Emergency Preparedness for Families With Children

Preparing for an emergency feels different when children are involved. There's the practical side — smaller bodies need different supplies, schools have their own procedures, and infants require specialised items that can't be improvised. But there's also the emotional side, which is arguably more important: how do you help your children understand what emergencies are and what to do about them, without frightening them or creating lasting anxiety?

The answer is the same everywhere: involve them. Children who participate in planning, who practise drills, and who understand their role feel empowered rather than scared. The conversation doesn't need to be heavy or alarming — it can be practical, reassuring, and even fun.

This guide covers how to talk to children about emergencies at different ages, how to coordinate with schools and childcare, what to pack specifically for children of different ages, and how to support children's emotional wellbeing before, during, and after a crisis.

1. Talking to Children About Emergencies

The most important thing you can do is start the conversation — and the way you have it matters more than the specific words. Children take their cues from the adults around them. If you approach emergency planning calmly and matter-of-factly, they will absorb that tone. If you seem anxious or overwhelmed, they'll absorb that too.

Keep it simple and age-appropriate. For young children (roughly ages 3–6), an emergency can be explained as something unexpected that happens where you need to act quickly to stay safe — just like wearing a seatbelt in a car or a helmet on a bicycle. Try framing preparedness as a team activity: "We can work together to be ready, just like we get ready for other things."

For school-age children (roughly 7–12), you can be more specific. Talk about the kinds of emergencies that are most likely in your area — storms, power outages, flooding — and explain what your family's plan is for each. Walk through the meeting points, the contact list, and where the go bags are kept. Let them ask questions, and answer honestly without overloading them with worst-case scenarios.

For teenagers, treat them as partners in the planning. They're old enough to understand the reasoning behind each element of your plan and to take on real responsibilities — carrying their own go bag, knowing how to turn off utilities, understanding when and how to call emergency services. Involving teens in planning builds both competence and resilience.

Across all ages, emphasise the helpers. Remind children that firefighters, paramedics, police officers, teachers, and neighbours are all there to help if something goes wrong. Knowing that trusted adults will be taking action is one of the most reassuring things a child can hear.

2. What Children Should Know How to Do

Beyond understanding the family plan, there are a few practical skills every child should learn, adapted to their age and ability.

From around age 5, children can begin to memorise a parent's phone number and their home address. Make it a game — turn the phone number into a song, practise it at bath time, and quiz them occasionally. Place an emergency card in their school bag with their name, home address, parents' phone numbers, the out-of-area emergency contact, and any medical information (allergies, medications). This is a standard preparedness step for every school-age child.

Teach children when and how to call emergency services — 112 in most of Europe, 999 in the UK, 911 in North America, 000 in Australia. Explain clearly that this number is only for real emergencies, not for practice or play. Show them how to unlock a phone and make a call, but never let them make practice calls to the emergency number — even deactivated phones can connect.

Practise following official alerts. When an emergency alert sounds on your phone, take the opportunity to explain what it is and what you would do if it were real. This normalises the process and removes the shock factor.

3. Coordinating With Schools and Childcare

During a daytime emergency, your children may not be with you. Knowing exactly what their school or childcare provider will do — and what they expect from you — is a critical part of family preparedness.

Find out your school's emergency plan. Most schools have documented procedures for evacuations, shelter-in-place situations, and reunification with parents. Ask specifically about how and where pickups will happen, who is authorised to collect your child, and how the school will communicate with parents during an emergency. Every school should have a written emergency plan, and parents should be familiar with it.

Keep your contact information current. If your phone number, address, or workplace changes, update the school immediately. During an emergency, outdated contact details can cause significant delays in reunification.

Pre-authorise trusted adults for emergency pickups. If you can't get to the school yourself, you need someone who can — and the school needs to know in advance who that person is. Keep copies of this authorisation both digitally and on paper. This should be built into your family emergency communication plan, alongside meeting points and contact protocols.

One important principle: if an emergency occurs while your children are at school, do not rush to the school unless instructed to do so. Schools have procedures in place, and an influx of panicking parents can create additional hazards and block emergency access. Wait for the school's communication and follow their instructions.

4. Go Bag Essentials for Children

Children need their own supplies in a family go bag, and those supplies should be tailored to their age. If a child is old enough to carry a small backpack (roughly age 5 and up), giving them their own bag — packed with items they helped choose — builds both confidence and independence. For the full adult go bag checklist that these children's kits supplement, see our complete 72-hour evacuation kit guide.

