A Mini BOB for Your Kid's Locker

If you've been following the weather in the Plains states, you know that those areas are suffering everything from tornadoes to severe flooding.  The students at one school even had to stay over night at their elementary school because it was too dangerous to send them home through the floods.  Fortunately the school was prepared to keep the kids and the staff went above and beyond to take care of them.  Which brings us to today's topic.  Does you kid have a mini BOB at school?  Do they have a locker or space to keep a mini BOB with necessary emergency supplies?

If possible, kids should have (age appropriate) emergency supplies to help them take care of themselves in an emergency, kept either in their school backpack or locker.  Items to put in this pack might include:

• Wet Wipes
• Packet of tissues
• Bandaids and appropriate first aid supplies (some schools consider any sort of medication, even aspirin, contraband)
• Granola bars/jerky/other easy to eat food
• Bottles of water or juice boxes
• Mylar blanket
• Whistle
• Tiny flashlight
• Spare charging cord for their cell phone and/or power bank
• Emergency medicine like an Epi Pen, prescription meds, etc (consult with the school about this particular topic)
• Spare feminine hygiene supplies for females
• Condoms for males and females (yes, kids really do have sex at school)
• A typed/handwritten list of emergency contact info (names, phone numbers, email addresses for several friends and/or family members) as well as other pertinent info (list of allergies, doctor's name and number, address, parent's names and numbers, etc)
• Spare coins and cash
• Pre-paid gift cards (for the local gas station if your student drives to school, to the local fast food place, a pre-paid visa card, etc)
• A small magnifying glass (matches may be considered contraband but they can easily start a fire with a magnifying glass in an emergency)
• A complete change of clothes (easier to keep in a locker for emergencies than to carry the around in a backpack)
• Glow sticks
• Face mask
• A fluorescent strip of fabric to use for an emergency signal
• Sunscreen (if you live in a sunny area)
• Pocket knife (I've carried mine since I was a child, this may be considered contraband at some schools)

Remember to keep these items age-appropriate and follow the rules about what is and is not allowed at school (you don't want to have your kid take a pocket knife to school then be expelled for the rest of the year because they were caught with it).  Also remember to provide training for how and in what circumstances to use each of these items.

Teach Your Kids...Everything

I saw this post on reddit today and my first thought was 'this has to be a shitpost'.  I mean, what grown adult is lacking the life skills of a twelve year old?  Apparently this is a trend (exhibit A, exhibit B, exhibit C)?  And while I may be old and judgmental, there is no way in hell an adult shouldn't know the basics of survival.  Cooking is a survival skill, working for money is a survival skill, driving, depending on where you live, is a survival skill.  Parents do their kids a huge disservice when they don't insist (and teach) their kids basic life skills.

Years ago--and I do mean YEARS--it was a given that anything parents knew how to do, their kids would learn the same skills as soon as they were physically able.  You want to eat fish?  You go catch one.  You want vegetables with your meal?  You grow them.  You have a hole in your clothes?  You mend it.  Young girls were babysitting even smaller children by early elementary school.  Young boys would be hunting/ranching/fishing by early elementary school.  All kids were expected to entertain themselves, likewise they were also expected to solve their own social problems with their peers.

Of course times change, but creating human beings that lack the knowledge of how to cook for themselves, clean for themselves, earn money, fix things that go wrong in their lives, is just mind-blowing.  Parents should strive to impart as much knowledge and as many skills to their kids as humanly possible; you never know when such skills will come in handy whether in ordinary life or during an extraordinary crisis.  And for parents who themselves weren't taught much, YouTube can teach you just about everything.

20 Things to Teach Your Kids This Weekend

Here are 20 simple things you can teach your kids this weekend that will be useful to know during a disaster...

1. How and why to turn off the main breaker in your electrical panel.
2. How and why to turn off the water coming into the house.
3. How and why to turn off the gas to your home.
4. How and when to check the smoke detector and CO detector (check that the batteries are good and that they still work).
5. How to escape from your home during a fire (at least two different ways).
6. How and why to lock down the house as quickly as possible.
7. When and where to go to the family meeting place away from your house but in your neighborhood.
8. How and why to use a fire extinguisher.
9. How to cook a half dozen simple meals that they can eat if no adults are home (age appropriate, of course).
10. How and why to make their own BOB (Bug Out Bag).  This should be a simple, general use bag they can take to grandma's house or take if they need to evacuate their town.
11. How, why, and when to call 911.
12. How to memorize at least two cell phone numbers (mom and dad, dad and grandma, etc).
13. How to safely use a sharp knife/pocket knife.
14. How to camp (set up a tent, open up a sleeping bag, sleep outside over night)
15. How to be safe around a bonfire (also how to start/extinguish a bonfire if they are older).
16. How to remember details and recite them back (look at that license plate then after the car turns the corner, recite the state and number on the license plate; look at that man and describe him to me, etc).
17. How to safely navigate local streets (how to walk safely along the street, how to safely cross streets, how to find their way around their neighborhood).
18. How to use simple tools such as scissors, a needle and thread for older children, how to hammer a nail, how to use pliers and wrenches, etc.
19. How to follow verbal and written (when they are older) instructions (games like Simon Says and following written instructions for a scavenger hunt are fun ways to learn these skills).
20. How to find and fix hazards around your home (overloaded electric outlets, rugs that can bunch up and cause falls, improperly stored chemicals, etc).

National Preparedness Month Day 24--Kid Preps

If you have kids--from infants to teenagers--you are probably well versed in doing more to prep for them than if you are just talking about yourself or yourself and your spouse.  You make sure they are fed, have beverages with them, are safe, are entertained, have all of their sports gear with them when they head out to school and also have their homework with them, you ensure the baby has extra diapers and your hungriest teenager has extra food with them...in other words, you probably prep more for your kids on a daily basis than you do for yourself.

