Showing posts with label kids. Show all posts
Showing posts with label kids. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
The Technology Trap - The Logic of Un-Automating Your Kids
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Friday, November 12, 2010
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Monday, November 8, 2010
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Family Survival Training with Airsoft
Today we have a special guest post from John Durfee. I'm not experienced with airsoft much and he's got some real good ideas here. Thanks, John. Enjoy :)
Family Survival Training
You've been watching him from your post for about ten minutes now. Your ingenious buddies knew of an old deer stand, which has made for an incredible lookout. He hasn't noticed you and has been resting by the bank of the stream catching his breath- your friend did pursue him for almost an hour. He's filling up his canteen and you know it's time, you have the perfect shot with him crouched over absorbed in what he is doing. You carefully and slowly raise your rifle, aim and "Crack" "Crack" "Hit!" You've taken out another one, now only two to go!
What I've just described isn't the latest Hollywood action film: it's the sport of Airsoft, and while fun, can be a valuable tool in teaching real world skills and be great for families.
A Little History
Airsoft originated in Japan in the late 1970's. Japanese law after World War II prevented civilian ownership of firearms, so companies started to produce air powered realistic looking replicas for public use. Over time, clubs began to develop, and the sport of airsoft was formed. In the United States, airsoft had only had a small following up until the late 1990's. This was because the only manufacturers of airsoft were from Japan and Taiwan, and importing airsoft guns was on a small scale because of their high initial prices and need for specialized knowledge. In the past decade however, the sport has developed from a small niche in the sporting market to a very popular sport and tactical simulation tool. Because of recent robust and more affordable designs coming out of neighboring China, airsoft has become hugely accessible to the public. There are fields and stores nationwide that are helping to spread the excitement and knowledge of this fun and safe sport.
What it's about
Airsoft is different from air rifles and pellet guns in that they use standardized 6mm plastic bb's that weigh far less than metal pellets or sabots, and are perfectly safe in a controlled play environment.
Airsoft is preferable to paintball to train with because the equipment requirements and initial cost are much lower. For airsoft electric guns (AEGs), only bb's, a battery, and a charger are needed. With gas powered airsoft, you'll need bb's and green gas (the pressurized gas needed to run the guns) Also, its cleaner than having to wash all your clothes after a day of play.
There are an increasing number of airsoft clubs and organizations that put together multiple day events that can be attended for a set fee. They're run on weekends, usually centered around military scenarios, and the core skills practiced are valuable to real world preparedness. There are varying degrees of immersion, varying from "play and go back to the car for a snack" to full milsim, where one acts, functions, and performs like a real military force for the entire duration. The former are great for family outings, as you can walk out between games at your leisure. Airsoft also teaches proper weapon usage, maintenance, and safety precautions. Most airsoft guns in the mid-range price look, feel, and function as close to the real steel guns as possible. Some airsoft pistols even disassemble the same way as the real thing! You're allowed to become familiarized with firearms and learn how to use them properly.
Valuable Lessons
Airsoft is safe, but it does require a certain level of responsibility and honesty. People need to call out when they are hit. This is a great structured way to teach kids concepts such as fair play, gun safety, and sportsmanship. Family ties are brought together as you rely on each other and work as a team. With all the running around it provides a great workout for everyone: dad gets in his cardio and the kids and burn off their energy. And sibling rivalry can play itself out in new and interesting ways.
For parents it provides an opportunity to train as close to real self defense scenarios as possible. In the case you ever do need to put these skills to use, you'll do it having practiced it before, and the more you play, the more ingrained these self defense procedures become.
The most important thing these events teach is mindset. You have to work in a team, placing your trust in each other. You have to be constantly aware of your surroundings, as your family trusts you to be a set of eyes and ears. You learn to distinguish between friend and foe. You'll hone your aiming and marksmanship skills on real targets who will react and move. You'll train yourself how to respond - rather than react – to surprises and potential threats. And if you're "killed" you can learn from your mistakes, and do better next time.
To be honest airsoft bb's can have a bit of a sting to them. But throwing on a heavy sweater or light jacket will make sure you feel them, but it will be more of a poke than a pinch. And remember the cardinal rule, ALWAYS WEAR EYE PROTECTION, while they may not have weight, bb's fly very fast and you need to protect your eyes and those of your family.
Where to play
Most airsoft fields (indoor and outdoor) have an open entry policy, you can play for a few hours, and go home. Many paintball fields are now becoming dual use fields, for both airsoft and paintball so you might want to call any local places to confirm.
Try googling the term 'airsoft' and your state, you'll find forums where people get together and arrange outings. Airsplat has a site with a comprehensive listing of fields across the US. So get out there with your kids and have a safe and fun time!
(PS Always check with your local law enforcement about regulations, wear proper eye protection and NEVER try to modify the orange tips on your airsoft gun.)
John Durfee is a Gulf War veteran and the marketing manager for Airsplat, the nation’s largest retailer of Airsoft Guns and Apparel.
Family Survival Training
You've been watching him from your post for about ten minutes now. Your ingenious buddies knew of an old deer stand, which has made for an incredible lookout. He hasn't noticed you and has been resting by the bank of the stream catching his breath- your friend did pursue him for almost an hour. He's filling up his canteen and you know it's time, you have the perfect shot with him crouched over absorbed in what he is doing. You carefully and slowly raise your rifle, aim and "Crack" "Crack" "Hit!" You've taken out another one, now only two to go!
What I've just described isn't the latest Hollywood action film: it's the sport of Airsoft, and while fun, can be a valuable tool in teaching real world skills and be great for families.
A Little History
Airsoft originated in Japan in the late 1970's. Japanese law after World War II prevented civilian ownership of firearms, so companies started to produce air powered realistic looking replicas for public use. Over time, clubs began to develop, and the sport of airsoft was formed. In the United States, airsoft had only had a small following up until the late 1990's. This was because the only manufacturers of airsoft were from Japan and Taiwan, and importing airsoft guns was on a small scale because of their high initial prices and need for specialized knowledge. In the past decade however, the sport has developed from a small niche in the sporting market to a very popular sport and tactical simulation tool. Because of recent robust and more affordable designs coming out of neighboring China, airsoft has become hugely accessible to the public. There are fields and stores nationwide that are helping to spread the excitement and knowledge of this fun and safe sport.
