Kids should be taught at a young age the basic survival skills. Now, we aren’t talking about signing them up for some extreme tv show to see if they are fit enough to survive for days in a swamp infested with crocodiles. But, the basic survival skills will allow them to go out and enjoy camping and hiking much more than if they didn’t have these skills. And, these skills are simple but yet, certainly easier to learn when taught than on your own.
Table of contents
Build a fire
To regular outdoorsmen, building a fire is a skill that seems to have come naturally. But, your parents, friends or family members did this and you watched and observed. Maybe you even think that everyone knows how to build a fire, but actually there are a lot of people that have no idea. Teach your children about kindling all the way up to the use of larger logs. Things such as the moisture content and raking the coals are also important to mention.
While learning to build a fire, you also should show them how to properly contain the fire as well as extinguish it. This will help with the spread of forest fires.
Along with building a fire, they should learn what type of wood works best for fire burning. Things such as how to use an ax to properly cut down this wood are also essential. And, how to maintain an ax and keep its blade sharp for years to come.
Water Safety
Kids love water and love to swim in it. So, of course, they should learn to swim. And, they should also learn to be careful in rivers and streams with a lot of currents. Avoid areas that have a lot of currents as there could be undertows that will pull them under, which children have a hard time understanding on their own. They should learn how to purify water as well.
There are many ways to gather good drinking water, and showing them the different methods is important. They should know that you can’t just drink water straight from a river. Explain how a well works and boiling water works so that if they ever need to, they understand how to collect clean drinking water.
Finding Shelter
Another important aspect when out in the wilderness is the need for shelter. Depending on where you are, there are many reasons for this. However, with limited resources, they should be able to build something that will help protect them from rain as well as critters that might be lurking as well.
Twigs, leaves, and things found in the woods should be used to show them that it can be done this way. You can also show them how to build something using just a tarp, which is more common. This allows them to think in the proper fashion on what to do when needing quick shelter.
Hunting and gathering
When teaching children about survival skills it is important to teach them basic hunting, fishing, and what berries and fruits can be eaten and which ones should be avoided.
this is great for my report!