During an emergency, you want to be sure you have all of the kid prep stuff down--in triplicate--so that you will be able to take care of them as well as every other thing that needs to be dealt with.  You don't want to run out of diapers just as a major snow storm hits and you don't want to have only a few cans of soup in the pantry when a hurricane is set to hit.  Consider these extra preps if you have kids:

• Have kid-specific stuff in your first aid kit (children's Tylenol, etc).  Also have extra of any common prescriptions they use (for the love of all that's holy don't give them an antibiotic for every little sniffle...parents have been doing this for decades and it is not a good thing to do).
• Make sure they are vaccinated and keep digital copies of their vaccination and other medical records in your back-up files.
• If your kid has a medical condition like life-threatening allergies, stockpile EpiPens and other needed things (inhalers for asthma, etc).
• Stockpile the stuff your kids regularly use.  Diapers, formula, wipes, school supplies, etc.  If it is something you buy regularly for your kids, buy extra every time you shop to keep as a back up.  In the event your kid outgrows some of the stuff stockpiled, like diapers, just donate the leftovers to a charity that can use them.
• Consider stockpiling things you don't normally use for use during a disaster.  If you always use cloth diapers, stockpile some disposable diapers to use during a disaster.  Ditto formula even if you breastfeed, and canned baby food even is you usually make it yourself.
• Make sure each kid has EDC items with them like extra cash duct taped to the bottom of their backpack for use in an emergency as well as other emergency items.  Skip the weapons as schools tend to frown on kids with weapons.
• Make sure each kid has a BOB at home that they can grab in an emergency.  This should include all of the gear that you have but appropriate for them (kid-sized sleeping bag, etc).
• Make sure each kid is trained for emergencies in an age-appropriate manner.  Little kids can memorize their address and parents phone numbers.  All kids should know how to call 911.  Older kids can learn how to shut off utilities, escape the home during fire drills, and perform basic first aid skills.
• Once kids can go off on their own they should have their own cell phone with a tracking app on it.
• Kids should be kept busy so they stay out of trouble.  A useful way to do this (which is complementary to prepping) is to have them play sports, join cooking club, join scouting programs, etc.
• Let kids do for themselves as much as possible.  I know one mom who still cuts her teenager's meat at dinner.  Both of them will probably be useless in a disaster but kids who have a lot of skills can be really helpful in a disaster.  Kids who can take care of pets and younger children are helpful, kids who can cook dinner for the family are helpful, kids who have lots of experience camping and backpacking are helpful.  The whole helicopter/lawnmower parenting style is stupid.
• Stockpile special food (candy, favorite foods) and special entertainment (coloring books, games) that the kids don't know about and bring it out during a disaster as both a diversion and a way to keep kids entertained.
• Teach kids what to do in the event of various types of disasters (school shooting, fire at home, car accident, etc).
• Make sure your kids are as skilled as possible (swimming, ride a bicycle, self defense, shooting, etc).
• Make sure each kid has a written communication/meet up plan in their school backpacks.  In case the family gets separated, they need to know how to meet up again.
• Give your kids age-appropriate responsibilities during and after a disaster.  This will give them something to do besides worry and will teach them how to work together as a team.
• Have all of the things you would need on hand if your child turns up missing--a recent photo, physical description, dental records, even a DNA sample.
• After a disaster pay attention to any psychological issues your child may have and take appropriate steps to help them.

Preparing Your Kids...To Not Be Idiots

Of course all kids have their idiotic moments but it seems like while, years ago, our idiocy was limited to what we could come up with on our own (no social media back then to share ideas), these days, there seems to be highly publicized incidents on nearly a weekly basis with kids doing "challenges" that can lead to death.  But at least they will check out with lots of "likes" on social media...

• You've probably heard of the Tide Pod challenge (yes they will poison people).
• And one would think that any kid above kindergarten age would know that boiling water, well, will burn them (OTOH many older kids don't seem to know this).
• Probably the dumbest of dumb challenges is the set yourself on fire challenge.
• In case that isn't enough, here are several more dangerous, viral challenges.

Besides warning your kids about the dangers of each challenge as they come up on the news, I'm not sure how to prevent such activities.  It is well worth the effort, however, to explain why and how these challenges can be so deadly.

Why Kids Need To Play Actual Games

We just had a passel of nieces and nephews here for the past week and...I can honestly say I don't understand children these days.  Ranging in age from six to fifteen, it took a Herculean effort to detach them from their cell phones and tablets to go do anything.  They would much rather park themselves in their rooms or on the sofas for hours on end instead of--what I though--were offers of fun things to do.  Eventually we were able to get them out to skate, watch a movie, and go to the indoor driving range but it took quite the effort.

While I can't say much about video games since I don't play them, I wonder if kids these days play games that test and develop their skills like Monopoly, chess, or Risk did for my generation?  I don't have to wonder (it's kind of obvious) if the lack of athletic or outdoor games is a detriment to today's kids--childhood obesity is at an all-time high and even the military can't find fit recruits.

The parents of the kids didn't seem to think their behavior odd--they were busy on their own devices--so maybe it is a newish thing and I am just old (a distinct possibility), but I worry for the health and safety of our country as a whole.  I worry also about the mental health of the younger generations (in this article that I came across today the kid's mom pays his bills so he doesn't have to work or even leave his place and he wonders why he is an "incel".  Maybe if mom forced him to actually be an adult he would be out and about and meeting women?).

So I will stop ranting and just suggest that parents have their kids spend as much time doing physical activities outside or paying games that require critical thinking, as they do online.  These sorts of skills will come in handy during a disaster.

10 Fun Things To Do With the Kids This Summer

Summer is half over already but there is still time to do some fun activities with the kids (they won't even know they are learning survival skills this way!).

1. Make a small campfire/bonfire in the back yard/local park and roast some hotdogs/marshmallows.
2. Set up the tent in the back yard/nearby park and camp outside overnight.
3. Take the kids geocaching/letterboxing.  It's fun to find hidden prizes and teaches orienteering at the same time.
4. Conduct science experiments with the kids.  They can start with simple stuff like making clay and slime then move on to chemicals that erupt.
5. If you don't have a farm or ranch of your own, take the kids to u-pick farms, petting zoos, county fairs, and other places where they can get out in nature and learn where their food comes from.
6. Have a garage sale and let the kids do the set up, pricing, advertising, and haggling with customers; this will teach them an umber of useful skills and help them earn a little money as well.
7. Set up an age-appropriate scavenger hunt (around the yard for small kids, around the entire city for teens).
8. Play old fashioned games and invite the neighborhood kids--water balloon fight, hide and seek, sandlot baseball, croquet, etc.
9. Work on a big project as a family--putting together a big jigsaw puzzle, making a quilt, completing a home improvement/building project, etc.
10. Have the kids/entire family contribute to the community--volunteer at an event, do a trash pick up project, feed the homeless, etc.

100 Skills to Teach Your Kids

These skills used to be considered Life 101 but as kids learn fewer and fewer practical skills, I still say there is a need for everyone to learn these incredibly useful skills as children...

