Practice - Pioneer week

Go a step further by doing a week of primitive living. This is one week focusing on the basics, no electricity, and work. Visit a living history Farm for a good idea of what to do, or read some The Little House on the Prairie books for ideas. Go third world or historical by grabbing a book from the library on the desired time/place and use that to plan a menu (staples only), chores, recreation, and possible housing (tents, sleeping on the floor, etc). Our family prefers focusing on pioneers, but my sister-in-law does third world countries and different time periods. All of this prepares them for a different lifestyle and links the situation with memories and enjoyment rather then stress and fear. Later in an actual disaster you can tell your kids (younger since the older ones will look at you like you’re crazy), that we’ll just pretend it’s a pioneer week. It’s easier to pretend you’re doing something you’ve done before when you’re brain wants to be preoccupied with the disaster your in.

Talk to friends and family members to plan field trips to gather eggs, milk a cow, or gather veggies from a garden. Not only do your kids learn valuable skills, but you also have contacts in an emergency that you could ask for help or barter with. But the best benefit is that your family learns to live without the daily luxuries and know that they can do without them.