If you could only teach one skill to your family this summer, what would it be?
Posted by Signal_Brain_933@reddit | preppers | View on Reddit | 41 comments
Not a gear question. Just one skill, for this summer.
Much as I wish I lived like the family in that old Swiss Family Robinson movie (probably my favorite childhood movie), I'm really the only outdoorsy one in my household. I backpack, hunt (not much, but enough to know what I'm doing), fish, know emergency first aid, martial arts ,archery, horseback riding, wilderness survival... and I care a lot about preparedness. I had a blast teaching my oldest how to build a primitive debris shelter in the forest last summer which was genuinely one of the better weekends we had together. But on the whole, my family (especially my wife) isn't really wired that way. Bugs = bad. No toilets = bad. Couches and iPads = good. Prepardness is... meh. And that gap between my family and I has been bugging me.
This all made me think less about what skills are most "tactically useful" and more about what's actually transferable to someone who doesn't want to live in the woods. First aid keeps coming back as my answer (my youngest just started babysitting classes, so there's some basic First Aid there). First Aid crosses over into everyday life, it's not threatening or weird to learn, and it could matter on a Tuesday afternoon just as much as a grid-down scenario.
But I'm curious what other people with families like mine (families who aren't already "prepper commited" or outdoorsy by default) have done. What's the one skill you actually got them to learn and stick with? What made it land?
*** PS: Even better if it's a fun, not overly-intimidating skill we can adopt and practice together while travelling - we're all going to South-East Asia for a family vacation this summer. Thanks in advance!
Sudden-Meal604@reddit
First aid is the right answer. It is a skill we should all have basic knowledge of. But for the sake of argument I will suggest something else that can be equally important. A PACE plan. Communication is key in a survival situation. Having thought out how you will communicate is another skill we should all have. PACE - Primary, Alternate, Contingent and Emergency. Set a plan for each and practice them. Pick up a set of FMS or GMRS radios. They are inexpensive and you can get a family GMRS license for $30 (check local laws for acceptable use). But PACE plans can also be used not just for comms but also for many other situations.
dishpit6@reddit
Minor nitpick: the license is $35.
Signal_Brain_933@reddit (OP)
That's actually a great thought, especially since that's one of my own knowledge gaps. I'm going to look into this for sure. How portable are these radios? We travel pretty minimally so I'd mostly save this for an "at home" skill to learn if the units are fairly heavy or bulky.
Sudden-Meal604@reddit
The radios can range from at “base station” style to handheld portables. I would start off with inexpensive handhelds. I am sure you have seen baofeng radios. They are cheap Chinese radios but they work great. I personally like the UV32 from them for the size and power rating. But the uv5r is smaller and will work mostly the same. One note on those is that they are also hf radios which requires another level of license, but as long as you don’t transmit on the hf bands you are fine.
FutureVegasMan@reddit
how to run at high way speeds so we can prepare for the oil shortages
ezersilva@reddit
I want to teach my kids to ride a bike. By bike they can be at my parent's house in 25 minutes without crossing any roads, because there is clear path through bike lanes for them to get from my house to my parent's house. Of course, they are young, but this is pretty useful to be able to do.
ali-n@reddit
Foraging.
Fn_Spaghetti_Monster@reddit
Knot tying.
It's not overly complicated, you can practice while traveling, actually has a ton of practical use, doesn't require a ton of 'gear' (AKA money). You mentioned First Aid but trying to get people to look at picture of open wound and burns when it's not something they are already interested in is not going to stuck. Beside who want to learn that over summer vacation.
Signal_Brain_933@reddit (OP)
Knots is a great idea. They've already got the basics (Scouts), but we have a five day camping trip planned for August with lots of tarps, hammocks, etc... great practical activity to get them going on this..
funke75@reddit
Given everything that’s going on in the world right now I would consider the following:
Gardening: learn to grow your own food, important given the fertilizer shortage/coming food shortage
Food prep: learning to cook and preserve food.
Animal care: this one is kind of dependent on where you live and you home setup, but learning to raise chickens or meat rabbits (even if initially raised and sold as pets until emergency necessitated) is a helpful way to get them back involved in the land.
Shooting and gun safety: not exactly hunting but the skills and outdoors life adjacent. Plus the benefits of not only knowing how to use a gun when hunting but also being able to protect themselves
Signal_Brain_933@reddit (OP)
I was planning on teaching my kids how to safely shoot this summer actually - starting with pellet rifles, eventually moving to my trusty .22 plinker.
Fast-Fill-7358@reddit
Situational awareness. This will be a life long skill that is far too often under rated.
Signal_Brain_933@reddit (OP)
Totally agree. Any suggetions on how to practically implement this into an activity with kids?
dkstr419@reddit
I grew up in California in the 1970’s with Boomer parrots and Greatest Generation Grandparents. So the idea of “prepping” was reserved for “those crazy people who lived up in the woods”
The state started teaching earthquakes safety and it was presented in a calm logical way; what we think of as “Tuesday” prepping. So; how to turn off the water and gas after a quake, stash some flashlights and a radio and have some sort of food for 3 days kind of stuff.