1. How to swim.
2. How to ride a bike.
3. How to dress for the weather.
4. How to dress appropriately for all occasions.
5. How to participate in individual sports.
6. How to participate in team sports.
7. How to ride a dirt bike/motorcycle.
8. How to take care of animals.
9. How to sew.
10. How to cook from scratch.
11. How to fish.
12. How to hunt.
13. How to use a variety of firearms/gun safety.
14. How to express themselves well in writing.
15. How to express themselves well verbally.
16. How to call 911 and request help (provide address, directions, reason for call, etc).
17. How to show compassion and empathy.
18. How to perform CPR/basic first aid skills.
19. How to walk/run long distances.
20. How to save/spend/budget/invest money.
21. How to earn money.
22. How to camp/survive in the wilderness.
23. How to grow a garden.
24. How to preserve food.
25. How to bake.
26. How to defend themselves.
27. How to develop hygiene skills/routines.
28. How to perform basic car maintenance.
29. How to read well.
30. How to perform basic math (add, subtract, multiply, divide, fractions, geometry, etc).
31. How to understand basic science (chemistry, biology, physics, astronomy, etc).
32. How to get through an obstacle course (jumping, climbing, bars/rings, etc).
33. How to drive a vehicle (not on public roads until they can legally do so).
34. How to read the weather and take basic weather precautions.
35. What to do if they are lost.
36. How/who to contact if they need help.
37. How to tell if food/plants are edible or poisonous.
38. How to forage for wild food.
39. How to start a fire/fire safety.
40. How to use and care for knives.
41. How to deal with wildlife/roaming dogs/feral cats/etc.
42. How to signal for help in a variety of ways.
43. How to avoid dangerous people.
44. How to avoid dangerous situations.
45. How to barter/trade for things they want.
46. How to shop for things they want.
47. How to make/use a variety of weapons (bow and arrow, sling shot, etc).
48. How to hide from danger.
49. How to tell time (analog and digital).
50. How to secure their belongings and their home.
51. How to stay safe online.
52. How to use GPS as well as a map to find their way.
53. How to take public transportation.
54. How to care for smaller children.
55. How to perform basic home improvement tasks.
56. How to use basic tools/power tools.
57. How to play a musical instrument.
58. How to develop their artistic talents.
59. How to speak a second language.
60. How to take care of their health/teeth/mental health/vision/hearing.
61. How to develop problem-solving skills.
62. How to develop good judgement/impulse control/control anger/etc.
63. How to develop critical thinking skills.
64. What to do in a variety of survival scenarios (fire/active shooter/flood/earthquake/tornado/etc).
65. How to identify multiple ways to exit a home or building.
66. How to deal with authority figures (police, teachers, etc).
67. How to perform basic life skills (pump gas, banking, post office, set appointments, etc).
68. How to develop a full range of good manners/etiquette skills.
69. How to play games (chess, poker, etc).
70. How to travel (nationally and internationally).
71. How to fill out forms and applications.
72. About civic responsibilities (voting, jury duty, protesting, volunteering, etc).
73. How to develop a good moral compass.
74. How to give a speech/address a group of people.
75. How to clean (room, house, vehicle).
76. How to prepare for common disasters.
77. How to shut off water/power/gas during an emergency.
78. How to survive without water/power/gas during an emergency.
79. How to develop a good attitude/outlook.
80. How to negotiate and compromise with others.
81. How to accept criticism and compliments.
82. How to be a follower and a leader.
83. How to make friends and socialize with others.
84. How to manage their time/be on time/estimate the time to complete their work.
85. How to break projects down into manageable steps.
86. How to be resilient in difficult times.
87. How to use basic software/do basic coding.
88. How to be assertive when necessary.
89. How to participate in hobbies they enjoy.
90. How to be knowledgeable about current local, national, and world events.
91. How to determine if a proposal or opportunity is good/worthwhile or not.
92. How to be alone (for an age-appropriate amount of time).
93. How to compete (in a race, in a game, in a challenge, to collect merit badges, etc).
94. How to fail.
95. How to get and keep a job.
96. How to be entrepreneurial/start businesses.
97. How to use nutrition and exercise to be fit and healthy.
98. How to achieve major/long-term goals.
99. How to stay safe in a crowd.
100. How to have a successful road trip.

10 Summer Activities for Kids

The thing with kids is that they need to be kept busy otherwise they will be bored.  When kids are bored--especially if it is a group of bored kids--they will devise things to do that, due to their not quite developed brains, can range from dumb to deadly.  However, there are a lot of great ways to keep kids active and out of trouble during the summer, including:

1. Volunteering.  Many summer non-profit programs can use volunteers; this is also a great activity that can be put on college and scholarship applications.
2. Summer camp.  Summer camp programs are available for kids of all ages with the sole purpose of keeping them active and engaged with lots of different activities.  Summer camps are also available in more specialized versions like STEM programs, outdoor/survival camps, etc.
3. Get a jump on their future.  For teens who want to join the military, they can go to boot camp during the summer after their junior year of high school with the Split Option Program.  There are also college programs for kids who are still in high school but want to acquire some college credits while they are still in high school.
4. Working.  With some simple training--ranging from babysitting/CPR classes to life guarding classes to EMT school--teens can get actual paying jobs for the summer.
5. Camping/backpacking/hobby activities.  With the entire summer ahead of them, families often do activities like camping or backpacking trips, travel across the state or across the world, etc.
6. Community activities.  Depending on where you live, especially if you live in a big city, there are often loads of free and cheap activities to do like free museum days, library activities, roller skating, community swimming programs, etc.
7. Summer challenge activities.  Whether it is creating and checking off a summer bucket list, doing a summer reading challenge, or participating in a fitness boot camp, there are many challenges that kids can work on during the summer.
8. Kid play dates (otherwise known as swapping child care duties).  For families that have a difficult time affording summer daycare, they can get together and agree to watch each other's kids on their days off from work thus saving on the cost of daycare.
9. Creating something at home.  Making a ninja course, growing a garden, raising animals with 4H, holding garage sales...there are many productive, time-consuming activities that can keep the whole family busy at home.
10. Visiting the grandparents.  Especially if the grandparents are retired and can spend entire days with the grand kids, this is a great way to both keep the kids supervised as well as impart a great deal of knowledge to them (kids learn about family history, skills such as fishing and baking, and many other things from their grandparents).

10 Cool Gifts for Kids

A few of the grand kids have birthdays coming up, and as we were discussing what to get them, I had some rather practical suggestions:

