You never know when the power will go out. Here in the Evergreen State, the abundance of majestic forests easily translates into falling trees and downed power lines. It’s not uncommon for many to lose power at least once during the stormy season.
So what can be done to take an inconvenience and turn it into a positive experience for a family with children?
As the Boy Scouts say, “Be prepared.” Lewis County Emergency Preparedness, The American Red Cross, the Washington Department of Health and the CDC all have recommendations of what to do when the power goes out. Residents should follow their recommendations for a safe power outage. But what can you do to make it easier on the kids?
Practice Unplugging
There’s no need to wait until a power outage to unplug. Take an evening a week and have a family game night, play cards, or eat dinner by candle or lantern light. Then when the power goes out, it won’t seem out of the ordinary for young children.
Keep a Bedside Flashlight
There is nothing more frightening for a child who is accustomed to a nightlight than waking in the middle of the night to total darkness. Keep a flashlight on the bedside tables throughout the house and kids will never be in the dark.
Game Time
When the power does go out, dust off the board games and make it fun. Role play games can keep all ages entertained for hours. Action games like sardines, hide-and-go-seek, and flashlight tag make power outages memorable. The kids might actually groan when the lights come on.
Build an Ingenuity Library
In the scope of human history, electricity is a relatively new invention. That means kids throughout the ages have done without. Have your kids read about youngsters who grew up without electricity or faced adversity like Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery, the Little House on the Prairie series by Laura Ingalls Wilder, My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George, or books about hands on skills and fun like the Dangerous Book for Boys by Hal Iggulden or the Dangerous Book for Girls by Andrea J. Buchanan. Another great choice is to learn how early pioneers and Native Americans survived in our area by visiting the Lewis County Historical Museum. You can also shop their online bookstore.
Indoor Campout
Staying close together during a power outage can make it less frightening for young children. Consider having a sleep over in the living room. If you want to kick it up a notch, set up a tent and “campout.”
Fireside Stories
If you have a fireplace (or a battery-operated lantern will do in a pinch), there is nothing more bonding than gathering around and telling stories. Family stories are always interesting, and if your audience is so inclined, tell ghost stories.
Rustic Cooking
Kids love to cook! Power outages are a great opportunity to cook over the fire. Hotdogs and marshmallows on a stick are fun indoors too. Some woodstoves have a flat surface for boiling water or frying up breakfast in a cast iron skillet. Dutch ovens with briquettes are also a fun way to make stews, bake corn bread or even desserts like cobblers. Just set it up in a well-ventilated area in the back yard. Take this opportunity to show kids how to safely start a fire and put it out. Just make sure your smoke detectors have batteries. If you are interested in investing in cast iron, explore Yard Birds indoor flea market (used and rusty cast iron can be restored) or buy it new at Sunbirds.
Get Crafty
The great thing about crafts is that no power is required (unless you depend on Pinterest to make it happen). Keep a craft kit on hand with all the basics like crayons and paper, scissors and glue and let the imagination take flight. If you need ideas grab a couple of books on crafts like the Recycle Craft Box by Laura C. Martin.
Kids with Skills
Train your kids to be self-sufficient. Kids who camp often are accustomed to doing without electricity. Sign the kids up for groups like the Boy Scouts or Ventures, Girl Scouts, or for 4H.
Keep a Routine
Just because the power is out doesn’t mean routines go out the window. For very young children, sticking to a schedule will make everything seem normal.
