One aspect of emergency preparedness that is often forgotten is entertainment. Games, puzzles, and books are great calming activities during or after a crisis. Familiar activities bring feelings of normalcy and ease. Here are some emergency entertainment options:
- Board games
- Card games
- Puzzles (jigsaw and crossword)
- Art supplies (coloring books and crayons, drawing pencils and paper, etc.)
Don’t forget to store extra batteries, flashlights and/or candles with matches with these supplies.
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Having a variety of different entertainment options will help keep children occupied and settled. If they enjoy play-acting or storytelling, prepare kits in which they could create a skit or story to share with the family. Storing extra clothing that can double as outfits for plays can provide extra layers for warmth.
A journal is useful for record feelings, experiences and notes to prepare better for future emergencies. Along with a journal, keeping a camera on hand could be a way to document your experience.
Here is a recipe for making homemade play dough:
Play Dough
1 cup flour
1 cup water
1 Tbsp oil
1 Tbsp powdered alum
1/2 cup salt
2 Tbsp vanilla
food coloring
Mix all dry ingredients. Add oil and water. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until reaching the consistency of mashed potatoes. Remove from heat and add vanilla and food coloring. Divide into balls and work in color by kneading the play dough. Enjoy!
5 comments
Dustin
Yes, don't forget the card games, Settlers of Catan, etc. I have included some "busy kits" for each of the kits in their 72 backpacks.
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A journal is useful for record feelings, experiences and notes to prepare better for future emergencies. Along with a journal, keeping a camera on hand could be a way to document your experience.
Anonymous
Paper crafts like origami and ready to construct paper airplane books are good. Magazines for mom are nice too! :) Penny Press and Dell sell boxes of previously purchased word searches and crossword puzzles for less than new.
Mommy Quarnberg
Such great ideas and thanks for the play dough recipe!
dawns41
Very useful as I never thought about Entertainment. I like Term Papers comment about having a camera on hand for documenting.
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