What it's about
Airsoft is different from air rifles and pellet guns in that they use standardized 6mm plastic bb's that weigh far less than metal pellets or sabots, and are perfectly safe in a controlled play environment.
Airsoft is preferable to paintball to train with because the equipment requirements and initial cost are much lower. For airsoft electric guns (AEGs), only bb's, a battery, and a charger are needed. With gas powered airsoft, you'll need bb's and green gas (the pressurized gas needed to run the guns) Also, its cleaner than having to wash all your clothes after a day of play.
There are an increasing number of airsoft clubs and organizations that put together multiple day events that can be attended for a set fee. They're run on weekends, usually centered around military scenarios, and the core skills practiced are valuable to real world preparedness. There are varying degrees of immersion, varying from "play and go back to the car for a snack" to full milsim, where one acts, functions, and performs like a real military force for the entire duration. The former are great for family outings, as you can walk out between games at your leisure. Airsoft also teaches proper weapon usage, maintenance, and safety precautions. Most airsoft guns in the mid-range price look, feel, and function as close to the real steel guns as possible. Some airsoft pistols even disassemble the same way as the real thing! You're allowed to become familiarized with firearms and learn how to use them properly.
Valuable Lessons
Airsoft is safe, but it does require a certain level of responsibility and honesty. People need to call out when they are hit. This is a great structured way to teach kids concepts such as fair play, gun safety, and sportsmanship. Family ties are brought together as you rely on each other and work as a team. With all the running around it provides a great workout for everyone: dad gets in his cardio and the kids and burn off their energy. And sibling rivalry can play itself out in new and interesting ways.
For parents it provides an opportunity to train as close to real self defense scenarios as possible. In the case you ever do need to put these skills to use, you'll do it having practiced it before, and the more you play, the more ingrained these self defense procedures become.
The most important thing these events teach is mindset. You have to work in a team, placing your trust in each other. You have to be constantly aware of your surroundings, as your family trusts you to be a set of eyes and ears. You learn to distinguish between friend and foe. You'll hone your aiming and marksmanship skills on real targets who will react and move. You'll train yourself how to respond - rather than react – to surprises and potential threats. And if you're "killed" you can learn from your mistakes, and do better next time.
To be honest airsoft bb's can have a bit of a sting to them. But throwing on a heavy sweater or light jacket will make sure you feel them, but it will be more of a poke than a pinch. And remember the cardinal rule, ALWAYS WEAR EYE PROTECTION, while they may not have weight, bb's fly very fast and you need to protect your eyes and those of your family.
Where to play
Most airsoft fields (indoor and outdoor) have an open entry policy, you can play for a few hours, and go home. Many paintball fields are now becoming dual use fields, for both airsoft and paintball so you might want to call any local places to confirm.
Try googling the term 'airsoft' and your state, you'll find forums where people get together and arrange outings. Airsplat has a site with a comprehensive listing of fields across the US. So get out there with your kids and have a safe and fun time!
(PS Always check with your local law enforcement about regulations, wear proper eye protection and NEVER try to modify the orange tips on your airsoft gun.)
John Durfee is a Gulf War veteran and the marketing manager for Airsplat, the nation’s largest retailer of Airsoft Guns and Apparel.
Friday, August 13, 2010
Travel Tips for Surviving the Family Road Trip
We've got a road trip planned next week. We're cheap/frugal/poor, so we don't usually fly anywhere, we just go places within driving distance. We do road trips more often than anything. We also don't have a TV/DVD in the car and our kids don't have Nintendo DS's, mp3's, or anything electronic. And usually we all arrive unscathed. Well, at least we're all still alive when we get there. So before we leave, here's a few tips to help your family survive those long road trips.
Here are a couple of ways to save some cash on your trip:
1. Stay with family or friends. We'll be gone 7 days and only one night is in a hotel. Hotels aren't cheap. Even cheap hotels aren't cheap. Especially when you have to leave in the middle of the night after finding bed bugs crawling on your pillows and check into a nicer hotel. Yep, done it.
Family or friends are usually glad to offer you a place to stay if they know you're coming through town, and sometimes they'll even feed you! And even if they can't have you stay, it's a good idea to stop and visit with them so they don't hear on Facebook that you came through their town and didn't even call! Don't be totally cheap here, do offer to pay for food, help with chores, or whatever they might need while you are there. And of course offer to return the favor if they're ever in your area.
2. Pack food and snacks. Make some cookies before you go. Or rice crispy treats. Or muffins. Try to avoid foods that get smashed or melt easily. Taking the family out to eat three times a day for a week will add a TON of money to your travel costs. Plan on eating out a few times, but pack some sandwich stuff, bagels and yogurt for breakfast, and snacks so you don't have to buy everything on the road. You might even pack a camp stove and some Mountain House meals. If it's a long trip, usually half way through you can hit a grocery store for more bread, fruit, etc. You'll want to re-stock the ice in the cooler anyway, and it's still cheaper than eating out.
3. Don't drive the gas guzzler. This may sound like a given, but if you're taking a camping trip, maybe the roads are good enough to drive your car instead of your suburban. Give it a thought before loading up the big ol' beast and spending three times as much for gas.
And now for some ideas to keep the kids from killing each other in the car.
1. Play classic games like I Spy, 20 Questions, etc. One we like is "I'm going on a picnic" where we take turns saying things we'll take on our picnic--one for each letter of the alphabet. Then each turn you have to remember everybody else's picnic items before adding the next letter item. Fun. With smaller kids you can do this one and skip having to recite all the other letter items. You can twist up I Spy by using colors, "starts with" some letter, or using things inside or outside the vehicle (I Spy outside in a Wyoming snowstorm using colors is pretty limited, but add the inside of the car and things get a bit better).
2. Write every passenger's name on one car tire with sidewalk chalk before you leave. Every time you stop, see whose name is on the top of the tire. Celebrate with a treat or something or just keep a count of who ends up on the top the most.
3. Play telephone. Or have one person write a word with their finger on the next person's arm and pass the word that way across the seat. Have the last person guess what the original word was. OR write letters on each other's backs and guess what they are. It's harder than it sounds.
4. Get a map of where you are going. If you're ahead of the game, you can order maps from each state's tourism department. Otherwise, buy a map. If you've got an "Are we there yet?" kid, this is $5 well spent. Mark your route. Have them navigate or count towns or answer questions about where we are.
