Starter Survival Kits for Kids


Katrillion

Katrillion

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Hey all! I have 10 nieces and nephews and one more on the way. The oldest one is going to be 13 soon and I'd like to make her a small emergency kit or a survival kit of some sort. I'd like to do this for each of them once they become teenagers, but I'm not sure what all would make sense. So far I thought a swiss army knife would be good and a little ferro rod. I don't have my own kids, so I really have no idea what would be good in a kit like this for 13 year old's. Can anyone give me a few ideas? Anything you've done like this or similar that you would recommend?
 
I would spend some time with them as the occasion rises, to see teach them and see what they are interested in and what they want to learn more about. Some might be more than happy with an SAK, while others may want a fixed blade. In light of that...............

This is what I'd put in a small pack as a kit.
A fire kit with a lighter and a ferro rod with a dedicated striker. Teach them with the striker, and you'll go through less first aid supplies.
A small first aid kit.
A ss cup/pot.
A whistle.
Some para cord.
A water bottle.
An SAK and a Mora Craftline Pro S- the SS version would be a good option to prevent rust until they know to take care of their knives.
A cotton bandana.
Small sharpening stone.
A pack to carry it all in.

This should be a good starting point and be added too as time goes on and interest grows.
 
I made a kit for my wife recently for her car. Put it all in a Helikon-Tex essential kit bag. Contents are:
-Mora companion
-multitool
-SOL Emergency blanket
-SOL bivvy
-plastic rain poncho
-general first aid
-Nesting SS cup
-Nalgene bottle (replace the water in it frequently but can’t drink what you don’t have)
-wet wipes
-duct tape
-whistle
-small pen/note pad
-energy bars
-ferro rod
-matches
-25 feet of 550 cord
 
I will second what @quietmike said about considering their knowledge base. Equipment of any kind can give a false sense of security if the knowledge and skill(s) to use it are not present. Is that something you could teach them?

The concepts we've presented to homeschool groups over the years are based on an ever-present day pack which includes, for starters, a water bottle (preferably stainless steel), adequate extra clothing for possible bad weather, a small homemade first aid kit, whistle (on their person) and room to add more materials as their skill set grew. As we moved into fire building and fire making skills, parental participation in the inclusion of materials (lighters, matches, pj cotton balls, fatwood etc) was a requirement. It was up to the parents at what point their child was mature enough to carry such things. Same things with cutting tools. (We trained with the Mora Basic 511 - not folders).

Things like Adventure Medical Kits (it may be SOL now) Heatsheets and the Heatsheet Ponchos were suggested as potential gifts from the parents or as good purchases for the older youth if they had some "disposable income." Because we taught shelter building using military style ponchos, I think some of the older youth with enough height to wear them comfortable included them in their additional clothing as a multi use item. The fall back was always large trash bags; more cost-friendly than ponchos and tarps and, arguably, more versatile. Along with that, parachute cord and or bank line are nice to have as well...if there is someone available to teach the tying and use of knots. Sometimes Animatedknots.com is not enough.

Often it isn't a stainless steel bottle that makes it into their packs. Because of that we also covered using metal canteen cups for boiling water for purification as well as some basic cooking skills using the cups. If you happen to have access to metal coffee cans, they are also easily adapted to boiling "billies"with the addition of some coat hanger wire. Once you are using the water bottle or some other vessel for boiling or cooking, you will need a simple cloth bag to keep the soot off of other things in the pack.

I know this isn't the small "Altoid tin" you may have been envisioning, but it does represent a kit that could have a significant impact on their odds of making it through some bad situations.

Make it fun as you explore with them what can be done with whatever items you settle on sharing with them. Don't push the fear and doom/gloom that is so often associated with the word "survival." At the same time, don't be afraid to share with them that if they ever are in a situation where they really do need those items, they will need to redefine "comfort" and allow their sense of adventure to control their attitude.

