Right Age to Teach Kids Wilderness Survival?

[TroyS]

How old would you recommend to start teaching kids about some basics on wilderness survival? Been camping for some time now with my kids and the thought just popped in my mind. Also, with so much to teach them, I don't know where to start. I know learning how to start a fire is definitely one of the key things that they should learn. But what else? My eldest kid is 9 and the youngest is 5.

Thanks in advance.

[ponderosa]

I think this is largely something they learn through experience on your camping trips, by helping with tasks and talking about why you do things, in age appropriate ways. My kids are 4, and just barely 3. They don't help make the fire, but they do help gather wood for the fire. They know we need lots of little twigs, dry grass, bark, etc to get it started, and then bigger pieces of dry wood. They know they need to tell me if their clothing is wet, or their hands/feet are cold when the weather is bad. They know from experience what we do in that case (dry clothes, sleeping bag, fire, etc). They know to blow their whistles if they can't see Mom & Dad, and they know not to blow them under any other circumstances. They know it's important to drink plenty of water. They always look at the map with me everytime I pull it out. I explain and talk to them about route finding, in simple terms. I think it will sink in over time, because that's how I learned, "helping" my dad find our route when I was a kid. That's my two cents; you just start where they are and build on their knowledge each trip by letting them help and have experience.

[oldsarge]

I agree Ponderosa, Id say that no age is too young if they are showing and interest in it. The earlier the better.

[Lamebeaver]

They learn by watching you. Get them thinking about it by asking things like "What would you do it if I got hurt and you had to hike out to get help?" Teach them the the best way to survive is by using common sense so they don't end up in a "survival situation."

[Blueskyy]

Kids are always watching and taking everything in even when they don't seem to be so no age would really be too young. We are teaching our oldest (just now three) the same kinds of things as Ponderosa. You just have to make everything pretty simple when they are very young.

[Marshmallow]

As soon as children are old enough to start playing games of any type, they are old enough to start learning survival skills. Turn the collecting, the preparing and the "what if" questions into games and bat them back and forth with the kids. They'll think they are playing. You'll know they are learning basic skills.

[Pathfinder1]

Hi...


Outdoor Life's web site...under "survival"...has an article about teaching such things to kids aged 5 to through the teens. It's dated Jan. 17.

[jason]

Well my daughter is 3, turning 4 next month. While not necessary survival related, she helped in the garden last year and is asking to help this year. She also helps cook. When we go for hikes that have trail markers, I try and teach her what they mean.

[Grandpa]

Originally Posted by jason

Well my daughter is 3, turning 4 next month. While not necessary survival related, she helped in the garden last year and is asking to help this year. She also helps cook. When we go for hikes that have trail markers, I try and teach her what they mean.

And there is your answer Troy. They can start learning wilderness survival as soon as you start taking them to the wilderness and teaching them. Practice good habits because they are watching. This is what all the posters have said and I agree.

The reason kids play with matches/lighters is because they havn't been taught. Take the mystique out by teaching them correctly and letting them practice under a watchful eye and they will be fine. Same with firearms or any other "dangerous" tool.

[ejdixon]

I'd agree with what everyone said here. Kids tend to be really observant with the grown ups. Your kids are at an age where they can easily absorb and copy the things that you do. So I'll just echo what everyone else here already mentioned: practice good camping habits when you are out, and start getting them involved like what ponderosa suggested.