1. Drone.  Drones are cool and drones are useful and I am kind of thinking that being able to use a drone may be a job description in the near future (if you buy an expensive one, make sure it has a GPS locator in it).
2. Metal detector.  Kids like finding buried treasure and what better way to find things that are really valuable than with a metal detector?
3. Gear for hunting or fishing or camping.  Having their very own gear will set them on the road to being self sufficient and teach them valuable outdoor skills.
4. Cool science kits (everything from chemistry kits to crystal growing kits to robot kits).  Creating something amazing from a box of odds and ends can be really fascinating for kids.
5. STEM summer camp tuition.  Fun science/technology camps can do a lot towards getting--and most importantly keeping--kids interested in these important fields.
6. Sling shot/bow and arrow/firearm.  Every kid I knew grew up with these things (and no one ever went on a killing spree...go figure).  These items help develop a range of skills such as hand-eye coordination, accuracy, and most important, responsibility (needless to say, parental supervision should be mandatory when kids are using these things).
7. Tools to help them create things.  Like a sewing machine, woodworking tools, candle making tools, etc.  Again, kids like to create things and having the proper tools encourages them to develop skills they will use into adulthood.
8. Class tuition.  There are many classes geared towards kids in most communities.  Swimming lessons, life guarding class, intro to kayaking class, first aid class...basically if a kid can learn a useful skill, paying for them to attend the class can make a great gift.
9. Annual passes.  If your kid has a particular passion, buying them an annual pass--whether for the zoo or the Children's Museum or the state parks--will allow them unlimited entry for an entire year (and often provides additional bonuses only given to annual pass holders).
10. Sports fees.  Kid's after school and weekend sports (soccer league, football team, swimming team, etc.) can be fairly spendy.  Between uniforms, travel, participation fees et al, parents may have a hard time funding these activities if they have more than a kid or two.  By gifting the cost of these programs you not only keep kids busy and out of trouble but again, they develop skills like teamwork and leadership that they will use for the rest of their lives.

Needless to say, whichever gift you choose for the kids in your life, the most important part of the gift is you being there to help and guide them when they are enjoying these things!

Prepping Tasks for Kids

Often prepping falls to the "man of the house" but if you want your family to be totally effective in a disaster situation, EVERYONE in the family needs to be a prepper.  Here are a lot of ways kids can become preppers (mostly without even knowing they are doing it).  Kids can:

• Learn how to swim.
• Take a lifeguard course.
• Take a kids-oriented first aid/CPR/AED class (often taught in schools).
• Earn all of the Boy Scout Merit Badges.
• Participate in the police Explorers program.
• Volunteer in the community.
• Participate in family drills (fire drills, lock down drills, etc).
• In addition to driver's ed, they can take specialized defensive driver's classes geared specifically for teens.
• Go on family camping, fishing, hunting, and backpacking trips.
• Be assigned one night a week to shop and cook for the whole family.
• Participate in team sports (soccer, track, etc) in order to learn teamwork and leadership skills.
• Set and achieve athletic goals (participate in a 5k or marathon, do a Mud Run, hike the Appalachian Trail, etc).
• Be introduced to a wide range of hobbies (HAM radio, knitting, metalworking, etc.).
• Help in the garden and with preserving food (canning, making jam, etc).
• Participate in shooting activities: youth shooting sports, hunter's ed class, gun safety class, etc.
• Travel nationally and internationally with the family.
• Be responsible for chores.
• Be taught how to manage, save, and invest their money.
• Learn personal and cyber safety.
• Take self defense classes (karate, tae kwon do, etc).
• Learn how to use a variety of vehicles: bicycle, motorcycle/dirt bike. drive a car/tractor, kayak, motor boat, etc.
• Be taught how to build things: tree house, soap box derby car, bicycle from parts, computer from parts, etc.
• Be taught manners, good character traits, how to write effectively, how to speak effectively, how to advocate for themselves, etc.
• Learn how to handle difficult situations (social situations, legal situations, how to grieve, etc).
• Play games with the family (card games, Monopoly, chess, other strategy games, etc).

...basically all the things kids learned as part of everyday life a century ago.  I think society is losing a great deal of human potential when kid's lives only include sleep, fast food for breakfast, go to school, play video games, keep up on social media, fast food for dinner, spend all evening online.

100 Skills to Teach Your Kids

I forgot that JAMZ was in town until I headed over to play poker this morning.  If you don't know what JAMZ is, it is some sort of cheerleading thing with a bajillion tiny cheerleaders (maybe 5 to 10 years of age?) hopping all over the place (well, at least hopping all over the food court, the arena, and all public spaces in between).  Which got me to wondering if parents still teach their kids actual skills these days (I have no idea what parents teach their kids these days as our kid-raising days are long since past).  Being able to lead cheers is a skill, I suppose, but I hope that parents also realize how important it is to teach their kids actual useful skills that could come in handy in an emergency.

Here's a hundred real life skills to teach your kids for both fun and usefulness (note, it is up to each parent to determine when to teach these skills based on the abilities and maturity of their child):

1. How to fish.
2. How to hunt.
3. How to prepare a fish or animal for cooking or preserving.
4. How to use and properly care for a firearm.
5. How to protect themselves from identity theft.
6. How to hike, camp, and backpack.
7. How to build an emergency shelter.
8. How to signal in a variety of situations.
9. How to purify water.
10. How to use a map, compass, and GPS.
11. How to speak in public.
12. How to be respectful of others.
13. How to lead a group on a project.
14. How to cook.
15. How to grow food.
16. How (and when) to harvest food.
17. How to preserve food.
18. How to forage for wild and medicinal edibles.
19. How to sew.
20. How to knit.
21. How to communicate in sign language.
22. How to speak, read, and write in a second language.
23. How to ride public transportation.
24. How to plan a vacation.
25. How to research.
26. How to physically protect themselves.
27. How to (safely) make and use a fire.
28. How to save money.
29. How to earn money.
30. How to spend money.
31. How to invest money.
32. How to start and run a business.
33. How to volunteer to help others.
34. How to be physically fit.
35. How to take care of their teeth.
36. How to take care of their health.
37. How to protect their hearing.
38. How to protect themselves online.
39. How (and why) to lockdown their house quickly.
40. How to escape from their house if necessary.
41. How to take care of and breed animals.
42. How to do construction work.
43. How to do plumbing work.
44. How to do electrical work.
45. How to drive a bike/car/motorcycle/boat.
46. How to do basic car maintenance (check the oil, change a tire, put in gas, etc).
47. How to take care of themselves when they are sick.
48. How to perform CPR/the Heimlich Maneuver/use an AED.
49. How to clean the house and do laundry.
50. How to handle a medical emergency.
51. How to call 911.
52. How to read (to at least college level).
53. How to write (reviews, essays, reports, etc).
54. How to do math (up to calculus).
55. How to understand science (biology, chemistry, physics, geology, etc).
56. How to think critically.
57. How to argue effectively.
58. How to learn on their own.
59. How to swim.
60. How to be independent.
61. How to advocate for themselves.
62. How to take responsibility for their actions.
63. How to be kind and helpful.
64. How to utilize technology.
65. How to play an instrument.
66. How to prepare for an emergency.
67. How to play chess and other games.
68. How to be good citizens in their community.
69. How to choose and enjoy hobbies.
70. How to repair things (home, bike, car, etc).
71. How to perform extreme sports (scuba diving, rock climbing, kayaking, etc).
72. How to take care of others (from small children to the elderly).
73. How to be disciplined (show up on time, take criticism, plan their day, etc).
74. How to do chores.
75. How to properly groom themselves.
76. How to do gardening tasks (mow the lawn, plant trees and flowers, mulch, etc).
77. How to understand contracts and other legal documents/situations.
78. How to find appropriate help when needed.
79. How to interact well with people (friends, adults, strangers, teachers, etc).
80. How to set and reach goals.
81. How to observe and "read" people.
82. How to comparison shop, use coupons, find deals.
83. How to make difficult choices.
84. How to participate in team sports.
85. How to keep good friends and end toxic friendships.
86. How to play unsupervised.
87. How to dress appropriately (for church, for a party, for winter, etc).
88. How to escape from a dangerous situation.
89. How to cope (with the death of a relative, with getting a bad grade, with losing a friend, etc).
90. How to compete (for a job, for a scholarship, in sports, etc).
91. How to fill out applications (for a job, for a rebate, for college, etc).
92. How to use social media appropriately.
93. How to respond if they get lost (in a city, in the wilderness).
94. How to maintain situational awareness.
95. How to spot a rip off or a scam.
96. How to manage anger and frustration.
97. How to understand biases (in what they read, in what they are taught, etc).
98. How to pack (for vacation, for backpacking, for everyday carry, etc).
99. How to de-escalate a negative situation (with siblings, with teachers, with the police, etc).
100. How to avoid peer pressure situations (drinking, drugs, illegal acts, etc).