Edit: @CosmicJoke and @HunterX9 must type faster than I do! Both of those are very good lists. :cool:
 
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The most important Survival tool you can give the Younglings is the tool of Knowledge and Knowhow. Without that, any equipment is nothing more than a collection of baubles and trinkets that have no value to the child. If you need to give them something tangible, a good quality metal whistle, Emergency Blanket, and a set of Survival cards that they can read at their own pace. :dblthumb:
 
Survival is more of a stay alive skill set, bush-craft is more living with the land. Survival situations last on average 72 hrs and the main point should be stay visible, let them know they will not be in trouble, do not panic, and stay put. The more they move the larger the search area becomes.

For survival the kit should be lightweight and simple to use.

Kids Survival kit:

Water Bottle w/ cup.

Chlorine tablets and some flavor packets like LMNT hydration salts, or Gatorade packets for after the purification tablets have done their job.

A few comfort calories.

Whistle/ Mirror/ Signal Panel, for signaling if-when lost.

Simple pocket knife and ferro rod, lighter, depending on the child's responsibility level.

Rain coverage poncho or jacket.

Maybe some bandages.

25 feet of cord, and how to use it to make shelter.

Small pamphlet of directions for keeping it simple.

Add to it as their skills develop.


The kit should be small and lightweight, or they will not carry it. Children are smaller, and tend to tire more quickly.
 
No hollow handled Rambo knife? wtheck?

Flashlights are cool, maybe one of those SERE compass, If you can find them - a brightly colored garbage bag.

Perhaps a hard or soft container that they choose and decorate themselves to make it "theirs"?

Spending time with them and having fun with it will be a big deal and memorable. Fishing and cooking your catch, maybe a scavenger hunt? Make a swing? make a "fort"?

ETA: glow sticks and some string?
 
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Really early on in the forum I let my son make his own kit about 5-7 years ago. It was more for play than survival, and weighed about 5lbs. Halfway through a hike I would end up carrying it. It would be best to keep the weight around 3lbs or less.
 
Borrowing a bit from my childhood, a bit from various scout manuals, and a bit of what I've done with younger cousins, and friends and their kids.

Call it a "woods" kit, and have them bring it with them whenever you head into the woods (hiking, camping, chasing the dog, whatever). Take yours too, and make a point of calling it your "woods kit". Keep the focus on fun and learning. Spending time to teach them is going to be more important and more useful than just handing them a bag of stuff.

Start with
  • A bit of cordage, whatever type you like; it's going to get tangled and knotted and otherwise "used up" but that's OK, that's called learning.
  • SAK of some sort is a good choice, if they're responsible enough to carry a knife (I know some 10 year olds I'd trust with their own knife, and some 20 year olds I wouldn't -- age isn't everything, maturity is).
  • Small flashlight -- AA LED Mini Maglights are damn tough, readily available in a bunch of colors.
  • Water bottle, with fresh water in it.
  • Whistle
Let them pick colors, and what/how they want to carry things: waist pack, haversack/bag, backpack. Teach them simple (but useful and fun) things, like how to tie sticks together to make useful bits. Teach basic knots. Show them how to carve sticks -- making a pointy stick is the same process, regardless of the end result being used for a tent peg or a hot-dog / marshmallow cooking stick.

As they get older and their interests change (and hopefully, grow), you can add to their "woods" kit.
  • Fire kit: Start with a Bic and teach them how to build a fire lay. Show that it's useful outside the woods too, like starting a charcoal bbq grill. Ferro rods and bow drills can wait until there's an interest. Keep things easy until they want more.
  • Shelter: Small tarp, 4x6, 5x7 at most to start with. Keeps them from being frustrated with their tarp always turning into a kite.
  • Different types / more / better cordage, as needed.
  • Fixed blade knife (again, if/when they're mature enough)
Add more skills -- Use their basic carving skills (pointy sticks) to make feather sticks and shavings for a fire lay. Useful knots and lashings extends to making a tripod for over a fire. If they're up to it, carve notched sticks or find suitable forked sticks lashed together to make a pot hanger. Take the fabric seat off cheap chinese tripod stools, add that to their pack, let them find/cut lash their own seat legs together, and teach them why they should use good cordage and sturdy sticks for things that hold them up.

