We’re always buying duracell batteries around here. Not only for home necessities like smoke detectors, flashlights and clocks, but for other sanity-savers like toys and games. We have weathered a few hurricanes, most recently Sandy. It displaced us for about a week and made our lives challenging to say the least. Having lived on a barrier island off of New Jersey for most of my life, I’m used to evacuations and preparedness. But until recently, I hadn’t grasped how kids can change the scenario.
It doesn’t take a full-blown hurricane to send my kids into panic mode either. Just a simple few-hour power loss will do that. So it’s a smart idea to have a preparedness kit made up just for the kids, to help them feel secure and happy. To help them see the event as an exciting adventure. We took a trip to Walmart to pick up the goods.
My kids love playing flashlight tag, and these colorful LED flashlights are the perfect size for their little hands; they were only a dollar each at Walmart. They even included batteries, so double score!
We like to play up the darkness factor when we have a power loss at night. Who doesn’t love to play with glow in the dark bracelets and necklaces? I also found LED bracelets that will last for up to 6 hours making it easy to see your kids in the dark while being a fun accessory for their arms. Emma named this as one of her favorites in our instagram video.
I found fun character fans that also light up in the three-dollar bin that the kids always love playing with. They do double-duty for use as an actual fan too if it’s a hot day/evening.
And of course we purchased a few packages of Duracell Coppertop batteries to keep these and other toys running. Love the 10-year guarantee, because it really stinks when you open a new package of batteries and none of them work. No worries here!
We use our big battery-operated camping light when the power goes out, so when that’s on we can play card games and UNO, Play-doh, punch balloons and other fun things. If you’re going to lose power, you might as well bond as a family with some good old-fashioned game time.
What would you include in your Preparedness Kit?
We have maybe one flashlight and I have no idea where it is or if it has working batteries in it. Thank you for this!
This is definitely a great post full of great suggestions. Even though mine are teens, they still need to be entertained. Thanks for giving me some ideas to start my own kit.
I love this idea! I think I am going to make this and put each set in a little drawstring back pack so I always know where they are!
Great ideas! Love all the activities to keep the kids occupied if a power outage does occur.
Ooh! I love the idea of flashlight tag! We need to add that to our emergency kit!
This just reminded me I need to replace the batteries in my flashlights. Thanks!
Gina, I’m so glad my post helped! :)
I hate when the power goes out, but I have a similar stash to keep my kids occupied if it does.
It totally helps keep up the morale, right Robin?
We love Duracell batteries…thanks for the coupons! I would include water and baby food/diapers!
That’s def in our emergency kit. This one’s more of a keep-the-kids happy kit :)
I would include chocolate and wine for me and lots of snacks and batteries and games for the kids.
Julia, I like the way you think.
This probably sounds strange, but in thinking of a preparedness kit, it never dawned on me on items to have in there to keep the kids entertained! (Mommy fail! :)) I usually just think about the basics…flash lights, water, batteries, etc. Good suggestions on fun things for the kiddos!
Thanks Christina! I had never thought about it either until we were in the midst of the situation!