Childrens Role In The Retreat

[Survival Goddess]

Do your children have a role in your retreat?



I grew up on the family farm. What that means is "everyone" contributes to the operation of that farm. I remember I was driving tractors before my feet could reach the pedals. I remember driving the tractor and the baler while my brothers stacked the bails on the wagon.



When I was in my teenage years my brothers had left home and so it was my job to wake before school and take care of steers, chickens, pigs, and my horse, then I repeated this in the evening. Also it was my job to take care of treatments, wounds, and on many occasions emergency situations where I had to "wing it".



This taught me responsibility, work ethic, and the most important.......self-reliance...



When I was in Alaska I was impressed by the kids with their skills, self reliance and the best example of this is the "Junior Iditarod". These kids as young as 9 compete in a 125 mile out and back course which is a overnight run. They are out there alone in sub zero temps with their teams and they just take it in stride very naturally.



They know how to survive, hunt, fish, drive quads, snowmobiles, and avoid danger. It is second nature to them.



I have heard several parents say they want to shelter their children and I think this is the absolutely worst thing they can do to their children. Children can be an important asset to the retreat. They can tend livestock, gardens, food preparation, and depending on age and skill they can contribute to security.



Teach them now.....



Teach your children to use weapons, prepare food, fish..etc. Use this as family bonding time. Go camping, teach them to build fire, build shelter, fish, navigate, etc. It doesn't have to be gloom and doom it can be lasting fun family memories.



Valuable memories that can contribute to the retreat and maybe save their lives...



Be prepared, not sorry.

Survival Goddess (http://survivalgoddess.blogspot.com/)

[LUNCHBOX]

Agreed, we go camping and I get them involved as much as possible. My girls do a lot of the feeding and egg collecting, and they like it which comes in handy. The youngest being four means she's not ready for a rifle, just a hand gun....J/K. I think getting the whole family into it and ready is a must. I will say that having family can make you work hardy and not give up.

[bacpacker]

SG sounds like you grew up like I did, chores before & after school, work in the hay, gardens, build fences, repair what's broke. That just how we lived.
It amazing what a kid will learn and do given the opportunity and guidance. It some cases even point out the obvious that adults may miss.

[Sniper-T]

nice post! I have no kids... but I have nephews and nieces. I grew up the same way, but not on a farm. shovelling snow, cutting grass, gardening, cutting, splitting, stacking wood, etc. you know... chores!

[ravensgrove]

This is a very important message. We have an 11 and 16 year old who are also growing up on the family farm. Not only am I confident they will go out into the world as productive citizens with strong work ethic...I am fairly certain they could survive if something were to happen to us. The family farm for the child not only teaches them resiliency and work ethic, it builds strong bodies and strong minds. I just watched a remarkable expose on the immune system and how antibiotics and antibacterials are ruining the immune system, it pointed out that children were raised on farms traditionally so were exposed to all sorts of germs, bacteria and viruses: this made for healthy immune systems. I can attest: our kids rarely get sick...very, very rarely. We have Tricare....case in point: we recently switched family doctors, when they requested our medical records from Madigan...they had been retired. We are 38, 16 and 11......but we have only been to the Dr. once a year for annual check ups....so they retired our medical files :)
And they never had any of the typical childhood problems: no ear infections et all.

Mind over matter is very important in a shtf situation, everything from the fortitude to eat livestock you have hand raised, to stretching your physical limitations to "Git R Done" are taught on the farm.

Great Post!

[izzyscout21]

Do your children have a role in your retreat?

My children keep me in prime fighting condition by constantly driving me to (wait for it)............................................... .................................................. .................................................. ...........................................the edge of insanity.;)

[Stormfeather]

My kids are doing what they can, but 3 kids under the age of 4, well, lets just say, their attention span isnt quite there yet, but they are already being exposed to the outdoor life of hunting, fishing, tracking, camping ect ect.

[Sniper-T]

HAH! I knew I had this article around... I don't remember where it came from, but still an interesting read:

Helping Children Cope with Disaster - Earthquakes...Tornadoes...Fires...Floods...Hurrica nes...Hazardous Materials Spills

Disaster may strike quickly and without warning. These events can be frightening for adults, but they are traumatic for children if they don't know what to do.

