7 Basic Self Survival Skills to Teach Children
he world is changing at a fast pace, and only theoretical knowledge of abstract concepts is not enough. Looking at the recent conflicts in some parts of Eastern Europe, everyone should start learning to survive in less-than-ideal situations. And your children need to know more than what they learn in school because survival skills are valuable and even vital in crises.
While homeschooling or registering your kids on brighterly.com will help you keep a closer eye on their learning, you should also start teaching children survival skills and strategies. Don’t worry; those skills are not like something straight out of a sci-fi movie; they just need to keep the kids alive and safe when resources run low. Let’s look at seven survival skills for kids that you can teach them right now.
Cooking
Yes, we are in a world where you can order chili sauce from your living room and have it in minutes; but what if you cannot? What if, like when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, you are locked in and only have access to raw food? What will you do?
You cannot determine where your kids will be at all times. But you can ensure they will not go hungry by teaching them how to cook simple meals. Guide kids and replicate simple recipes from YouTube videos. Also, teach them to make a good meal with few or no condiments.
Basic first aid
First aid mastery is one of the essential survival skills for kids and adults. The skill will help them stay safe if injured until a paramedic or help arrives. Besides, when you teach your child to administer first aid, you are saving them and putting them in a position to save other people.
Sometimes, when an accident happens, people are more eager to get their phones and record a video than help. One of the reasons is the fact that 77% of people cannot adequately administer first aid. So, help your child and society by teaching them how to help themselves and others.
Stitching and sewing
Sewing is a surprisingly important skill in high-risk situations. Instead of taking every ripped outfit to the tailor or throwing it away, your kids could repair it. For example, in an emergency, they may need to stitch pieces of clothing together to protect themselves from the cold.
Besides, clothes are not the only things that get torn; there are also quilts, curtains, and sheets. Being deft with stitching can also come in handy if one gets a nasty cut or bruise at a location where they can’t get medical help. Stitching the injury can stop bleeding and prevent infections long enough to get to a clinic.
Self-defense
As the world evolves, people continue to display a taste for violence, so everyone needs to be able to protect themselves from people around who want to harm someone. Some people learn self-defense as they grow older, but it is better that your child learn the basics when they are younger.
The self-defense strategy to teach to kids does not have to be sophisticated; it could be kickboxing or a simple disarm tactic. The goal should be to disable the assailant long enough for them to get away. A simple pepper spray can do the trick. Alternatively, find a self-defense class that suits your values and pocket and sign your children up.
Crafting and using simple weapons
You need to teach your child to make a weapon out of everyday objects and use it. Before you frown at the idea, consider that this is a wilderness survival skill and it is essential if you live in areas where wild animals occasionally appear. If you are not a family that would camp out in the woods on a typical day, you can still consider this idea in case the need arises.
If you live close to a forest or in a dangerous neighborhood, you must teach your kids how to make a tool for warding off threats. They may never get to use it, but you never know what is out there. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
How to oil and power a generator
People in Texas did not know that in 2021, they would encounter the most prolonged blackout in their recent history, so when it came, it caught them off guard. Some people weathered the cold by turning on their generators. Having a backup generator is not something everyone considers; however, if you have one, your kids should know how to power it.
There will be days when you will not be home with them, and a blackout may occur. It is not ideal for your kids to stay awake and be afraid in the dark when they could power on the generator instead.
How to stay calm amid danger
Sometimes, to ensure survival for kids, you have to teach them to take deep breaths, sit still, and stay calm. There are numerous cases where being erratic aggravates the situation and puts them in grave danger. Children need to learn how to tap into mindfulness and give long thoughts to actions before taking them.
Kids are known to act erratically out of fear, which is valid. However, in a world where you often encounter unprecedented danger, one of the survival tips kids must learn is to stay calm and think straight. Teach your children this skill and spend some time ensuring they master it; the knowledge could save their lives someday.
Conclusion
Teaching kids survival skills is a way to ensure that they retain that knowledge as they grow older and get better at protecting themselves. Some of the skills we have today as adults are skills we groomed over time, and the beautiful thing about knowledge is that while it takes time to develop, it stays for a long time. So, while teaching your children life lessons, don’t forget to add some survival skills to the mix.