Teach ‘Em Now, Thank Yourself Later

Here’s the truth I learned the hard way—kids don’t magically know how to survive a power outage, a busted water main, or a weekend in the woods when the lighter won’t work. They’re not born knowing how to build a fire, bandage a cut, or navigate without GPS. And they sure don’t learn it by watching cartoons or scrolling on a tablet. If we want our kids to be capable, calm, and resourceful in an emergency, we have to teach them.

Now don’t get me wrong—this isn’t about raising little doomsday preppers with camo face paint and MREs in their lunchboxes. This is about teaching your kids how to handle life when life decides to throw curveballs. It’s about giving them the confidence to problem-solve, to take care of themselves, and maybe even to help someone else when it counts.

I started teaching survival skills to my daughters—Stephanie and Alexandria—not because I thought the end of the world was coming (though I’ll admit I’ve watched my fair share of documentaries with dramatic voiceovers), but because I wanted them to be capable without me. One day, whether it’s a blackout, a car breakdown, or just getting turned around on a hiking trail, I might not be right there. And if they’ve got the skills? They’ll be fine. If not? Well, that’s on me.

And here’s the best part: kids love this stuff. Show a nine-year-old how to start a fire with a magnesium rod and they’ll light up like it’s Christmas. Teach them how to make a shelter with a tarp and some rope and suddenly they’re little survival architects. Even the first aid lessons—done right—turn into “who can wrap the best fake injury” contests. Trust me. I’ve had to walk around with a duct-taped elbow more than once just to prove a point.

In this book, I’m breaking it all down into seven categories—bite-sized, hands-on, real-world survival skills you can start teaching your kids this year. These aren’t over-complicated, military-grade, wilderness-only skills. They’re practical, backyard-tested, and real-life useful. Because emergencies don’t always come with dramatic music and time to prep—they come when you’re running late, tired, and the flashlight batteries are dead.

Each chapter focuses on a different area of survival, and inside you’ll find three or four skills that are easy to teach, fun to practice (usually), and designed to give your kids the kind of knowledge that sticks. Think of this book like a field guide for raising confident, capable kids who don’t lose their cool when things get weird.

So grab a notebook, round up the little ones, and let’s teach ‘em how to be the kind of people who can build, fix, find, and help—no matter what gets thrown their way.