At some point, you might need to upgrade the container their "woods kit" is in. Maybe they've outgrown it. Maybe they've worn it out and it's falling apart. Maybe they've decided that not everything needs to be unicorns and sparkles. Maybe they've just decided that they hate the color blue now, but green is awesome. Roll with it as best you can.

Eventually, they're more than likely going to lose interest, but at least you've given them the basics in terms of skills and equipment.
 
Looking at this as a lost child scenario, I'm going to suggest...

-A couple of 12hr lightsticks which can be hung nearby as a nightlight and marker.
-Chemical heat packs. Safer for a young child (and some adults), especially in the drought ridden regions of the West. Use like a kid safe version of a Palmer furnace with a poncho or e-blanket.
 
Spork said:
Looking at this as a lost child scenario, I'm going to suggest...

-A couple of 12hr lightsticks which can be hung nearby as a nightlight and marker.
-Chemical heat packs. Safer for a young child (and some adults), especially in the drought ridden regions of the West. Use like a kid safe version of a Palmer furnace with a poncho or e-blanket.
Click to expand...

Yep, glow sticks whistle, compass, signal mirror, some type of quick shelter.
 
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ArmyMacE said:
Survival is more of a stay alive skill set, bush-craft is more living with the land. Survival situations last on average 72 hrs and the main point should be stay visible, let them know they will not be in trouble, do not panic, and stay put. The more they move the larger the search area becomes.
Click to expand...

That's a good point. I guess even a bushcraft kit would be nice to make for them. They each enjoy being outdoors and I'd like to help them learn and grow. The oldest one is trying to learn how to make campfires on her own so that's why I thought firestarters would be nice.

I want to give them a gift that would help them if they wanted to spend a lot of time in the woods and with a couple safety items too. A whistle is a great idea. I really don't know what would make sense overall and I'd probably give them too much if I were left to my own devices. You are all awesome and I appreciate these great suggestions.
 
I was thinking, kids get excited about something and then it's forgotten once something else comes along. Perhaps introduce a challenge, a reward system. Example. Show me a fire made with a Ferro rod and the kit gets a lighter upgrade. Show me a task completed with a kitchen knife and the kit gets a SAK etc. This way they have both a goal that they are less likely to ignore and they get practical experience using the various items.
Cheers Jim
 
CagedSpam said:
No hollow handled Rambo knife? wtheck?

Flashlights are cool, maybe one of those SERE compass, If you can find them - a brightly colored garbage bag.

Perhaps a hard or soft container that they choose and decorate themselves to make it "theirs"?

Spending time with them and having fun with it will be a big deal and memorable. Fishing and cooking your catch, maybe a scavenger hunt? Make a swing? make a "fort"?

ETA: glow sticks and some string?
Click to expand...
hello,
@CagedSpam I'd go along with that definitely. The keyword is FUN!! :dblthumb:
Regards
David
 
biglazycamper said:
Borrowing a bit from my childhood, a bit from various scout manuals, and a bit of what I've done with younger cousins, and friends and their kids.

Call it a "woods" kit, and have them bring it with them whenever you head into the woods (hiking, camping, chasing the dog, whatever). Take yours too, and make a point of calling it your "woods kit". Keep the focus on fun and learning. Spending time to teach them is going to be more important and more useful than just handing them a bag of stuff.

Start with
  • A bit of cordage, whatever type you like; it's going to get tangled and knotted and otherwise "used up" but that's OK, that's called learning.
  • SAK of some sort is a good choice, if they're responsible enough to carry a knife (I know some 10 year olds I'd trust with their own knife, and some 20 year olds I wouldn't -- age isn't everything, maturity is).
  • Small flashlight -- AA LED Mini Maglights are damn tough, readily available in a bunch of colors.
  • Water bottle, with fresh water in it.
  • Whistle
Let them pick colors, and what/how they want to carry things: waist pack, haversack/bag, backpack. Teach them simple (but useful and fun) things, like how to tie sticks together to make useful bits. Teach basic knots. Show them how to carve sticks -- making a pointy stick is the same process, regardless of the end result being used for a tent peg or a hot-dog / marshmallow cooking stick.