5. Plan some surprises. My mom would circle random towns on the trip and when we got to that town she'd pull a "Razzle Dazzle Travel Gift" out of the trunk. These were things like a treat, or a small toy, lego kit, something to keep us busy for a while and break up the monotony. A couple of my favorites were plastic army men and rubber bands so we could set them up and shoot them down (in a van before the days of seatbelt laws) and bubbles we could use with the air conditioner vents. Total driver distractions, but SO fun as a kid. You can probably come up with things that aren't so dangerous ;)
5. Stop at rest stops and let the kids run around. Yes, this adds time to your trip, but kids need exercise! You can read the Historical marker while they run around the car 29 times.
6. Take some magazines. Crossword puzzles or word searches for the older kids. Other game magazines are good also. Magazines and books to read are also good if your kids don't get carsick. One game that kept our kids busy for hours used a magazine and a sticker. Stick the sticker somewhere in the magazine and have the kid find it. They might want to place the sticker somewhere else and have you find it (if you're not driving) or you can just re-stick it somewhere different for them to find or have them hide it for each other.
7. Sing songs. Get a handful of CD's or load up your ipod with music you all can enjoy and sing away. The people driving next to you won't notice, I promise. Well, unless you have your windows down.
8. Give the kids a pencil and paper and let them draw what they see or write notes or draw monsters or whatever. As simple as this is, it has been a lifesaver on some of our trips. One paper game we played was where one person drew the head of a monster and folded the paper over, then the next person drew a body and they got to open it and look at their creation and laugh. Kept them busy for quite a while.
9. Do some research about where you are traveling, or have the kids do some and be the tour guide.
10. Play license plate games. Find a license plate from as many states as possible and keep a list. Make words from the letters on a license plate. So if the plate is 142MNY, you could use MNY to make a word like MoNeY or you could use MNY to make a phrase like My New Yucca.
11. Let the kids take their pillows, stuffed animals, etc. and have blankets available for enforced quiet time in the car. You'll probably need some. We usually offer some reward for so many minutes of silence. It's totally worth it.
Just so you know, these are not fail proof. We still have the "she's touching me" and "he's breathing my air" times. But we're a lot better equipped to handle them if we've got an arsenal of activities and ideas to keep boredom at bay in the car.
I will be gone next week celebrating 15 sweet years with my hubby and a couple of birthdays and the end of summer break, but still have posts scheduled that I'm sure you'll enjoy, so be sure to check back in. We'll be playing I Spy. :)
Here are a couple of ways to save some cash on your trip:
1. Stay with family or friends. We'll be gone 7 days and only one night is in a hotel. Hotels aren't cheap. Even cheap hotels aren't cheap. Especially when you have to leave in the middle of the night after finding bed bugs crawling on your pillows and check into a nicer hotel. Yep, done it.
Family or friends are usually glad to offer you a place to stay if they know you're coming through town, and sometimes they'll even feed you! And even if they can't have you stay, it's a good idea to stop and visit with them so they don't hear on Facebook that you came through their town and didn't even call! Don't be totally cheap here, do offer to pay for food, help with chores, or whatever they might need while you are there. And of course offer to return the favor if they're ever in your area.
2. Pack food and snacks. Make some cookies before you go. Or rice crispy treats. Or muffins. Try to avoid foods that get smashed or melt easily. Taking the family out to eat three times a day for a week will add a TON of money to your travel costs. Plan on eating out a few times, but pack some sandwich stuff, bagels and yogurt for breakfast, and snacks so you don't have to buy everything on the road. You might even pack a camp stove and some Mountain House meals. If it's a long trip, usually half way through you can hit a grocery store for more bread, fruit, etc. You'll want to re-stock the ice in the cooler anyway, and it's still cheaper than eating out.
3. Don't drive the gas guzzler. This may sound like a given, but if you're taking a camping trip, maybe the roads are good enough to drive your car instead of your suburban. Give it a thought before loading up the big ol' beast and spending three times as much for gas.
And now for some ideas to keep the kids from killing each other in the car.
1. Play classic games like I Spy, 20 Questions, etc. One we like is "I'm going on a picnic" where we take turns saying things we'll take on our picnic--one for each letter of the alphabet. Then each turn you have to remember everybody else's picnic items before adding the next letter item. Fun. With smaller kids you can do this one and skip having to recite all the other letter items. You can twist up I Spy by using colors, "starts with" some letter, or using things inside or outside the vehicle (I Spy outside in a Wyoming snowstorm using colors is pretty limited, but add the inside of the car and things get a bit better).
2. Write every passenger's name on one car tire with sidewalk chalk before you leave. Every time you stop, see whose name is on the top of the tire. Celebrate with a treat or something or just keep a count of who ends up on the top the most.
3. Play telephone. Or have one person write a word with their finger on the next person's arm and pass the word that way across the seat. Have the last person guess what the original word was. OR write letters on each other's backs and guess what they are. It's harder than it sounds.
4. Get a map of where you are going. If you're ahead of the game, you can order maps from each state's tourism department. Otherwise, buy a map. If you've got an "Are we there yet?" kid, this is $5 well spent. Mark your route. Have them navigate or count towns or answer questions about where we are.
5. Plan some surprises. My mom would circle random towns on the trip and when we got to that town she'd pull a "Razzle Dazzle Travel Gift" out of the trunk. These were things like a treat, or a small toy, lego kit, something to keep us busy for a while and break up the monotony. A couple of my favorites were plastic army men and rubber bands so we could set them up and shoot them down (in a van before the days of seatbelt laws) and bubbles we could use with the air conditioner vents. Total driver distractions, but SO fun as a kid. You can probably come up with things that aren't so dangerous ;)
5. Stop at rest stops and let the kids run around. Yes, this adds time to your trip, but kids need exercise! You can read the Historical marker while they run around the car 29 times.
6. Take some magazines. Crossword puzzles or word searches for the older kids. Other game magazines are good also. Magazines and books to read are also good if your kids don't get carsick. One game that kept our kids busy for hours used a magazine and a sticker. Stick the sticker somewhere in the magazine and have the kid find it. They might want to place the sticker somewhere else and have you find it (if you're not driving) or you can just re-stick it somewhere different for them to find or have them hide it for each other.
7. Sing songs. Get a handful of CD's or load up your ipod with music you all can enjoy and sing away. The people driving next to you won't notice, I promise. Well, unless you have your windows down.