During a disaster, your family may have to leave your home and daily routine. Children may become anxious, confused or frightened. As an adult, you'll need to cope with the disaster in a way that will help children avoid developing a permanent sense of loss. It is important to give children guidance that will help them reduce their fears.



Children and Their Response to Disaster

Children depend on daily routines: They wake up, eat breakfast, go to school, play with friends. When emergencies or disasters interrupt this routine, children may become anxious.

In a disaster, they'll look to you and other adults for help. How you react to an emergency gives them clues on how to act. If you react with alarm, a child may become more scared. They see our fear as proof that the danger is real. If you seem overcome with a sense of loss, a child may feel their losses more strongly. Children's fears also may stem from their imagination, and you should take these feelings seriously. A child who feels afraid is afraid. Your words and actions can provide reassurance. When talking with your child, be sure to present a realistic picture that is both honest and manageable. Feeling or fear are healthy and natural for adults and children. But as an adult, you need to keep control of the situation. When you're sure that danger has passed, concentrate on your child's emotional needs by asking the child what's uppermost in his or her mind. Having children participate in the family's recovery activities will help them feel that their life will return to "normal." Your response during this time may have a lasting impact. Be aware that after a disaster, children are most afraid that the event will happen again. Someone will be injured or killed. They will be separated from the family. They will be left alone.

Advice to Parents: Prepare for Disaster

You can create a Family Disaster Plan by taking four simple steps. First, learn what hazards exist in your community and how to prepare for each. Then meet with your family to discuss what you would do, as a group, in each situation. Next, take steps to prepare your family for disaster such as: posting emergency phone numbers, selecting an out-of-state family contact, assembling disaster supplies kits for each member of your household and installing smoke detectors on each level of your home. Finally, practice your Family Disaster Plan so that everyone will remember what to do when a disaster does occur.

Develop and practice a Family Disaster Plan. Contact your local emergency management or civil defense office, or your local Red Cross chapter for materials that describe how your family can create a disaster plan. Everyone in the household, including children, should play a part in the family's response and recovery efforts. Teach your child how to recognize danger signals. Make sure your child knows what smoke detectors, fire alarms and local community warning systems (horns, sirens) sound like. Explain how to call for help. Teach your child how and when to call for help. Check the telephone directory for local emergency phone numbers and post these phone numbers by all telephones. If you live in a 9-1-1-service area, tell your child to call 9-1-1.

Help your child memorize important family information. Children should memorize their family name, address and phone number. They should also know where to meet in case of an emergency. Some children may not be old enough to memorize the information. They could carry a small index card that lists emergency information to give to an adult or babysitter.


AFTER THE DISASTER: TIME FOR RECOVERY

Immediately after the disaster, try to reduce your child's fear and anxiety. Keep the family together. While you look for housing and assistance, you may want to leave your children with relatives or friends. Instead, keep the family together as much as possible and make children a part of what you are doing to get the family back on its feet. Children get anxious, and they'll worry that their parents won't return. Calmly and firmly explain the situation. As best as you can, tell children what you know about the disaster. Explain what will happen next. For example, say, "Tonight, we will all stay together in the shelter." Get down to the child's eye level and talk to them. Encourage children to talk. Let children talk about the disaster and ask questions as much as they want. Encourage children to describe what they're feeling. Listen to what they say. If possible, include the entire family in the discussion. Include children in recovery activities. Give children chores that are their responsibility. This will help children feel they are part of the recovery. Having a task will help them understand that everything will be all right. You can help children cope by understanding what causes their anxieties and fears. Reassure them with firmness and love. Your children will realize that life will eventually return to normal. If a child does not respond to the above suggestions, seek help from an appropriate source.

[bacpacker]

Good info sniper I will pass this on to my family.

[helomech]

My kids are 12 and 16, both can handle themselves, but my 12 year old can watch my back anyday. I trust him with a gun more than I trust most people on the planet. He can accurately shoot a hog in the head at over 250 yards, can handle and care for every gun we have. Knows how to reload, clean his own game, cook his own food, can meat, raise animals. If the SHTF I know I have him to take care of things. My oldest just wants to play on line, go to his girlfriends, and text. He knows how to do most of the things listed above, but not at the level of my youngest.