30 EASY PREPAREDNESS IDEAS — DAY 21

PACK A LITTLE COMFORT

Welcome to Day 21 of our 30 Easy Preparedness Ideas!

We have spent the last 20 days adding little pieces to our preparedness plans.

We've talked about:

• Water
• Food
• Flashlights
• Backup power
• Grab-N-Go Bags
• First aid
• Pets
• Emergency contacts
• Evacuation routes
• Meeting places
• Utility shutoffs

Those are all important.

But today we're going to pack something that might not look like an emergency supply at all.

COMFORT. 

• A small toy.
• A deck of cards.
• A coloring book.
• A favorite book.
• A familiar little stuffed animal.

Something that helps life feel just a tiny bit more NORMAL when everything around you doesn't.

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PREPAREDNESS IS ABOUT PEOPLE

When we build emergency kits, it's easy to focus entirely on survival supplies.

1. Food.
2. Water.
3. First aid.
4. Shelter.
5. Lighting.

Those things absolutely matter.

But emergencies can also mean:

• Waiting
• Long car rides
• Staying somewhere unfamiliar
• Sitting through a power outage
• Waiting for information
• Uncertainty
• Children who are bored, tired or frightened

Sometimes you don't need another gadget.

Sometimes you need something that helps everyone settle down for a few minutes.

That's what we're adding today.

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START WITH THE KIDS

If you have children or grandchildren, today's challenge is especially important.

Think about what would bring them a little comfort if they suddenly had to leave home.

Maybe it's:

• A small stuffed animal
• A favorite little toy
• A book
• Crayons and a small coloring book
• Pencil and activity book
• A deck of cards
• A small puzzle or travel game
• Headphones
• Another small familiar comfort item

It doesn't need to be expensive.

In fact...

SHOP THE HOUSE FIRST!

You may already have everything you need.

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MIMI'S TIP: LET THE KIDS CHOOSE

Here's today's family activity.

Give each child a simple rule:

“PICK ONE SMALL THING YOU'D WANT WITH YOU.”

You might be surprised by what they choose.

Maybe YOU think they want the fancy electronic toy.

And they choose the little stuffed dog they've slept with since they were three.

That tells you something.

Comfort is personal.

Whenever practical, let them have a say in what goes into their bag.

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BUT WHAT ABOUT THE FAVORITE STUFFED ANIMAL?

Here's something to think about.

If your child's absolute FAVORITE stuffed animal is the one they sleep with every night...

I probably wouldn't permanently bury it in the emergency bag. 

Instead, you might:

Keep a second favorite stuffed animal in the bag

OR

Put the everyday favorite on your mental Grab-N-Go list if time and safety allow.

Remember:

PEOPLE FIRST.

If you need to evacuate immediately, we aren't running back through the house looking for Mr. Fluffy.

But having another familiar comfort item already packed can help.

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GIVE EACH CHILD A LITTLE COMFORT POUCH

Remember our PackFreshUSA Stand-Up Pouches from earlier in the challenge?

This is another fun way to use one.

Create a little:

COMFORT POUCH

Depending on the child's age, you could add:

• A few crayons
• Small notebook
• Playing cards
• Tiny travel game
• Small toy
• Note from Mom, Dad, Grandma or Grandpa
• Family photo

Let the child decorate or label the pouch.

Maybe write:

“EMMA'S EMERGENCY FUN BAG”

or

“JACK'S BOREDOM BUSTER”

Because if you've ever been stuck somewhere with a bored child...

You already understand why this qualifies as emergency preparedness. 

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INCLUDE SOMETHING THAT DOESN'T NEED POWER

Tablets and phones can absolutely provide entertainment and comfort.

But today I want you to include at least ONE THING THAT DOESN'T NEED:

• Batteries
• Electricity
• Wi-Fi
• Cell service

That might be:

• A book
• Cards
• Coloring supplies
• Notebook
• Small game
• Toy

If the power is out and we're trying to conserve our phone batteries for communication...

WE DON'T WANT ALL THE ENTERTAINMENT DEPENDING ON A SCREEN.

Remember Day 7?

Our phones may be important emergency tools.

Let's save that battery when we can.

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DON'T FORGET THE WHOLE FAMILY

Comfort items aren't only for children.

What could help YOUR family pass time or relax?

Maybe:

• Deck of cards
• Small dice game
• Paperback book
• Notebook and pen
• Small handwork project
• Family photos
• Meaningful note
• Personal or spiritual comfort item

You don't need all of these.

Pick something small.

Remember Mimi's rule:

SMALL. LIGHT. USEFUL.

THINK ABOUT OLDER FAMILY MEMBERS TOO

Preparedness should fit the PEOPLE you're preparing for.

An older adult may appreciate:

• Spare reading glasses if available
• Large-print reading material
• Notebook with important information
• Simple headphones or hearing-related supplies
• A familiar personal item

Of course, essential medical equipment, medications and accessibility needs come first.