8. Give the kids a pencil and paper and let them draw what they see or write notes or draw monsters or whatever. As simple as this is, it has been a lifesaver on some of our trips. One paper game we played was where one person drew the head of a monster and folded the paper over, then the next person drew a body and they got to open it and look at their creation and laugh. Kept them busy for quite a while.
9. Do some research about where you are traveling, or have the kids do some and be the tour guide.
10. Play license plate games. Find a license plate from as many states as possible and keep a list. Make words from the letters on a license plate. So if the plate is 142MNY, you could use MNY to make a word like MoNeY or you could use MNY to make a phrase like My New Yucca.
11. Let the kids take their pillows, stuffed animals, etc. and have blankets available for enforced quiet time in the car. You'll probably need some. We usually offer some reward for so many minutes of silence. It's totally worth it.
Just so you know, these are not fail proof. We still have the "she's touching me" and "he's breathing my air" times. But we're a lot better equipped to handle them if we've got an arsenal of activities and ideas to keep boredom at bay in the car.
I will be gone next week celebrating 15 sweet years with my hubby and a couple of birthdays and the end of summer break, but still have posts scheduled that I'm sure you'll enjoy, so be sure to check back in. We'll be playing I Spy. :)
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Kids Prep Minute: Stock Kid Stuff
If you're living with kids, you know they have special needs. Those needs should extend to your preparedness efforts. When you're prepping, keep the children in mind and stock stuff to take care of their needs. Here are a few ideas to get you thinking.
Have a baby? Diapers, wipes, baby foods, formula (yes, even if you're nursing, something may happen to you and how is Dad going to feed the baby?), extra blankets and warm clothing, baby medicines, diaper rash ointment, clothes the next size up. I'll be honest, with the price of diapers I was never very good at having a lot on hand. Maybe have some cloth diapers just in case. I can't remember the disaster, but I remember news coverage of looters and some were running out of the store with DIAPERS! Serious business--for your own safety and sanity you don't want to have to be running to the store during or after an emergency to pick up anything. Even diapers.
Bigger kids? Pullups for the bed wetters even if they don't usually wear them--you don't want to have to be doing all that laundry by hand if you can help it. Size up clothes and shoes, comfort foods, kid medication. Once the kids reach a certain age, you can start chopping a regular tylenol in half, but if you've got kids that need the chew kind, make sure you have some on hand. A big one with kids is to stock foods they like to eat. That means not all rice and beans and wheat. It's nice to add a little normalcy to an emergency by stocking some spaghettio's or whatever their favorites are and being able to pull them out when things are crazy.
Teenagers? I really don't know. My oldest is 10. But I'd still go with stocking clothes and shoes a size or two up for them if they're still growing. And they eat a lot--actually sometimes more than adults, so make sure to take that into consideration when you're calculating meals and how much food to store.
We'll cover boredom busters in another post. Any other ideas of things to have on hand for kids needs?
Have a baby? Diapers, wipes, baby foods, formula (yes, even if you're nursing, something may happen to you and how is Dad going to feed the baby?), extra blankets and warm clothing, baby medicines, diaper rash ointment, clothes the next size up. I'll be honest, with the price of diapers I was never very good at having a lot on hand. Maybe have some cloth diapers just in case. I can't remember the disaster, but I remember news coverage of looters and some were running out of the store with DIAPERS! Serious business--for your own safety and sanity you don't want to have to be running to the store during or after an emergency to pick up anything. Even diapers.
Bigger kids? Pullups for the bed wetters even if they don't usually wear them--you don't want to have to be doing all that laundry by hand if you can help it. Size up clothes and shoes, comfort foods, kid medication. Once the kids reach a certain age, you can start chopping a regular tylenol in half, but if you've got kids that need the chew kind, make sure you have some on hand. A big one with kids is to stock foods they like to eat. That means not all rice and beans and wheat. It's nice to add a little normalcy to an emergency by stocking some spaghettio's or whatever their favorites are and being able to pull them out when things are crazy.
Teenagers? I really don't know. My oldest is 10. But I'd still go with stocking clothes and shoes a size or two up for them if they're still growing. And they eat a lot--actually sometimes more than adults, so make sure to take that into consideration when you're calculating meals and how much food to store.
We'll cover boredom busters in another post. Any other ideas of things to have on hand for kids needs?
Friday, March 19, 2010
Kids Prep Minute: Teach History--We Live in a Republic, not a Democracy
What? You thought America was a Democracy? So do a lot of people. But it's not, at least that's not the way it was founded. It is a Republic. Pay attention to the Pledge of Allegiance next time you hear it: "I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands . . ."
Now you're telling me you didn't know there was a difference between a Democracy and a Republic? Well, watch this video and share it with your kids. Okay, share the video with the older kids. The Anarchy scene is not exactly G-Rated, so you could probably just share the concepts with the younger kids.
Knowing a little about how our government is supposed to work never hurt anyone. In fact, it might help the future of our nation if the next generation understands our history. And I'm guessing your kids won't get this education in school. I know I didn't.
Now you're telling me you didn't know there was a difference between a Democracy and a Republic? Well, watch this video and share it with your kids. Okay, share the video with the older kids. The Anarchy scene is not exactly G-Rated, so you could probably just share the concepts with the younger kids.
Knowing a little about how our government is supposed to work never hurt anyone. In fact, it might help the future of our nation if the next generation understands our history. And I'm guessing your kids won't get this education in school. I know I didn't.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Kids Prep Minute: Shoot Something
Okay, I really have a lot of posts planned, but they are requiring that I actually have some time to put in on them, and I just don't have that kind of time right now, so I'm putting up another Kids Prep Minute Post instead, because they're a bit quicker. Yes, I know the fire starter giveaway ended last night and you're all dying to know if you won. I'll get a winner notified in the next day or so, okay? Now, on with your regularly scheduled post. :)
Another way to help get your kids involved in preparedness is to take them shooting. Children can and should be taught about firearms at a young age. How young depends on you and your children. You know your children best and whether they are old enough or mature enough to handle a firearm. All of our children (our youngest is 5) understand gun safety rules and how to behave at a range—not because we’ve talked about it even though we have, but because they’ve been around it. We’ve had BB gun shooting contests in the back yard, taken them with us hunting upland game and deer, and had them shoot at an organized range.