10 Super Easy Survival Skills to Teach Young Children

It's never too soon to learn how to be a prepper.  So with that in mind, here's some simple things to teach your children to get them started on the path to preparedness (obviously each kid is different, some will be ready for these lessons at 2 or 3 while others not until they are older so proceed accordingly).

1. How to call 911.  This includes when to call 911 as well as how to relay basic information (name, address, what the problem might be, parent's names, etc).
2. How to perform CPR and the Heimlich Maneuver (courses are available for children but due to the physical nature of these procedures you might need to wait until your child is physically big enough to perform these skills).
3. How to hide.  Hide and seek developed as a way to teach children to protect themselves since fighting or running isn't usually an option.  Hiding from an attacker or intruder may be their only option to save them self in an emergency.
4. What to do in the event of a fire.  Aside from calling 911 in the event of a fire, children should know what to do if they are on fire (stop, drop, and roll) and what to do when they hear their home smoke alarm go off (hold regular family fire drills to teach them what to do).
5. What to do in the event of a natural disaster in your area.  Disasters can range from flooding to earthquakes to hurricanes; develop procedures and teach your children how to react if they are caught in such a disaster (sheltering in place, not to play in flood washes, etc).
6. How to wash their hands, cover their coughs, and keep their hands out of their eyes, nose, and mouth.  This is the most basic way to avoid catching a cold, flu, or worse.
7. How to feed themselves.  Depending on the child's age, they should learn simple things such as how to pour cereal and milk into a bowl, how to make a sandwich, and, as they get older, how to use knifes, cook on the stove, and make more complicated meals.
8. How to camp for a weekend or a week outside.  Obviously you aren't going to send a small child to fend for themselves in the wilderness but by teaching very young kids about various camping skills (how to roll out their sleeping bag, how to roast marshmallows over a fire, etc) they will be better positioned to learn more advanced outdoor skills as they get older.
9. How to help mom and dad with basic home skills (everything from doing laundry and feeding the dog to planting and harvesting the vegetable garden and handing dad tools when he is working on a project).  These days parents tend to do everything for their kids which leaves their kids with absolutely no basic life skills when they grow up.  We don't want that to happen with your kids.
10. How to navigate between home, school, the local grocery store, grandma's house, etc.  Kids should know how to walk safely to local places, ride their bicycles safely to further places, and use city transit to get around town on an age-appropriate basis.

15 Items to Send Back to School With Your Kids

It's back to school time around these parts. Although I don't encourage loading up your kid's school backpack to the point where they get a hernia, here's some important items you may want to stash in their packs for emergency use:

1. A granola bar. It can be left in the bottom of their pack and get mashed to pieces but when they don't have time to catch a meal in the cafeteria or have to go straight to practice from school, they will eat it if they are hungry enough.
2. A small, flat flashlight that can hang on the key fob in their backpack (can be used if they get locked in a closet, the power goes out, they need to signal for help, etc).
3. A cell phone. I'm not sure how earlier generations survived without being able to contact others 24/7 but we lived. These days, giving your kid a cell phone is one extra safety tether you can provide them. Obviously, you want to program all important numbers on it including the numbers for you and the spouse, a trusted neighbor, grandma and grandpa, etc.
4. A copy of their updated immunization record (this is actually given to the school and not kept in their backpack).
5. A USB drive with all of their important information on it (family photos, a scanned copy of their passport, medical information, contact info, etc).
6. Emergency meds (check with the school about their policy on this). If your kid has a sever allergy, to the point where waiting for help could result in death like from a food allergy, they should probably carry an Epi Pen with them at all times.
7. Some skills (these don't weight anything!). All kids should know CPR, the Heimlich Maneuver, what to do if a stranger confronts them, how to resist peer pressure, how to call 911, etc.
8. Freezer packs if they take their lunch to school (prevents nasty stuff like food poisoning).
9. $20 hidden in their backpack. This way if they call you because they forgot their lunch money or need money for photos, you can direct them where to find the stashed cash and not have to leave work and drive over to the school to give it to them.
10. A tiny plastic poncho if there is the possibility that they could be walking home during an unexpected downpour (also serves other emergency functions).
11. On their smart phone or iTouch: apps that could come in handy during an emergency (there are literally hundreds of apps; look through the options with your kids and decide what would be useful in your area such as hurricane warnings, bus schedules, etc). They may never use these apps but at least they will have them available in an emergency.
12. An info card, especially for young children. Include information such as their name, address, parent's contact info, classroom number, bus number, any allergies, medications, or medical problems, etc.
13. A copy of the family emergency plan including who your emergency contacts are, prearranged meeting spots, etc.
14. Appropriate safety gear such as a helmet if they will ride their bike to school, a bright jacket if they will be walking to school, etc.
15. Some self defense skills. These could range from knowing who and where the neighborhood registered sex offenders are to taking karate class to knowing how to escape from a stranger.

Obviously you don't want to scare your kids with all of the "what if" disaster possibilities, but having a few items and skills with them at all times could prove useful in the event of a disaster.

