Surviving a Power Outage with Children

Parents are running around, securing deck furniture and buying water.  In our flurry of preparations, we may have forgotten to prepare for the biggest disaster of all-bored children.

has warned that many Baltimore residents will likely lose power during the upcoming hurricane.  Parents, before you lose power and find yourself scrambling in the dark, here are some things you can do to prepare for the loss of power with your children.

1. Choose a “command center” in your house where you will keep your materials.  The area should be well lit by natural light, if possible, and should be easily accessible, even in the dark.  Stock the command center with board games, a deck of cards, books, playdough, coloring books and crayons, and other craft materials.  If the power goes out, you won’t be stumbling in the basement or the clutter of your child’s room to find these things.
2. Go online and print out directions for a variety of card games and other crafts that you can make with items you have laying around the house.  Homemade musical instruments are great crafts because they take time to make and more time to enjoy.  It can be an entire afternoon of fun.
3. Make a “feel it” bag.  Fill a pillowcase full of odds and ends from around the house.  Try to select items that have different textures and shapes, making sure to avoid items with sharp edges.  When the power goes out, you can play a game in which your child selects an item from the bag without looking and tries to guess the item.   You can also use this bag to play the “alien game.” In this game, children pretend they are aliens who have never seen the objects before and they have to use the item in a new way or put the items together to make a new alien invention.
4. We all stock up on water, but we forget to stock up on snacks and child-friendly items.  Make sure to have juice boxes, fruits, crackers, and other items that don’t require refrigeration or extensive preparation. Look up recipes for no-bake cookies, desserts, and snacks that can be made in the event there is no power. 
5. Prior to the power outage, locate all blankets, special stuffed animals and any other ‘lovey’ items for your child. 
6. Charge iPods, iPads, cell phones, computers, and portable video game systems.  Have spare batteries available for favorite toys or video games. Don’t forget batteries for flashlights.
7. Create a scavenger hunt of items your children could safely find using flashlights.
8. Fill the bathtub with water.  This is not only a good idea should there be
   water outages, but the water can also be used for water games.  You can collect items to see which will sink or swim, have mini sailboat races, or even just have a beach day where children have fun in their bathing suits.
9. Make a tactile memory board game by placing matching items underneath paper cups.  In the dark, or limited light, children can pick up two cups and feel to see if they have made a match.
10. Stock up on glowsticks in all shapes and sizes.  Not only can they help provide extra light, but they are fun too.

As always, be careful about using candles around children.  Consider using LED candles or tap lights throughout the house instead.  Before it gets dark, make a lit pathway from your child’s room to the bathroom and place lights on every few stairs to light the way.  As always, keep it fun and make it an adventure.  Your calm approach to the situation will ease your child’s anxieties and model coping skills, resilience, and flexibility.

As always, be careful about using candles around
children.  Consider using LED candles or
tap lights throughout the house instead. 
Before it gets dark, make a lit pathway from your child’s room to the
bathroom and place lights on every few stairs to light the way.  As always, keep it fun and make it an
adventure.  Your calm approach to the
situation will ease your child’s anxieties and model coping skills, resilience,
and flexibility.