Always supervise children with any firearm, and always practice the rules of safe shooting yourself as you are the example they will follow. And I know you wouldn’t do this, but don’t just take your sons shooting. My girls shoot as well as my boy and have just as much fun doing it. Remember your family is your team and you want every member as capable as possible with the skills and tools they will need. As a side note here, some children are not interested in shooting. This could be for a variety of reasons. Don’t rush them, but do continue to invite them and provide opportunities to be around firearms in a safe environment.
Another way to help get your kids involved in preparedness is to take them shooting. Children can and should be taught about firearms at a young age. How young depends on you and your children. You know your children best and whether they are old enough or mature enough to handle a firearm. All of our children (our youngest is 5) understand gun safety rules and how to behave at a range—not because we’ve talked about it even though we have, but because they’ve been around it. We’ve had BB gun shooting contests in the back yard, taken them with us hunting upland game and deer, and had them shoot at an organized range.
Always supervise children with any firearm, and always practice the rules of safe shooting yourself as you are the example they will follow. And I know you wouldn’t do this, but don’t just take your sons shooting. My girls shoot as well as my boy and have just as much fun doing it. Remember your family is your team and you want every member as capable as possible with the skills and tools they will need. As a side note here, some children are not interested in shooting. This could be for a variety of reasons. Don’t rush them, but do continue to invite them and provide opportunities to be around firearms in a safe environment.
Friday, February 26, 2010
Kids Prep Minute: Go Camping!
One of my favorite ways to promote preparedness and survival skills with the kids is to go camping. And I’m not talking about pulling the motor-home into a commercial campground and hooking on to the water and electricity. I’m talking about real camping—preferably in a tent where you have to bring in your own water and non-electric entertainment. If you live in an apartment building in the middle of a city, this will take more planning than if you live in a very rural area. Don’t make yourself hate the experience, but get as primitive as you can stand.
And preferably camping lasts more than one night although that is not always possible. One of our favorite camping trips is a week long excursion we take every summer. Camping has provided the opportunity for us to try some of our gear (stoves, tents, fire starting items) in the environment it was made for. The kids get to help set up camp, build fires, cook, catch and clean fish, wash clothes and dishes and hair outdoors with limited water, and dig a latrine. Quality survival education disguised as fun.
And preferably camping lasts more than one night although that is not always possible. One of our favorite camping trips is a week long excursion we take every summer. Camping has provided the opportunity for us to try some of our gear (stoves, tents, fire starting items) in the environment it was made for. The kids get to help set up camp, build fires, cook, catch and clean fish, wash clothes and dishes and hair outdoors with limited water, and dig a latrine. Quality survival education disguised as fun.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Kids Prep Minute: Give Them the Gear and Let Them Use It
We have used occasions like birthdays, Christmas, etc. to give our children gifts of flashlights, headlamps, books about survival skills, pocket knives, sleeping bags, and other outdoor gear. Yes, they also get toys like other kids, but usually we're able to slip in some preparedness gear as well.
Then, practice using the preparedness gear with your kids. Their gear and yours. Don't lock it up somewhere "safe" and never use it. I'll be honest with you here, sweet husband is way better at this than I am. He welcomes and encourages help from the kids even when it slows him down. He has been known to put a child in charge of lighting the campfire with his flint and steel (with dad's help and encouragement of course) while I would have just lit a match and got the dang fire going. Son did get the fire going eventually though and what an accomplishment for a then 9 year old!
Our kids get to rotate through their own emergency kits, help light fires, use tools, and help with the planting, growing, harvesting, and preserving of the garden each year. They get to help me make meals and help dad fix wiring and pipes. They get to use their pocket knives, shoot the guns, and hammer nails into boards. I haven't started them on the sewing machine yet, but it won't be long. No, it is usually not faster or easier to let the kids help. And no, I don't always let them help. But I try. They are part of my team. By having the gear and letting them use it, we are giving them the tools and the skills they need to be a little more self reliant and more prepared which, in the end, will help us all.
Then, practice using the preparedness gear with your kids. Their gear and yours. Don't lock it up somewhere "safe" and never use it. I'll be honest with you here, sweet husband is way better at this than I am. He welcomes and encourages help from the kids even when it slows him down. He has been known to put a child in charge of lighting the campfire with his flint and steel (with dad's help and encouragement of course) while I would have just lit a match and got the dang fire going. Son did get the fire going eventually though and what an accomplishment for a then 9 year old!
Our kids get to rotate through their own emergency kits, help light fires, use tools, and help with the planting, growing, harvesting, and preserving of the garden each year. They get to help me make meals and help dad fix wiring and pipes. They get to use their pocket knives, shoot the guns, and hammer nails into boards. I haven't started them on the sewing machine yet, but it won't be long. No, it is usually not faster or easier to let the kids help. And no, I don't always let them help. But I try. They are part of my team. By having the gear and letting them use it, we are giving them the tools and the skills they need to be a little more self reliant and more prepared which, in the end, will help us all.
Friday, February 19, 2010
Kids Prep Minute: It's About Love Not Fear
The trouble is, especially with young children, they are prone to worry and anxiety if adult topics such as preparedness and the uncertain future are not presented properly. Heck, a lot of adults are the same way. It's a fine line, and we've messed it up before. One time discussing leaving the house in the event of a fire one child asked about their favorite stuffed animal. Yep, we told him it was more important to have him get out of the house than to make sure Scruffy was out. Well, pretty soon all three were crying uncontrollably about having to leave their favorite stuffed friends behind. It was not good. I'm sure you can picture the scene. It was, however, something that needed to be understood, I just think maybe we could have presented it differently so it wouldn't have been so traumatic.
It's important to help the kids understand why you are storing food, guns, and all the gear but use discretion. I have not gone into great detail with my kids about all the horrifying possibilities that could be created by a societal collapse or terrorist attack for example. Children don’t need to know all that. What they do need to know is that you love them and want to do whatever is in your power to protect them and provide for their needs no matter what happens in the future. If the reason you're preparing is presented right, they'll feel safer and more secure about the future, not more anxious. Remember that while you’re discussing preparedness with your children.