If You Drive a Car, Read This (It Will Save a Child's Life)

Today was the second time in a little over a week that a child was killed in our area by a family member who backed over them in their car. This type of thing happens every spring and summer and it is a tragedy for everyone each time it happens--for the child, the driver, the family, the EMS and LE responders, neighbors, etc.
When the weather gets warm, children are outside and they really don't care much where they play, they are just happy to be outside playing. Kids don't consider that people in cars can't see them. Kid's don't consider that playing in the driveway could be unsafe. Kid's don't make it a point to alert drivers to their location so that the driver will not make the mistake of driving over them. So, it is up to driver to take precautions in order to not have such a tragedy happen to them. These include:

• Backing into your parking space. I do this out of habit for a few reasons, one of which is that when I am driving towards a parking space, I have the opportunity to see the surrounding area and note if children are present or not before I start backing in. Obviously if there are children running around near where I am going to park, I will ensure they are out of the way before backing in. This tends to be safer then pulling into a parking space then backing out when I am ready to leave.
• I walk completely around my vehicle before getting in and leaving. Yes, the neighbors probably think I am daft and wonder what I am looking for, however it is a good habit to get into, again, for a couple of reasons, one of which is to ensure that there are no children/bikes/toys/animals/etc. in front of or behind my vehicle.
• I try to know where people are when I leave my home. Obviously you can't account for neighbor kids, but knowing exactly where your own family members are when you leave can help ensure that they aren't somewhere that they aren't supposed to be (also taking a moment to say goodbye or hug each family member before you leave home is a good thing to do in case you never see them again, but that is a different post...).
• When the kids were younger we had strict rules about where they could play (absolutely not in the driveway) and what happened to their stuff if they left it laying around, again, specifically not in the driveway (we may have been the only family that impounded bikes, skateboards, and any other items we found left laying in the driveway or road in front of our house).

Doing these few things only takes a minute or two extra each time you leave your home and could save a life. With the size and design of most cars these days, there is absolutely no way to see anyone--child or adult-- if they happen to be sitting (and in some cases even standing) behind your vehicle. I have seen these tragic accidents happen too many times over the years. The consequences for the person who drives over and kills a child (as well as the rest of the family) are too numerous to define. Suffice it to say there is no "getting over" the death of a child--siblings are impacted literally for the rest of their lives, marriages more often than not tend to dissolve after such tragedies, depression, post traumatic stress, and even suicides are not uncommon results of these kinds of accidents. A couple extra minutes of your time can help ensure that such a tragic accident doesn't happen to you or a loved one.

40 Survival Skills Your Kids Need to Know

As adults, we take it upon ourselves to make sure that we are prepared, that we have a safe home for our family, that we have planned to protect our family members in the event of a worst case scenario, and that we are up on all of the survival skills (from HAM radio use to tactical shooting) that could see us through a disaster. One thing many adults fail to consider is that after a disaster, they may be the one who is incapacitated, that their kids may be far away from home and left on their own to survive, or that your well studied skills may not be able to save your kids and they may, in fact, be forced to save their own lives. Here's the skills your kids need to know in order to save themselves or even save you in a SHTF scenario:

1. CPR and AED certification. Let's face it, if you are old and over weight and your teens are young and healthy, who is most likely going to have to perform CPR on whom?
2. Basic first aid. If your kid is with their friend and their friend is bleeding to death, it just makes sense that they know to apply a towel and direct pressure to control the bleeding because there is no way you will get there in time to provide this type of first aid.
3. Their personal information. I have seen teenagers that need to ask their parents when their birth date is. Duh. Either the kid was an idiot or the parent was for not teaching them this basic information. All kids, from the time they learn how to speak, need to know the basics--name, address, birth date, parent's information, allergies, etc.
4. How to feed themselves. This includes everything from how to shop for food to how to cook safely. Some teens have no idea how to fend for themselves where food is concerned unless there is a McDonald's nearby. Additionally, everyone should know how to forage for food (very useful in an emergency) including dumpster diving, foraging in the wild, etc.
5. How to use money effectively. This includes how to save money, how to spend money, how to stay out of debt, and how to invest money.
6. How to earn money. From a very young age, kids need to know that you don't get paid just for existing. There is a process for making money and everyone needs to learn this process.
7. How to speak well. This is a multi-faceted skill which will allow them to speak clearly and politely to others, address a crowd, speak persuasively, tell a story, tell a joke, etc.
8. How to read and write well. I don't mean how to read a couple of books then never read again or how to write a sentence. We are talking about how to read up to the college level, how to read for pleasure and read to educate themselves (without being told to), and how to write everything from a research paper to an advertisement to a letter to a friend to interesting website content.
9. How to deal with fire. This includes everything from how to start, maintain and extinguish a camp fire to how to extinguish a fire in the home and/or how to escape from a house fire.
10. How to procure water. Yes, water usually comes out of the faucet but that may not always be the case so kids need to know where and how to find water in an emergency, how to purify water, and why this is necessary.
11. Outdoor survival skills. If your kid ever ends up lost in the wilderness, you will want to make sure that they have the best opportunity survive. This is done by ensuring that they have a very well rounded, and well practiced, slate of outdoor survival skills (how to find food, how to find shelter, how to stay warm, how to signal for help, etc).
12. How to handle firearms. Growing up this was a skill every kid learned however this is getting rarer and rarer these days. Everyone needs to know how to handle a firearm whether you ever plan to use one or not. Not knowing anything about firearms and ending up having to use a weapon like you learned on TV or in the movies can get you killed.
13. How to fight. Yes I know that teaching kids to work out their problems by talking is important but sometimes they may find themselves in a position (ie: being kidnapped or in a situation when they are being attacked by other kids) where there is no substitute for knowing how to fight. Consider a karate class.
14. How to drive. Another very useful skill. Growing up on a ranch, we all learned how to drive (tractors and trucks) by the age of 12. While the last thing I want to see driving down the road is a 12 year old, knowing how to drive (motorcycles, jet skis, manual and standard transmission vehicles, etc) is a skill that most older teens should know.
15. How to make good decisions. Unfortunately the judgement/decision making part of a kid's brain isn't fully developed until they are in their early twenties, however it is never too early to start teaching your kids how to make good decisions and rewarding them accordingly.
16. How to report a crime or other emergency. Kids should learn when and how to call 911 as soon as they are able to grasp the concept of calling for help.
17. What the family communication plan is. This may start out as an emergency contact info card attached to your kindergartner's backpack and evolve into the local, regional, and national family contacts from your family emergency communications plan being put on your teen's cell phone. In all cases, your kids need to know how to contact someone other than you in the case of an emergency or disaster.
18. How to swim. Swimming is a basic skill that everyone should know how to do whether you plan to swim much or not. Better safe than sorry.
19. How to properly use, and the importance of using, safety gear. Everything from child safety seats to bike helmets to life jackets should be covered here.
20. How to protect themselves from dangerous people. You don't want to scare them so they won't talk to anyone, but kids need to know that there are sexual predators (both strangers and those known to them), drug dealers, gang bangers, and others who pose a threat to them. Teach them how to identify and deal with these types of people.
21. How to protect themselves on the internet. Since kids these days consider the internet as necessary as air, they are often very comfortable with putting their whole life online. Common sense safety guidelines need to be taught to kids in order for them to stay safe (ie: don't put your phone number and address online), out of jail (ie: absolutely no sexting), and psychologically unharmed (ie: how to diffuse cyberbullying, etc).
22. How to keep their stuff organized and well cared for. This means their BOB is stocked and ready to go, their homework is organized and turned in on time, they can clean and safely handle (under your supervision) their firearms, etc.
23. What to do in the event of a school shooting. Again, you don't want to scare your kids needlessly however school shootings are happening more and more often. Do your research, find out what your kid's school shooter plan is, and then share information with your kids in an age-appropriate manner (note there is no "right" answer to what to do during a school shooting as each situation is different, raising awareness levels about this topic, however, is the goal).
24. How to navigate. Map, compass, GPS device, etc. Being able to navigate from point A to B, whether by understanding and using the subway or local bus system map, or finding their way in the wilderness with a map and compass, is a good skill to have.
25. How to travel by themselves. One mom let her nine year old son travel by himself on the subway a year or so ago and the backlash was both quick and loudly negative. This is too bad because the kid did fine, got himself home, and was all the more independent for the experience. Kids should be able to travel (age appropriately of course) by themselves so that should TSHTF, they will at least have some skills and practice at getting home by themselves.
26. How to make basic home repairs. Obviously you don't give a five year old a soldering iron and let him go to work on the plumbing, but by starting kids out early (even a three year old can learn the difference between a screwdriver and a hammer), and by steadily giving them more knowledge and practice, you will end up with a teenager who will be able to help you around the house and turn out some pretty amazing projects as well.
27. Hunting and fishing. Learning how food gets from walking on all fours to laying on the dinner plate is an experience that sadly, fewer and fewer kids get to learn. These are, however, very useful skills to have (and also makes for good parent-kid bonding experiences too).
28. As many sporting skills as possible. Skiing, boating, horseback riding, basketball, baseball...there is a very long list of sports that kids can learn that will build their strength, endurance, team work skills, and self esteem.
29. How to help others. Babysitting is a good skill to have, so is volunteering. By learning how to take care of others, kids learn leadership skills, empathy, decision making, and how to help out when needed whether it is an ordinary day or they are caught in a disaster situation.
30. The sciences and math. Yes, I know kids take these classes in school and think they will never use the information they learn (so why learn it?), however judging distance, probability, basic physics, how chemicals react, etc. will put them in good standing for college and could also come in quite useful during a disaster.
31. How to walk. Seriously. My two pet peeves are parents who are still rolling their kids around in a stroller when the kid is four or five years old and parents who drive their kids back and forth to school each day when they only live less than a mile from the school. Kids have feet, let them use them. Often.
32. How to think logically. Kids can solve quite a few problems, both large and small, when they know how to think logically. A good way to do this is by playing games with them--chess, checkers, Monopoly, etc.
33. How to be observant. Kind of like the "I spy" game but with the need to remember a whole bunch more details.
34. How to build things. Not only can kids exercise their creativity skills, but by learning how things work and how to build things (a tree fort, a simple radio, etc) your kids will be better prepared for a disaster as well as life in general.
35. How to keep and improve their health. The number of obese kids these days is horrifically high. A kid can't take care of themself if they can't even run a half block, if they eat "empty" calories that keep them hungry all the time, and if their blood sugar/blood pressure/cholesterol numbers rival that of a senior citizen.
36. How to hide, how to evade, how to escape. Hide and seek is a kids game with its basis in some very real necessary skills for survival. Hopefully your child never finds themself in a dangerous situation, and of course, you can't just assume a kids would know how to escape from say, kidnappers, but by "playing" games that can help them develop skills that would help them hide, help them evade someone who is following them, and how to escape should they become trapped, these critical skills can become second nature.
37. How to be alone. Our society is becoming more and more connected (as evidenced by kids who send 5000+ text messages each month!) yet there is an art and skill in being able to be alone, all alone, for a period of time without suffering from abject boredom or panic.
38. How to recognize and deal with natural disasters. One of the "heroes" of the Indonesian tsunami was a kid on vacation who had learned how to recognize the signs of a tsunami in school; she told her family and others in the hotel that they needed to flee to higher ground and this saved their lives. No matter where you live, there are probably natural disasters that you can more or less expect to happen, learn about the dangers, and how to protect yourself, and make sure your kids learn this as well.
39. How to seek help. This includes teaching your kid how to determine what kind of help is needed (ie: is the teen suicidal, addicted to gambling, being threatened at school), and who can best help them (parent, teacher, school counselor, etc).
40. How to plan, manage, and complete comprehensive projects. Think Eagle Scout type projects. By undertaking such challenges, kids learn all kinds of skills that will put them on the road to success in school and in life, in addition to preparing them to deal with whatever other challenges come their way.

Just like adults, kids need to be skilled and prepared for the vagaries of life. Although it is human nature to try to protect children from "real life", teaching your kids the skills they need to survive a disaster will also pay dividends as they also learn to become better prepared for life in general.

Basic Kid Prep Gear

One of my earliest memories is of the preparedness gear my granddad gave me. They lived in an old farm house, in a rural area, with a big old wood stove that provided heat and a place to cook. Granddad thought that it was important that everyone in the house was prepared so all of us grandkids were issued sleeping bags, a flashlight, a transistor radio, and a pocket knife which we kept with us at all times. When the power went out, which it often did, each person had a flashlight at the ready. When we couldn't get to sleep (this was before there were TVs in every bedroom) we had a radio to keep us company. Sleeping bags were used throughout the year either on our beds for added warmth, for the many camping trips we took throughout the summer, or anytime we felt like a change of scenery and camped outside in the back yard. Also, kids having pocket knives by their seventh or eight year was a normal thing back then. Later additions included a backpack and a hunting rifle.
So what kind of gear should your kids have on hand? Here's some ideas:

• A sleeping bag is still a useful item even if it is only used for camping in the living room.
• A day pack with basic overnight supplies is a good idea. This can be their mini "Go Bag" in case the family needs to evacuate at a moment's notice.
• A flashlight kept under their bed is a good idea, even if your area isn't prone to power outages.
• A cell phone has become a lifeline, even for kids. It appears that kids carrying cell phones are getting younger by the year but it is up to each parent to determine at what point giving a kid a cell phone is appropriate.
• You could give a kid a transistor radio but they would wonder what it was. A better option may be an iPod or MP3 player that also has the ability to pick up FM radio so that they can be entertained with their own music but also have a way to access emergency radio broadcasts (although texting and Twittering via their cell phone may take care of this just as well).
• I still believe in giving kids pocket knives and firearms. Each parent will need to make such a decision based on their own beliefs, the maturity of their kids, and their ability to supervise their kids. Years ago it was common for kids to carry pocket knives to school, apparently this is cause for expulsion these days but kids can still be taught how to be responsible with a pocket knife and how (and when) to use it properly. Ditto with firearms. Obviously, in today's climate, I wouldn't suggest giving either of these items to kids who have a single mom who works all the time as kids need constant supervision with any type of dangerous weapon. There are a number of other issues these days that could also have an impact on whether or not to provide these items to kids including kids with mental health or suicidal issues, kids prone to gang or bullying problems, kids with discipline problems or drug issues, etc.

