Getting Kids Involved in Preparedness
By Lori Garcia, editor-in-chief

Preparation... We have been commanded to get prepared for any emergency--food storage, 72-hour kits, etc. This task is daunting enough without worrying about children. But most of us will have children at one point of our lives, so we need to figure out how we can involve them in the preparation.

Involving children in preparedness can be fun and educational for them.

Food Storage:

Eat What You Store

Kids are picky eaters. That's nothing new, but consider how difficult it will be for your picky four-year-old to eat canned peas for two weeks straight, or even whole-wheat mush. They might just have to, especially if that's what you have in your food storage.

You can store all kinds of food--food that your kids will actually like to eat. You can store sweets like pudding mix, cocoa powder, cake mix, etc. You can store cans, freeze-dried packets, mixes, etc. If you don't know how to cook with certain items, or you don't even like them, don't include them in your food storage. Your family could defiantly survive, but they might not be the happiest campers around.

Did you know that you can "can" just about anything. The last time I visited our local cannery at the Bishop's storehouse in our area, the instructor said we could can just about anything. One sister in my mothers ward actually cans M&Ms. Call ahead of your visit and ask the supervisor any limitation they might have.

Get your kids involved in what they would like to store. They may agree that all they want is candy and soda, but you can have them pick between some healthy choices. Also, bring them to the cannery to help can.

Rotate Your Storage

According to experts at beprepared.com, "rotation is the key to a successful food storage program." They say this will prevent food spoiling, minimize the deterioration of nutritive value and quality, and make the most of your money.

You might want to refer to your food storage as your extended pantry. When you purchase food for your food storage, clearly mark the date on each item. Involve the kids in this process. They can mark items with a permanent marker, or you can create stickers with dates on them that your kids can help adhere to the items. As you bring the groceries home, have a couple of children marking the food while others put the food away. This way you will know exactly how old it is. Also, put the newest food in the back, pushing the older food to the front of your storage.

Cans vs Buckets

According to beprepared.com, cans and buckets have different purposes. In fact, they say, "Buckets are great for things you want to store in bulk. Buckets are the best for storing wheat, oats, barley and other grains, and for legumes, honey and sugar. These are all items that will keep fresh longer than dehydrated fruits and vegetables."

Cans, on the other hand, are "airtight, germ-free, small, easily stored, easily carried, and are great for perishable items." Don't forget however, that cans can dent, are heavy, require a can-opener, and may rust if not cared for.

72-Hour Kits for Kids

One mom, Kathy Gill, from the Lawrence 2nd Ward, said that she made 72-hour kits by age, not by child. She created a backpack for each age group, that way she could easily rotate packs for her kids. As one got older, she would advance him/her to the older pack.

Don't forget to add comfort items for kids in their 72-hour kits. If you are using your 72-hour kits, you are probably going through a traumatic time. Your kids may be confused, scared, and disjointed. Alyson Von Feldt, from the Lawrence 2nd Ward, said to be sure to include comfort items for your kids--favorite candy, blanket, teddy bear, favorite book. It's also a good idea to pack a small game for your kids in their 72-hour kit. Maybe a small card game, or colored pencils and coloring book, to give them something to do in an emergency.