32 Survival Skills Your Child Should Know and Be Able to Do ASAP!

Joe for America ^ | September 8, 2013 | Survival Mom

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

Knowledge is something that takes time to develop, so we need to start teaching the next generation now. In case God forbid, our children are left to fend for themselves or we are injured or even just to make your family more apt to survive, every child must learn these survival skills so they can pull their own weight and contribute as much as they can. If yourfamily learns now to be a well oiled machine, you will be more likely to survive any type of collapse.

1. Grow vegetables from seeds
2. Have local edible and medicinal plant foraging skills
3. Knowledge of dietary needs and how to meet them using wild plants and game
4. Make a fire and know fire safety
5. Cook on an open fire
6. Open a can of food with and without can opener (rub can lid ridge on cement and then pry open with knife)
7. Be able to tell if food is too spoiled to eat
8. How to safely use a knife
9. How to shoot a sling shot
10. How to hunt small game with snares, traps and sling shot
11. How to fish and hunt-bow & gun when old enough
12. How to clean fish and wild game
13. Find water and identify if it’s safe to drink
14. Filter and boil water to drink
15. Basic first aid
16. Basic hygiene practices
17. Find or build a shelter in the wilderness
18. How to stay warm, cool and dry in the elements
19. How, Why and When to stay hidden
20. Self defense
21. How to make a basic weapon and how to use it
22. Be able to run and walk a good distance and be in generally good shape
23. How to climb a tree- to get away from predators, get directional barrings, and hunt.
24. How to read a map and use a compass
25. How to read the sky for directions, time and approaching bad weather
26. Know where family and friends live if they need to find them
27. How to sew so they can mend clothing or any fabric and even make things such as bags or scrap quilts
28. How to bargain and trade (Kids naturally do this with their toys so teach them at garage sales.)
29. How to be responsible for themselves and to be aware of their surroundings at all times
30. Have a natural curiosity and good problem solving skills
31. Be hard working and a self starter and a family helper not a complainer!
32. Have a strong faith in God (morals, memorize bible verses, prayers, songs, and have a hope for heaven)

This list by Becky P. was a finalist in our List Contest. Thanks, Becky, for an excellent entry!

[JRandomFreeper]

I use diamond faced sharpening plates. I never use a steel. I spent years using a knife to make a living in commercial kitchens, where lightweight, usable, sharp knives are a cornerstone.

I have yet to see a sharpening gadget that was worth anything for real use.

/johnny

[M Kehoe]

Bttt.

5.56mm

[buffaloguy]

I use diamond plates too and they work quickly. I also change the angle of the sharpened edge to a lower angle. My folder and wood chisels........i would not try to shave with them.

[JRandomFreeper]

Yes, it very much depends on what you are doing with the edge. For 8 hour shifts of prepping veg/meat in commercial establishments, 21.5 degree angle works well for me. My machete that I use to clear brush gets a more robust and longer wearing angle.

/johnny

[Marcella]

“o am on my third season. 90% failure. still trying to figure out if its me the soil or the seeds.”

Do you want to be added to the gardening thread ping list? A new thread is started every Friday. Some on that thread may be able to help you decide what your growing problem is. We post to that thread from one Friday to another where another thread is started on Fridays. Here is the link to this week’s gardening thread:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/3063499/posts?page=1

[Marcella]

“I use diamond faced sharpening plates. I never use a steel.”

I haven’t thought about sharpening knives. I have a set of kitchen knives in a block of wood and there is a sharpening rod of metal of some kind in the block. My husband used that for sharpening kitchen knives so I guess it works to some degree. I’ve never used it.

[JRandomFreeper]

I never use a steel, except for crushing things like cloves and peppercorns. 3 or 4 swipes across a fine diamond stone is all it takes for a well-maintained knife to stay sharp for a couple of hours of heavy use.

In culinary school, 3 full months were devoted specifically to knife skills. Daily grade included sharpening knives. Chef instructor could hear, across the room, if someone was screwing up. ;)

/johnny

[mad_as_he$$]

“That’s the fault of parents. In my house, every kid can read an analog clock, and they can all write in cursive too!”

That’s retarded Sir! /s

[buffaloguy]

Exactly. I also sharpen any tool that has a blade, like a shovel.

[JRandomFreeper]

Shovels, hoes, tines on the tiller. Yep. All of those things work better if sharpened appropriately.

/johnny

[mikemoose]

“How to Stay Alive in the Woods” by Bradford Angier is an excellent beginner/moderate level survival guide that is complete and written so that my son has enjoyed reading it since he was 10.

[buffaloguy]

Yup. A lot less horsepower to get the job done.

[Marcella]

“3 or 4 swipes across a fine diamond stone is all it takes for a well-maintained knife to stay sharp for a couple of hours of heavy use.”

What is a diamond stone and where does one get one of those?

[JRandomFreeper]

Try Amazon. You can find them for as cheap as $8. Generally, they come in 3 grades, coarse, medium, and fine. I rarely use anything besides the fine, because my knives are maintained properly.

/johnny

[bgill]

Check, check and check. I’m not concerned as that was my mindset when they were little. They were in 4-H so know how to raise animals, shoot, sew and grow a garden. Proud to say that first thing Miss College did when they got a place in the country was put in a garden. She was slicing cucumbers for homecanned pickles when she was 3 years old. Yes, with a real knife and not a drop of blood but can’t say that about me.

[bgill]

Also, learn flintnapping to make an arrowhead.

[bgill]

Get the Foxfire books. Check the web and youtube. Your local library has a wealth of information. Ask specific questions here. 95% of life skills don’t need to be learned from a professional or military type.

[Donnafrflorida]

sure thanks put me on thread

[B4Ranch]

When times are tough it isn’t a good idea to live in a large city. There’s too many low lifes gathered in the cities hoping for a handout or a chance to steal from you.

[bgill]

Cut the root ends off your celery, keep the carrot root top, and lettuce roots (store bought) to plant and they’ll sometimes grow. As you said, plant the tater eyes for next season. Give the lettuce, onions and other greens a haircut rather than pulling them up by the roots and they’ll continue to grow. It’s sad how many who have their stock of “survival seeds” don’t know just those basics.

I have a potato that’s going out tomorrow. Just brought in a couple buckets of tomatoes, a bucket of greens and a handful of peppers, cukes and beans from the garden. It hasn’t done anything this summer (another surprise for the newbies) because it was to HOT. Now, after 50+ days of 100+ temps, it’s finally down to the upper 90s and what a difference it has made.

No water will be another surprise for them. Then there’s the bugs, molds and diseases, the deer, the armadillos and the neighbors