It's important to help the kids understand why you are storing food, guns, and all the gear but use discretion. I have not gone into great detail with my kids about all the horrifying possibilities that could be created by a societal collapse or terrorist attack for example. Children don’t need to know all that. What they do need to know is that you love them and want to do whatever is in your power to protect them and provide for their needs no matter what happens in the future. If the reason you're preparing is presented right, they'll feel safer and more secure about the future, not more anxious. Remember that while you’re discussing preparedness with your children.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Kids Prep Minute: Code Words
Here's a quick one to think about with your kids. If mom was unavailable to come get you and she had to send someone you didn't know to pick you up from school/ball practice/whatever, how would you know they were safe to go with? Well, they'll know the secret code word (or phrase) of course. When we were growing up, we made up a crazy secret code phrase. It is hilarious and nobody could come up with it if they weren't told it, but it would be hard to forget once you heard it. Perfect. Never had to use it. I know you're dying to know what it was, but I can't give it away here because it's a SECRET code word! Come up with some phrase that your kids and you can remember in an emergency situation. Then if anyone comes up to your kids and says their mom needs help and they are suppposed to get in that person's car right now, they'll know to run the other way if they don't hear the code word.
Another place a code word could be used is in an event that requires kids going straight to a safe room in the house or dropping and hiding where they are. Then if it is an intruder at the door, he won't know what you're yelling "BLUE PICKLES" for, but the kids will get the message and do what they need to do.
This code word could also be something you could "text" to your kids if they have cell phones. The key is that the code word enacts a plan that you have already made.
Think up times when your family might need to communicate something without letting the whole world know what you mean (think "Alas, Babylon"), or might need a "password" for security reasons. Come up with some good memorable code words for your family, and by all means, don't tell me what they are! ;)
Another place a code word could be used is in an event that requires kids going straight to a safe room in the house or dropping and hiding where they are. Then if it is an intruder at the door, he won't know what you're yelling "BLUE PICKLES" for, but the kids will get the message and do what they need to do.
This code word could also be something you could "text" to your kids if they have cell phones. The key is that the code word enacts a plan that you have already made.
Think up times when your family might need to communicate something without letting the whole world know what you mean (think "Alas, Babylon"), or might need a "password" for security reasons. Come up with some good memorable code words for your family, and by all means, don't tell me what they are! ;)
Monday, February 8, 2010
Kids Prep Minute: Drills
Another post here about preparing with kids in the house. If you don't have kids, read it anyway. Maybe it will get your imagination going on something you could do to be better prepared also.
Our topic today is drills, and I'm not talking about your favorite Makita
here. I'm talking about practicing your emergency plans to the extent possible. If your kids are anything like mine, I can talk till I'm blue in the face and they amazingly can't remember a thing I said five minutes later. Physically doing something reinforces what you talked about in their memories. Did mom say go left or right? But if they've run the drill and always gone right, there will be no question when the time comes to do it for real.
Drills or "emergency plan practice" also help to work out kinks in your plans you might not have known were even there.
Fire drills are one common area to practice. Our kids love fire drills, even though we've never actually let them break the window in their room. We try to practice as close to the actual plan as possible and found we needed to make sure they had something hard by their beds to get the window broken if they needed it, so now that's where the wooden rifles go.
Think about your situation and the likely events your family faces. Maybe you also need to practice getting out of the house fast but not immediately as would be necessary in an evacuation for flood or wildfire. Set a timer and see how long it takes you to get everybody to the car with enough gear to either camp or hotel-it for 3-4 days. Or see how ready you are in 10 minutes and use that to build a better plan.
Maybe practice getting everyone in the house to a safe-room in the house in the event of a break-in or other similar event. Time them, give them rewards for quick responses, have fun with it. Drills can be planned or random and can be made to be fun for the kids while enforcing the important plans your family has for emergencies. You could dream up some seriously fun and useful family-night activities incorporating emergency drills. Have you practiced emergency drills with your family? How did it go?
Our topic today is drills, and I'm not talking about your favorite Makita
here. I'm talking about practicing your emergency plans to the extent possible. If your kids are anything like mine, I can talk till I'm blue in the face and they amazingly can't remember a thing I said five minutes later. Physically doing something reinforces what you talked about in their memories. Did mom say go left or right? But if they've run the drill and always gone right, there will be no question when the time comes to do it for real. Drills or "emergency plan practice" also help to work out kinks in your plans you might not have known were even there.
Fire drills are one common area to practice. Our kids love fire drills, even though we've never actually let them break the window in their room. We try to practice as close to the actual plan as possible and found we needed to make sure they had something hard by their beds to get the window broken if they needed it, so now that's where the wooden rifles go.
Think about your situation and the likely events your family faces. Maybe you also need to practice getting out of the house fast but not immediately as would be necessary in an evacuation for flood or wildfire. Set a timer and see how long it takes you to get everybody to the car with enough gear to either camp or hotel-it for 3-4 days. Or see how ready you are in 10 minutes and use that to build a better plan.
Maybe practice getting everyone in the house to a safe-room in the house in the event of a break-in or other similar event. Time them, give them rewards for quick responses, have fun with it. Drills can be planned or random and can be made to be fun for the kids while enforcing the important plans your family has for emergencies. You could dream up some seriously fun and useful family-night activities incorporating emergency drills. Have you practiced emergency drills with your family? How did it go?
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Kids Prep Minute: Make a Plan
The computer has been reincarnated, so I'm back. I only have about a hundred posts to write, but the photo editing software isn't installed yet, so I guess I get to start with a non-photo intensive post. This will be the first in a bunch of posts having to do with preparedness and self-reliance when you've got kids that I'll randomly toss out in no particular order and well mixed with other posts. I could write this up as one long post, but it would be one LONG post and I'm not too crazy about long posts (writing them or reading them--maybe it's ADD). Now, those of you without children living at home, don't go ignoring these Kids Prep Minute posts--many of them will be helpful for you even without little ones around.
Children are a special consideration when you are preparing for an uncertain future. If you have children in your home, they are your responsibility, and I believe they should also be your partners in preparation. There are many things that we as parents can do to help our kids be better prepared, and one of those is making plans with them.
Do they know what to do if the house is on fire? What about for an earthquake? An evacuation? A tornado? What if these things happen while they are at school and dad and/or mom is at work? What is the plan? If they know where to go, who to contact, where you will meet them, etc. it can greatly reduce their anxiety level and yours when there is a need to put those plans into action.
So here's your assignment (and mine too): If your child is in school, find out what the school's plans are for an emergency. Then get together with your family and make a plan or two. Write them down if you want. You could put copies in their backpacks. Make sure everybody knows the plan and how to get in contact with each other. Well, I think my minute's up. More Kids Prep ideas in another post ;).