Preparedness Tips...For Your College Student

Apparently it is back to school time judging by the mob at our local Walmart and the number of parents who are stressing about driving their kids half way across the country to settle them into their new college dorm rooms. A lady I met today at a conference was wondering where she would be able to buy her son a refrigerator for his dorm room at his new college because she just couldn't stuff another item into the family's mini van when they head off in a couple of days to drive him three states over to his new college. Fortunately we have passed that kid milestone but for parents who are about to launch their newly minted adults into college life, here's some preparedness tips:

• Check out the best cell phone plans in your student's new college town. Your current cell company may have no or limited reception in the new town so you want to make sure the phone they carry with them 24/7 will actually work.
• Give them a homework assignment before school starts. Of course you could look up the phone numbers for the RA (Resident Advisor) and campus security, find out how to receive email alerts from the college, and research the university's campus safety plan but you are done with college so make the kid do a bit of work. Even though they don't think they would ever need this info, by doing the research and providing YOU with all of the safety and security information there is to be obtained about their new school, they will at least have a passing knowledge of these items which they find may be useful in the future.
• Minimize stuff. This has been learned from decades of travel--the less stuff you bring, the less stuff can get lost or stolen. You don't know what will be in style in your new location so wait and shop where the locals shop and wear what the locals wear. They do have everything you could ever need in your new college town, just like people in Kenya brush their teeth so you will be able to find toothpaste in Kenya, people in a college towns eat Ramen so you don't need to bring a year's supply with you.
• Give them the safety talk. Our kids got the safety talk at the beginning of each new school year starting when they were in kindergarten and ending...well it hasn't ended yet but I think they have perfected tuning out the parents a few years back. Each talk was age appropriate and included elementary school things such as how to cross the street and not to talk to strangers, moved on through middle school with peer pressure, teen suicide, and alcohol/drug use risks, went through high school with warnings about drinking and driving and teen pregnancy precautions, and finished up with college specific concerns such as date rape, depression, campus security, dorm security, and the whole binge drinking/partying/hazing/psycho stalker lecture. Even if your kids roll their eyes and yawn as you run through every possible scenario they may encounter, it makes a parent feel better just to know the information is out there and it may have possibly sunk in.
• Discuss expectations: how often they will check in (my parents were lucky if they heard from me once a month during college but that was way before kids were joined at the keypad with their parents), what their grades need to be if they want to keep the parental cash-flow coming, and what an emergency money situation would entail (this could be everything from a lump sum each quarter and they need to figure their way out of any emergency that comes up, a credit card that the parents pay monthly hopefully with a spending limit, or a permanent link to a bank account that is regularly replenished by the parents). The bottom line is to set clear rules before any situation comes up that makes you, as a parent, stressed or broke.
• Don't forget your emergency preparedness stuff. Everyone in the family, including kids away at college, need to know the family emergency contact person/phone number/email address and to know where the family meeting locations are at. Kids need to know what natural and man made hazards they may face at their new school. Your kid may have spent their whole life in southern California where earthquakes and wildfires were the main hazards and not know anything about the hurricanes and tornadoes that their new southern Florida locale is known for. Keeping food, water, an extra blanket, a radio, a flashlight, and other necessary emergency supplies in their dorm room is just as important as it is at home--you never know when your facility will go into lock down and you may be stranded in your room for a period of time.
• Don't forget the basics: Vaccinations, check. Marking your valuables in case you need to identify them if they are stolen, check. Not leaving any valuables out where they could be swiped, check. Not advertising to the whole student body that daddy just sent you a wad of cash thus making you a target for robbery, check.

Hopefully after the first 18 years of life spent with you, your kids will be ready to tackle the world. It is often scarier for parent to let their kids go--you don't know if you taught them everything they need to know and now that they are hundreds or thousands of miles away you wonder how you will help them if they need it--well you could stress yourself out all day worrying about the possibilities. But with a little preparedness, and a bit of luck, your kids will survive the transition even better than you!

25 Skills to Teach Your Kids

There are kids all over this weekend. What I really find interesting about them is the wide range of skills that even some of the little kids seem to have. Our kids ended up pretty skilled (in spite of us) but if I had a list to check off the skills they needed to learn it probably would have been a more organized, comprehensive education for them. Here's 25 things that all kids should know how to do:

1. How to swim.
2. How to read a map.
3. How to shoot (and be very familiar with guns and gun safety).
4. How to camp in the wilderness.
5. How to fish and hunt.
6. How to work (for the sake of work, not because they are bribed or yelled at to do it).
7. How to speak and act properly with their peers and adults.
8. How to ride a bike.
9. How to make their case (ie: defend themselves or argue a point) appropriately and effectively (ie: using logic, facts, and persuasion).
10. How to take care of animals and other people.
11. How to travel across town, by public transportation, by themselves.
12. How to perform CPR, call 911, and provide basic first aid.
13. How to cook simple meals (and use a knife, stove, etc).
14. How to fight (not only the physical boxing or karate skills but how to avoid fighting if at all possible as well).
15. How to avoid dangerous situations and what to do if they find themselves in such a situation.
16. How to grow and harvest a garden.
17. How to learn for the sake of learning (ie: reading, math, logic, and research skills).
18. How to earn, spend, and save money.
19. How to do all jobs around the house (wash clothes, do dishes, clean, sew, mow the yard, make simple repairs, etc).
20. How to start, run, and profit from their own business.
21. How to eat right and stay physically fit.
22. How to be responsible (this is usually taught incrementally with more and more responsibility as earned).
23. How to shop, spot deals, determine "deals" that aren't so good, and overall be a wise consumer.
24. How to set and attain goals.
25. How to be emotionally well balanced (control anger, have a positive attitude, etc).

Actually the Boy Scouts were onto something when they listed these and many other skills that make for a well-rounded person. Parents, of course, are kid's best teachers and kids really are a reflection of the time and effort invested in them by their parents. I am always amazed at kids who are home schooled from a young age--it seems like parents who home school their kids really do have to put a lot of time and effort into creating pleasant, interesting individuals that you would want to be around because they are generally around these kids 24/7. The best part about teaching your kids these and other valuable skills is that they will grow up to be responsible, smart individuals who will be able to make a positive impact on society (and on their own families).