The majority of our time was spent learning how to do things- sewing, gardening, canning, household repairs, maintaining the car. Financial lessons came from my grandparents who lived through the Great Depression- stashing money away, avoiding credit cards, paying cash when possible, bartering with the neighbors.
I’m comfortably prepared for Tuesday.
Signal_Brain_933@reddit (OP)
One of the big takeaways here is financial readiness. My kids are still wrapping their heads around the concept of money, budgeting, saving up for important needs. I need to find a way to bridge their weekly allowance around some sort of fun but educational goal, teaching them how to invest, or "paying yourself first" towards a specific purpose.
No_Albatross7213@reddit
Swimming is an invaluable skill. Kayaking. Rowing.
And maybe learn various ways to tie ropes.
gadget767@reddit
Second this. Make sure that everyone who is not a strong swimmer gets lessons this summer.
Signal_Brain_933@reddit (OP)
Swimming definitely. My kids both learned how to swim very young and we've been swimming in lakes and pools every summer since! Kayaking too. Rowing (canoe camping) is on my radar, hoping to sneak it in this summer!
ElectricNinjah@reddit
Gardening. Food procurement. When the grid goes down your primary focus will be feeding yourselves
Signal_Brain_933@reddit (OP)
Very true. Even learning the basics of energy expenditure, nutrition, hydration... all crucial skills to have.
rosetta_tablet@reddit
Maybe knot tying and bracelet making with paracord? Can help pass the time on long flights. Or any kind of crocheting, knitting, net making.
Signal_Brain_933@reddit (OP)
Paracord bracelets is a great example; my goddaughter was obsessed with this for a couple of years. My youngest is really into beads/bracelets right now, should make an easy transition into paracord!
WaffleHouseGladiator@reddit
Basics of orienteering. Distress signals. First aid.
Signal_Brain_933@reddit (OP)
Distress signals is a good idea. They've already mastered screaming at the top of their lungs, so maybe I can port that over to other great ways to get noticed (in an emergency situation, of course). ◡̈
WaffleHouseGladiator@reddit
Triangle fires and three whistle blasts are universally recognized. Signaling aircraft is a bit different.
Signal_Brain_933@reddit (OP)
The aircraft signaling bit is something I'm very trained in - I work as a flight attendant so we train extensively on a variety of ways to signal aircraft, passing ships, etc.
MostlyBrine@reddit
I wish to be able to teach my teenage kid to put the phone in his pocket and be aware of the moving people around him.
Signal_Brain_933@reddit (OP)
Tell me about it.
infinitum3d@reddit
Foraging.
Everytime we walk the dog I’m pointing out plants to the family.
Signal_Brain_933@reddit (OP)
Nice! Maybe this is how I get them to come walk the dog with me (finally)!
Cottager_Northeast@reddit
I'm going to go with emotional honesty and psychological self awareness. My family is actually pretty fucked up.
Signal_Brain_933@reddit (OP)
Yeah, that's pretty much top of the list in any preparedness scenario. Practical skills won't matter much if you don't have the mental/emotional readiness to match.
throwawaybsme@reddit
Based on your write-up, I would suggest backyard plant, animal, and bug identification. The reason I say this is it provides them with a brand new way to view the world. It teaches them to be patient and observe. It also gives them better situational awareness in general.
Signal_Brain_933@reddit (OP)
That's awesome! Bug identification is such a great idea. Especially since we'll be overseas for a while and will likely encounter lots of new bugs. They even sell bug identification-ish kits at the dollar store (little plastic terrariums with magnifying bug watchers). Thanks!
rosetta_tablet@reddit
There are also cool apps like iNaturalist that help with flora/fauna identification and actually are reviewed by scientists for their research!
Signal_Brain_933@reddit (OP)
Epic! Thank you!
Ryan_e3p@reddit
Critical thinking.
Signal_Brain_933@reddit (OP)
Oh, they've got that down pat. They're about as critical as they come. 😉
agmccall@reddit
The skill of getting me a beer and leaving me alone
NoExternal2732@reddit
Gardening...but I was a teenager once a long long time ago, and didn't want to listen to my parents either. So, like them, I took a break during those years...30 years and counting and I garden every year. I helped my parents from 2 to 12.
I hope they are at least seeing the effort it takes.
Signal_Brain_933@reddit (OP)
That's actually a great example; during the first pandemic spring in 2020, we all grew a variety of plants indoors from seedlings, and the kids actually really enjoyed being involved in that part. I'm not sure if they'd be into the hard part of gardening, but I feel like when you can literally taste the fruits of your labors, it makes things a lot more enjoyable.