9 Fun Family Preparedness Projects to Make Dad Happy

Do you ever wonder if your children or grandchildren will embrace preparedness?

It can be frustrating when you know how important preparedness is, but they don’t have much interest in it.

You know the day will come when they will need to be prepared for an emergency situation. Either in the near future or after you’re gone.

You want them to have the same preparedness mindset you have. But they’re not there yet. Well, don’t give up. If you have children or grandchildren, you can still impart some of your knowledge. And make them aware of what they can do.

Make it entertaining & educational

Because they are kids, you will have to make it fun if you expect them to get involved. Along the way, they will also learn the importance of preparedness.

And that’s today’s topic. Below are 9 ideas for preparedness projects families can do together. You don’t have to do all 9, of course.

But perhaps you can pick out a few you know your kids or grandkids would be interested in. That way you will have helped them take a big step toward realizing how essential this topic is.

And their interest could be the best Father’s Day gift you will receive this year. Here they are, in no particular order:

Create a family emergency plan

Gather your family members – including kids and grandkids – for a meeting. Let them know that while emergencies don’t happen often, it’s important to be ready for when they do.

Among the components of the plan will include everyone knowing what they should do when a crisis strikes.

This will include knowing how to get a hold of other household members in an emergency. And having a specific meeting place should returning home not be an option.

The plan should also include several different evacuation routes. You may need to utilize one after the family has gathered. Finally, you’ll want to review and practice this plan regularly. So that it will be second nature for everyone when it’s needed.

Assemble a custom first-aid kit

A first-aid kit is a crucial item to keep in a family bug-out bag. You should also have a comprehensive first-aid kit in your vehicles. In case a crisis keeps you from returning home.

Among the items to include in this kit are gauze, bandages, and medical tape. Plus burn salve, aspirin, and ibuprofen.

Also include anti-bacterial ointment, cough syrup, and a finger splint. As well as an ankle wrap, wrist brace, and anti-diarrhea medicine. Plus suture packs and cotton balls.

In addition to those basics, gather supplies for a customized first-aid kit. One family member may need a spare inhaler, for example. Another might require a CPAP machine. Or an EpiPen.

Gardening and seed saving

Start a vegetable garden. Learn the processes of building raised beds, planting, caring for, and harvesting crops. This is an activity in keeping with the prepper spirit. It’s a step toward self-sufficiency. It’s economical, healthy, and a fun family activity.

Pick a sunny location. Protect your crops from wind damage by placing the garden in the shelter of a nearby building or fence. Make sure there is a convenient water supply. But don’t let rain pool nor run off too quickly to soak into the soil.

Raised garden beds are a great option for starting small and with fresh soil and mulch. Large plant pots are a fine way to start herbs outdoors. Then bring them into an indoor window garden for winter.

Use only non-GMO heirloom seeds. Plant roots need soft soil, so make sure the earth is broken up and tilled before planting. Mix in untreated lawn clippings and leaves for compost. 

Gather seed from mature plants at the right time. Dry them and store properly for the next planting season. Research the crops you are considering. Make sure they are suited to your climate and growing season.

Popular plants that perform well for new gardeners include tomatoes, zucchini, and peppers. Plus cabbage, green beans, and carrots. As well as radishes, beets, and cucumbers.

Camping skills challenge

Have a backyard campout. Practice setting up tents and cooking over a fire or portable stove. Show them how to use other camping essentials.

Teams consisting of an adult and one or more children can compete against each other. Determine which team is best prepared to deal with the outdoors.

While enjoying s’mores before bedtime, quiz the kids on survival tactics under various circumstances.

In addition to being a fun activity, this is a great way to prepare for a real camping trip in the woods.

Build a rainwater collection system

This project can be both educational and useful. It could provide a sustainable way to collect and reuse rainwater. For gardening or other needs.

Rainwater collection generally includes four steps. Collect rainwater, channel it to tanks or barrels for storage, purify it, and distribute it.

For a basic rainwater collection system, cut one of your drain pipes and divert it to a large barrel.

Be sure to have more than one barrel on hand. That way you’ll be able to collect as much water as possible during a good rain.

Learn to make hardtack

Hardtack is a simple type of cracker that is inexpensive to make. When kept dry, it has an incredibly long shelf life.

Hardtack crackers were used in the absence of perishable foods during sea voyages. Plus land migration and military operations. Such as the Civil War.

You can find recipes online. A basic recipe is: mix 5 cups of flour to 1 cup of water that contains 1/2 tablespoon of salt. Knead dough and roll out to roughly 3/8-inch thickness.

Cut into 3-inch squares and pierce each with a fork several times. Bake at 400 degrees for 30 minutes or until slightly brown. To make this fun for children, let them add food coloring or edible glitter.

Make homemade survival pet food 

If you have family pets, you have probably stored emergency pet food with your supplies. After all, most dried pet food has a shelf life of 10-plus years.

Making your own pet food will save you enough money that you’ll wish you’d started years ago. This is an ideal kitchen project for young children. You don’t need to follow a recipe as closely as you might with other food items.

Decide on the type of meat you will use based on availability and pricing at your local grocery store. Then find a recipe online. Or experiment with your own dog food recipe based on this guide. 1-part meat/1-part grain/1-part vegetables.

You’ll be pleasantly surprised at how easy this project will be. You can freeze the pet food or make it shelf stable by bottling it. Encourage your children to design labels for an added element of fun.

Grow food from scraps

Save money by planting food scraps. There are many foods that can be regrown without seeds, simply by saving the scraps.

This is so much fun for children who weren’t aware that food can be regrown. And a brilliant way to teach them about recycling and reducing waste.

Take a look at what produce you are throwing away to figure out what can be regrown. For example, romaine lettuce and green onion can be regrown. As can celery, carrot tops, and potatoes.

Cut off the parts you will use now, and leave behind a couple of inches at the base of each plant. Set in water and watch for new growth.

Put children in charge of checking water levels every day and tracking growth. You can eat the new growth or transfer the plant to soil in warm weather.

Make newspaper seedling pots

Do your children or grandchildren love origami or arts and crafts? This will be an enjoyable project for them.

Making your own seedling pots saves you money and allows you to recycle newspaper. These newspaper pots will decompose in the soil naturally. This is another great way to talk to children about recycling.

You can find instructions or video tutorials online. But a simple method is to use a 10- to 15-ounce can as a guide. With one sheet of newspaper for each pot.

Start folding and create a cylinder and base around the can. Once the newspaper pot feels sturdy, remove the can and fold the edges.

Teaching preparedness to a child or grandchild will kindle their interest. And instilling this interest early on will increase the likelihood of them embracing it for a lifetime.