Children are a special consideration when you are preparing for an uncertain future. If you have children in your home, they are your responsibility, and I believe they should also be your partners in preparation. There are many things that we as parents can do to help our kids be better prepared, and one of those is making plans with them.
Do they know what to do if the house is on fire? What about for an earthquake? An evacuation? A tornado? What if these things happen while they are at school and dad and/or mom is at work? What is the plan? If they know where to go, who to contact, where you will meet them, etc. it can greatly reduce their anxiety level and yours when there is a need to put those plans into action.
So here's your assignment (and mine too): If your child is in school, find out what the school's plans are for an emergency. Then get together with your family and make a plan or two. Write them down if you want. You could put copies in their backpacks. Make sure everybody knows the plan and how to get in contact with each other. Well, I think my minute's up. More Kids Prep ideas in another post ;).
Monday, April 27, 2009
Obligatory Swine Flu Post and Quarantine Thoughts
JUST IN CASE you haven't found or heard any information on this Swine Flu deal yet or want more, here's a quick list of a few places with good information (and if you're sick of links about the Swine Flu, just cruise on past this first part--there's more):
Utah Preppers has a 3 part (so far) series:
Pandemic Preparedness
More Swine Flu Info
Pandemic Go-Kits
Pandemic Preparedness Planning information from the LDS Church
What's new on the Swine Flu Site from the CDC
More from the government: (you know this government information took a gazillion tax dollars to write and put online for all of us, so we might as well use it) pandemicflu.gov
Utah State's Swine Flu/Pandemic page
Current Swine Flu Map
I'm sure there are a ton more resources out there also and more will be coming as this develops.
Pick up some hand sanitizer, N95 masks, and latex gloves if you don't already have them in your stockpile, and have some extra food on hand in case you need to self-quarantine/reverse quarantine! ;-)
Ahhh, quarantine. I know it's not heard of much anymore, but my family actually had to be quarantined when I was a kid because my baby sister came down with whooping cough and more than one of the rest of us were carriers. We were escorted home from school in the middle of the day by our principal and I can't remember how long it lasted, but we couldn't have friends over or go to school (I'm sure my son would find this a welcome tragedy) or anywhere really. What did my mom do with us all???
Well, besides health and food supplies, you might think of "preparing" things you can do at home with your family if you all are stuck there with each other and nobody else for two or three weeks. If nobody is sick in your house and you've quarantined yourselves to keep it that way, you might as well enjoy your time together (which to me means NOT sitting around watching the news). You know who you'll be there with--brainstorm some age appropriate activities. That way if you'll need some supplies for your fun, you'll be able to pick them up ahead of time. And if you don't end up needing them right away, you'll have them for some lazy Saturday instead. ;-)
Of course if the power's on you can resort to video games, computer, TV, but why? Remember board games? (but not Monopoly, mom, I know that game made you crazy with us kids) And card games? Go Fish, Speed, Canasta, Scum, Spoons, what are your favorites? Here's a huge resource for card game rules. Just make sure you have a couple of decks on hand.
Play charades, make music, draw, paint, or write something. Build a puzzle or two or ten. Read books. Build a city out of legos. Sew, crochet, knit. Set up your tent and "camp" in your living room. Build a model. You get the idea. Make yourself a list and make sure you've got the supplies for a variety of activities. It is especially important for kids to have a sense of normalcy or even that it is a special time rather than the stressful time quarantine could easily be.
Here's hoping this thing gets under control and things get better instead of worse--you know that saying: Hope for the best, prepare for the worst. :)
Utah Preppers has a 3 part (so far) series:
Pandemic Preparedness
More Swine Flu Info
Pandemic Go-Kits
Pandemic Preparedness Planning information from the LDS Church
What's new on the Swine Flu Site from the CDC
More from the government: (you know this government information took a gazillion tax dollars to write and put online for all of us, so we might as well use it) pandemicflu.gov
Utah State's Swine Flu/Pandemic page
Current Swine Flu Map
I'm sure there are a ton more resources out there also and more will be coming as this develops.
Pick up some hand sanitizer, N95 masks, and latex gloves if you don't already have them in your stockpile, and have some extra food on hand in case you need to self-quarantine/reverse quarantine! ;-)
Ahhh, quarantine. I know it's not heard of much anymore, but my family actually had to be quarantined when I was a kid because my baby sister came down with whooping cough and more than one of the rest of us were carriers. We were escorted home from school in the middle of the day by our principal and I can't remember how long it lasted, but we couldn't have friends over or go to school (I'm sure my son would find this a welcome tragedy) or anywhere really. What did my mom do with us all???
Well, besides health and food supplies, you might think of "preparing" things you can do at home with your family if you all are stuck there with each other and nobody else for two or three weeks. If nobody is sick in your house and you've quarantined yourselves to keep it that way, you might as well enjoy your time together (which to me means NOT sitting around watching the news). You know who you'll be there with--brainstorm some age appropriate activities. That way if you'll need some supplies for your fun, you'll be able to pick them up ahead of time. And if you don't end up needing them right away, you'll have them for some lazy Saturday instead. ;-)
Of course if the power's on you can resort to video games, computer, TV, but why? Remember board games? (but not Monopoly, mom, I know that game made you crazy with us kids) And card games? Go Fish, Speed, Canasta, Scum, Spoons, what are your favorites? Here's a huge resource for card game rules. Just make sure you have a couple of decks on hand.
Play charades, make music, draw, paint, or write something. Build a puzzle or two or ten. Read books. Build a city out of legos. Sew, crochet, knit. Set up your tent and "camp" in your living room. Build a model. You get the idea. Make yourself a list and make sure you've got the supplies for a variety of activities. It is especially important for kids to have a sense of normalcy or even that it is a special time rather than the stressful time quarantine could easily be.
Here's hoping this thing gets under control and things get better instead of worse--you know that saying: Hope for the best, prepare for the worst. :)
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Basic Firearms Part 1: Safety and Parts of a Gun
Sorry for the trouble, but this post has moved to our new blog address: Click here to go straight to the Safety and Parts of a Gun post. Thanks!
Friday, March 20, 2009
Been Busy--Planning and Fixing
If you haven't hit the polls yet, they end tonight, so swing on over to the sidebar and give your answers! Now on to your regularly scheduled post . . .
