have. Duracell Quantum & Duracell Coppertop batteries allows you to be ready when the storm hits and the lights go out.
A weather radio is another item that children can take comfort in. In addition to its original weather purpose, the soothing sound of music can allow kids stability and comfort. Again durable, long lasting batteries are a must. There is no such thing as too much batteries!
3. Food & Water
Find snacks that your children enjoy which requires zero refrigeration. Snacks may include nuts, granola bars, beef jerky, oatmeal and more. While a 72 hour supply might be more than they can carry, having a few various snacks will bring comfort to your children in the event of a power outage.
A durable water bottle is a must for your child’s bug out bag. A lightweight water bottle with a filtration system is affordable and durable. In the event of a power outage due to a storm, your well or local water systems may not be running for a short period of time. Letting your child know that the filter in their water bottles allows them to drink from any water source. It will bring comfort to your child and a sense of security.
4. Safety & First Aid Kit
Including a personal first aid kit can be affordable and customized. Perhaps your child is allergic to bees or spiders, be sure to include medication in their First Aid kit. Also, be sure to add items like bug spray and over the counter cortisone cream. In Louisiana, bug bites and cortisone cream are a must especially during summer months. Be sure to include antibacterial wash and triple anti-biotic ointment to prevent infection in the event of an emergency. A small cut needs to be treated. Teach your child basic first aid techniques, it will be valuable information one day.
5. Backpack & Personal Effects
A sturdy backpack is a valuable tool for your bug out bag, in addition to storage, it can also be used as a small pillow. Be sure to include personal effects like a poncho, children’s books, a notebook, crayons, markers and pencils as well. These items can keep your children occupied and may also come in handy for a later time. Don’t forget to include small toys for your child. Be sure to include additional batteries to keep your children entertained longer.
What would you include in your child’s bug out bag?
It is good to be prepared, I agree! Back in the day when I wasn’t, I learned that lesson very fast (Esp. when kids were involved!).
You guys sound prepared! I need to take lessons from you.
Honestly when it comes to batteries I only use Duracell batteries, they’re more reliable.
We aren’t really preppers, but we do keep emergency kits as we get several bad storms a year. Thanks for sharing!
You sound so prepared! I admit I am not – for anything, I really should get myself more sorted for those just in case situations. x
It’s good to be prepared. I have everything in a central location but really need to get a bag that I could grab and go.
This is the battery of choice in our house too, with 5 kids we constantly are using batteries!
I have learned my lesson of not being prepared too many times that I know the importance of having the necessary supplies. Needless to say, I will NOT be unprepared the next time!
Always a great idea to be prepared! I love that you got your kids involved with their own preparations. We also keep a car specific emergency kit and you never know when those supplies will come in handy.
I love these ideas! Our family tries to stay prepared too but I definitely need to get the kids more involved.
Great ideas! Thanks so much for sharing!
I love the idea of getting the kids involved in creating a kid-specific bug out bag! And great tips on what to include AND why! I’m pretty sure my kids would love the idea of using the tarp as a slip ‘n slide! #client