As they get older and their interests change (and hopefully, grow), you can add to their "woods" kit.
  • Fire kit: Start with a Bic and teach them how to build a fire lay. Show that it's useful outside the woods too, like starting a charcoal bbq grill. Ferro rods and bow drills can wait until there's an interest. Keep things easy until they want more.
  • Shelter: Small tarp, 4x6, 5x7 at most to start with. Keeps them from being frustrated with their tarp always turning into a kite.
  • Different types / more / better cordage, as needed.
  • Fixed blade knife (again, if/when they're mature enough)
Add more skills -- Use their basic carving skills (pointy sticks) to make feather sticks and shavings for a fire lay. Useful knots and lashings extends to making a tripod for over a fire. If they're up to it, carve notched sticks or find suitable forked sticks lashed together to make a pot hanger. Take the fabric seat off cheap chinese tripod stools, add that to their pack, let them find/cut lash their own seat legs together, and teach them why they should use good cordage and sturdy sticks for things that hold them up.

At some point, you might need to upgrade the container their "woods kit" is in. Maybe they've outgrown it. Maybe they've worn it out and it's falling apart. Maybe they've decided that not everything needs to be unicorns and sparkles. Maybe they've just decided that they hate the color blue now, but green is awesome. Roll with it as best you can.

Eventually, they're more than likely going to lose interest, but at least you've given them the basics in terms of skills and equipment.
Click to expand...
hello,
@biglazycamper :dblthumb:
Regards
David
 
A lot of what I would suggest has already been covered.

I think Jarrod makes a very good point. Think like a kid, not an adult.
Kids process things very differently than adults. They also can't carry as much.

In my Wilderness First Responder courses (Woofer) we spent a lot of time discussing
kids. Their whole physiology is very different.

Adults will begin to wear down, slowing down gradually.
Kids are the energizer bunny right up until they crash.
Their young bodies don't have the reserves adults do.
So when they go down, they go down hard.
Especially so with hypothermia, they go from being fine, to being in real trouble very quickly.

The young ones also don't carry the mental issues the adults do.
They (Most) tend not to panic in the same way adults do. They just deal.
***(The experience was gleaned prior to the full blown kids with phones era)***

I think I would approach this differently. Instead of providing a pre prepared kit.
I would purchase Nalgene one liter bottles.

Then as a group, or several smaller groups. I would present them the bottles.
And say if you had to spend three nights and days outside,
what would you put in here???
Don't use the word "Survive" or "Lost" let it be fun, not fear.

Make a game of it.
Have multiples of some options like a container of PJ Cotton balls,
Small flashlight, whistle, water treatment tablets, and other things you know you want in there,
but get them to suggest or accept the reasoning behind the items.
"Kids are smarter than you think they are" Especially in groups.

I have a friend who used to teach first grade. She used to have me come to school and spend an afternoon with her kids.
We would go over to the athletic field near the wood line. We would set up a tent, usually a Black Diamond Megamid, build a fire, cooks some kid food,
and just generally talk about what to expect when being outside.

I can say with confidence, first graders can ask some pretty important questions. At that age they don't have any filters.
They aren't afraid of being embarrassed yet, so they unload.

Coach them to discover certain necessities. but let the discover them, that will stick.

I also think the bottle for the 13 year old will evolve differently than the bottles for the younger ones, that is ok.
Maybe buy them all a poncho and have them wrap it around the bottles when they are done. If they are too young to tie good knots,
Get them some of this releasable Zip-Ties so the can reuse them.

Again, Jarrod nailed it. For this exercise, you are just trying to keep them alive, not turn them into young Mors Kochanskis.
KISS rules.

I think you will net much better results with interacting and learning than you will handing them all pre-made kits.

Anything is better than nothing!

If at all possible, this should be an on going process, review, practice, introduce the next levels as needed.
LV,
 
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