I think I'm turning into my mother. Not that it's a bad thing, she's amazing. But she has a bunch of chickens, and I just never thought I'd want chickens like I do this spring. So, because we live on almost 2 acres, and were planning on getting pigs this year in addition to our horse, dog and cat, I figured we'd just go all farmy and add chickens to the mix as well. My local (45 mile away) farm and ranch store has chicks already and will continue getting them every week through May, but I can't go get any yet. I need to build something to keep the chicks in AND a coop/run for when they get bigger. We want about a dozen hens, and have some scrap lumber we should be able to piece together a lot of the coop from, so I've been doing some research--well, according to my mom, I've just been asking her a lot of questions--but she sent me a book and some web sites, and here's my favorite site so far for chicken information: http://www.backyardchickens.com/ Amazing amount of information, coop designs, etc. This should be fun.
Also ordered some non-hybrid seeds (I know, I'm a little behind here) and am planning on planting as many of them as possible this year. I'm a little nervous about starting plants like tomatoes, peppers, etc.--I've always just gotten them from the greenhouse, so we'll see how that goes.
Now here's my fixit project for the week:
Yep, that's my son's glasses. Ahh . . . active 9 year olds and glasses just don't mix. And these were supposed to be the flex titanium ones that had a lot of bend in them. We're due for an eye exam, so I'm scheduling him another appointment and we'll end up with new glasses then, but in the meantime he's near blind without his glasses, so he can't just go without them, so mom and dad had to come up with some way to stick them back together, and here's what we're trying:
I actually ended up using a dab of hot glue to hold the two pieces together since JB Weld takes a while to set up. Mixed up some JB Weld--it's like epoxy with metal flakes in it--and gobbed it on the joint. Then added some wire to the mix as a bridge between the two pieces. I ended up using a thicker wire than is in the picture just to add some extra strength. Let the whole contraption set up overnight, and here he was on his way to school this morning:
We'll see how it holds. Hopefully it will last until his new glasses get here . . .
I think I'm turning into my mother. Not that it's a bad thing, she's amazing. But she has a bunch of chickens, and I just never thought I'd want chickens like I do this spring. So, because we live on almost 2 acres, and were planning on getting pigs this year in addition to our horse, dog and cat, I figured we'd just go all farmy and add chickens to the mix as well. My local (45 mile away) farm and ranch store has chicks already and will continue getting them every week through May, but I can't go get any yet. I need to build something to keep the chicks in AND a coop/run for when they get bigger. We want about a dozen hens, and have some scrap lumber we should be able to piece together a lot of the coop from, so I've been doing some research--well, according to my mom, I've just been asking her a lot of questions--but she sent me a book and some web sites, and here's my favorite site so far for chicken information: http://www.backyardchickens.com/ Amazing amount of information, coop designs, etc. This should be fun.
Also ordered some non-hybrid seeds (I know, I'm a little behind here) and am planning on planting as many of them as possible this year. I'm a little nervous about starting plants like tomatoes, peppers, etc.--I've always just gotten them from the greenhouse, so we'll see how that goes.
Now here's my fixit project for the week:
Yep, that's my son's glasses. Ahh . . . active 9 year olds and glasses just don't mix. And these were supposed to be the flex titanium ones that had a lot of bend in them. We're due for an eye exam, so I'm scheduling him another appointment and we'll end up with new glasses then, but in the meantime he's near blind without his glasses, so he can't just go without them, so mom and dad had to come up with some way to stick them back together, and here's what we're trying:I actually ended up using a dab of hot glue to hold the two pieces together since JB Weld takes a while to set up. Mixed up some JB Weld--it's like epoxy with metal flakes in it--and gobbed it on the joint. Then added some wire to the mix as a bridge between the two pieces. I ended up using a thicker wire than is in the picture just to add some extra strength. Let the whole contraption set up overnight, and here he was on his way to school this morning:
We'll see how it holds. Hopefully it will last until his new glasses get here . . .
Monday, March 16, 2009
Save Some Cash--Cut Your Own Kids' Hair!
Sorry for the trouble, but this post has moved to our new blog location. Click here to go straight to Cut Your Own Kids' Hair. Thanks!
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Embroidery for Generations
Embroidery has been around for ages. Really. Have you seen some of the fancy stitching on clothing from the 1700's? What? You haven't? That's only my favorite clothing era, so okay, I'll show you some. Click here for one example, and here for an amazing embroidered wedding gown. And embroidery was around before that as well. Samples can be found from Ancient Egypt, China, Persia, India and England. And it's been around in my family for almost that long . . . I think. Well, at least my mom knows how to do it and her mom taught her, and she learned from her mom. So I'm assuming it's been around a while. My mom taught me some basics, but I never did much with it. Time to repent.
I was talking with my mom a week or so ago and she said that when she and her brothers were sick, her mom would draw them a cartoon character on a piece of material and let them embroider. Yep, her and her brothers. In fact, when my uncle joined the service he was handed his uniform, patches, and a needle and thread and made money off the other servicemen by sewing their patches on for them.
Well, long story short, my kids needed something to do the other day, and being inspired by my conversation with my mom, I dug out my embroidery floss, needles, and little hoops. Found some muslin and after a quick tutorial, got the girls started in on their first embroidery project. We're just doing the backstitch--real simple--like this:
I was talking with my mom a week or so ago and she said that when she and her brothers were sick, her mom would draw them a cartoon character on a piece of material and let them embroider. Yep, her and her brothers. In fact, when my uncle joined the service he was handed his uniform, patches, and a needle and thread and made money off the other servicemen by sewing their patches on for them.
Well, long story short, my kids needed something to do the other day, and being inspired by my conversation with my mom, I dug out my embroidery floss, needles, and little hoops. Found some muslin and after a quick tutorial, got the girls started in on their first embroidery project. We're just doing the backstitch--real simple--like this:
My son was almost interested. Maybe another day. Youngest worked on it for a while with mom's help, but lost interest pretty quick--she's only 4. My older daughter really took to it. She's had a great time picking out floss colors and stitching away. I'm still tying knots for her, but we'll get there.
She took it with her in the car, and to school today. And she said, "I can teach this to my kids and they can teach their kids and it can go on for gena . . la . . yens . . or something."
There you have it, well on her way to embroidering a fancy schmancy wedding dress. But not too soon . . . :)
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