Today's challenge is simply about adding that little extra layer of comfort.

COMFORT CAN ALSO MEAN ROUTINE

For children especially, familiar routines can be comforting.

If you had to stay somewhere else overnight, what little pieces of normal life would help?

Maybe:

• The bedtime story
• The stuffed animal
• Their familiar toothbrush
• A favorite song
• A family photo
• A familiar snack

Remember our Day 6 Grab-N-Go Snack Kit?

Sometimes a familiar snack isn't just food.

It's a little piece of:

“HEY...I KNOW THIS.”

And when everything else feels different, that can matter.

PETS LIKE COMFORT TOO

Remember Day 8 — Pet Grab-N-Go Bags?

Pets may be stressed during evacuations, storms, unfamiliar surroundings and travel too.

If practical, include something familiar such as:

• Favorite small toy
• Familiar blanket or towel
• Favorite treats
• Small comfort item that smells like home

Again:

SMALL. LIGHT. USEFUL.

We're not trying to pack your Golden Retriever's favorite king-size mattress into the Grab-N-Go Bag. ?

ADD A LITTLE NOTE

This might be my favorite idea for today's challenge.

Slip a small note into your child's emergency bag.

Something simple:

“I love you.”

“You are brave.”

“We have a plan.”

“Mom and Dad love you.”

“Mimi loves you.” 

Maybe they never need it.

Wonderful.

But if they're ever separated from you temporarily during an emergency, imagine finding that little note.

It weighs almost nothing.

Costs almost nothing.

And may mean everything.

ADD A FAMILY PHOTO

Remember when we talked about adding a recent photo to our pet information?

Consider adding a small current family photo to your emergency information too.

For a child, a familiar picture can provide comfort.

It can also be useful to have recent photos of family members available if people become separated.

Keep personal information thoughtfully and don't overload children's bags with unnecessary private information.

DON'T TURN THE BAG INTO A TOY BOX

You knew Mimi was going to say this. ?

We're adding:

A LITTLE COMFORT.

Not:

THE ENTIRE PLAYROOM.

Remember Day 15?

We actually PUT ON our Grab-N-Go Bags to see whether we could carry them.

Don't undo all that good work now.

One stuffed animal?

Wonderful.

Seventeen stuffed animals?

We're going to need a U-Haul. ?

Stick with:

SMALL.

LIGHT.

USEFUL.

CHECK THESE ITEMS TOO

Comfort supplies should be part of your regular Grab-N-Go check.

Kids grow.

Interests change.

A four-year-old's favorite activity may not be very exciting when they're eight.

Every six months or so, ask:

“DO YOU STILL WANT THIS IN YOUR EMERGENCY BAG?”

Swap things out.

That can actually become a fun part of your preparedness routine.

TONIGHT'S FAMILY CHALLENGE

Call everyone together.

Then say:

“IF WE HAD TO LEAVE HOME FOR A NIGHT, WHAT ONE SMALL THING WOULD YOU WANT WITH YOU?”

No giant suitcases.

No gaming systems.

No bringing the entire Lego collection. 

One or two small things.

Let everyone choose.

You may learn something about what makes each member of your family feel safe and comfortable.

TODAY'S EASY PREPAREDNESS CHALLENGE

Today:

☐ Add one small comfort item to each child's emergency bag
☐ Let children help choose their item
☐ Include something that requires NO electricity
☐ Consider a small book, toy, cards or coloring supplies
☐ Consider adding a family photo
☐ Write a little encouraging note 
☐ Add a small family activity such as playing cards
☐ Think about comfort needs for older family members
☐ Check your pet's comfort item
☐ Keep everything SMALL, LIGHT & USEFUL
☐ Add comfort items to your six-month Grab-N-Go check

Then ask:

“DOES OUR EMERGENCY BAG TAKE CARE OF THE PERSON—NOT JUST THE EMERGENCY?”

If the answer is a little more YES than it was yesterday...

TODAY'S CHALLENGE WORKED.

✅ DAY 21 — DONE!

Today we didn't add something that keeps the lights on.

We didn't add more calories.

We didn't add another gallon of water.

We added something for the person carrying the bag.

Because preparedness isn't only about equipment.

It's about taking care of the people we love.

And sometimes something as simple as:

•  A little stuffed animal
• A deck of cards
• A favorite book
• A family picture

or

A note that says “Mimi loves you.”

can bring a little bit of normal into a very NOT-normal day.

Tomorrow for Day 22, we're going to talk about something that isn't nearly as cute...

but it is VERY important.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE TOILET DOESN'T WORK?

We're going to build or check our Emergency Toilet & Sanitation Kit.

And I've talked about this one before, so we're going to connect tomorrow's quick challenge to my more detailed emergency sanitation information.

Until tomorrow...

ONE LITTLE THING AT A TIME. 

— Mimi

PackFreshUSA | 30 Easy Preparedness Ideas