For infants and toddlers (0–3 years): Nappies and wipes (at least three days' worth), formula or baby food (if not breastfeeding), bottles, a dummy if used, a change of clothes, a small blanket, and any medications. Carry a copy of their immunisation records and paediatrician's contact details. If you use formula, include a way to prepare it safely — ready-to-use liquid formula is the easiest option during an emergency, as it requires no water or mixing.

For young children (3–7 years): Snacks they'll reliably eat (this is not the time for unfamiliar health food), a water bottle, a change of clothes, a comfort item (a small toy, a stuffed animal, a familiar book), and their emergency contact card. A small colouring book and crayons take up almost no space and can provide hours of calm distraction in a shelter or waiting situation.

For school-age children (7–12 years): A water bottle, snacks, a change of clothes, a torch, their emergency contact card, a book or card game, and any medications they take. At this age, children can carry their own bag and should know what's in it and why.

For teenagers: Essentially the same supplies as an adult, sized appropriately. Ensure they have a phone charger, their own emergency contacts, some cash, and copies of their identification. Teenagers can and should take responsibility for their own bag, including checking and maintaining it.

5. Practising as a Family

Practice is what transforms a plan from a piece of paper into a reliable response. The good news is that family drills don't need to be long, complicated, or scary — in fact, the lighter and more natural they feel, the better they work.

Run a simple drill twice a year. Pick a calm weekend afternoon and walk through your plan. Send a check-in text to your out-of-area contact. Walk to your nearby meeting point together. Let each child practise saying their parent's phone number and home address. Open the go bags and look through them together — let children see what's inside and ask questions.

Make drills age-appropriate and even enjoyable for younger children. Frame it as an adventure: "Let's practise walking to our special meeting spot" or "Can you remember the phone number song?" For older children and teenagers, you can make it more realistic — simulate a power outage by turning off the lights for an hour and using your emergency supplies.

After the drill, debrief together. What went well? What was confusing? Did the youngest child remember the meeting point? Did everyone know where the go bags were? Note any gaps and fix them before the next practice.

6. Supporting Children's Emotional Wellbeing

Children experience emergencies differently from adults. They may not fully understand what's happening, they may feel responsible for the situation, and they're acutely sensitive to the emotional state of the adults around them. Their biggest fears during a crisis tend to be straightforward: that someone they love will be hurt, that they'll be separated from their family, or that they'll be left alone.

Before an emergency, the most powerful thing you can do is normalise preparedness. Children who have practised drills, who have helped pack a go bag, and who know their family plan feel a sense of control. Preparation reduces anxiety because it replaces the unknown with something familiar.

During an emergency, stay as calm and steady as you can — your children are watching you for signals about how scared they should be. Keep the family together whenever possible. Explain what's happening in simple, honest terms: "The power is out because of the storm. We have torches and plenty of food, and the power company is working to fix it." Give children small tasks to do — holding the torch, counting supplies, helping prepare food — to give them a sense of purpose and agency.

After an emergency, give children space to talk about their experience and validate their feelings. It's normal for children to feel anxious, have trouble sleeping, or become clingy after a scary event. For younger children, limit exposure to news coverage — repeated footage can make them believe the event is happening again. Watch for changes in behaviour that persist beyond a few weeks, and seek professional support if needed.

7. Special Considerations for Infants

Infants add unique requirements to emergency planning that deserve specific attention.

Feeding: If you're breastfeeding, no additional food supply is needed — though you should ensure the nursing parent is well-hydrated and nourished. If you use formula, keep a multi-day supply of ready-to-use liquid formula in your emergency kit. This eliminates the need for clean water and sterilisation, both of which may be difficult during a disruption. If you cannot boil water safely, ready-to-use formula is the recommended alternative.

Nappies and hygiene: Stock at least three days' worth of nappies, wipes, and nappy bags in your go bag and a full week's supply in your home kit. Include a waterproof changing mat.

Sleep and comfort: A lightweight travel blanket, a dummy if used, and a familiar comfort item can help maintain some sense of normality. Infants are sensitive to temperature changes — have extra layers and a warm hat readily available.

Medical: Keep a copy of your infant's immunisation records, their paediatrician's contact information, and any prescribed medications in both your go bag and home emergency kit.