Welcome! 
Welcome to week #19 in the “72 Hour Kit Ideas: A week by week approach” series.
This series is all about making it simple and do-able to get a 72 hour kit put together for you and your family.
Creating such a kit can be overwhelming and financially difficult to do all at once. But through this series, I’ve broken it down for you into 26 small steps! You can see all the steps here. Just take one small baby step each week and in 6 months you will have a well stocked, personalized kit!
You can even go through the series a few times over a year or two adding just the most basic supplies the first six months and then a few more “extra” supplies each time you cycle through it again.
Want even more help?
This series is also available as an e-book. Purchasing the e-book gives you a few additional benefits over just reading the free series:
- Additional details and tips
- The ability to print the entire book!
- Pictures of my own kit showing just how I pack each week.
Download “Your Own 72 Hour Kit Plan” E-Book Now!
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Last Week:
I hope all of you were able to give thought to some religious items you’d like to have in your kit last week.
Week #20: Entertainment
One oft forgotten category in 72 hr kits is Entertainment. 72 hours is a long time. At least it would be in an emergency situation; especially if you have nothing to do. Even more so if you have kids like I do.
Plus, I’m sure there will be plenty of things you’d like to get your (and your kids) minds off of. Depending on the situation / disaster, they could be a possibility for a lot of physiological stress. Having something fun to do can help ease this. And relieving that stress is just as important as taking care of your physical needs.
However, the same rules apply here that have applies over the last 20 weeks: keep it light and small! This can be a challenge, but you do have to be able to carry this pack, remember? Here are a few suggestions:
Suggestions:
- Pen & Paper
- Playing Cards
- Small Paperback book
- Small card games such as “Go Fish” or “Memory,” or “Phase 10”
- A small toy car or miniature dolls or action figures for a child
- Small children’s books
- Coloring pages and crayons
- Jump rope (or other small active toys…try the dollar store)
- Dice (play Yatzee, Farkle…thanks to reader Beth for this idea)
- Bingo cards with small candies for markers (thanks to readers Beth and Linda for those two ideas)
Other ideas?
What we have done in our family:
We have pen & paper, a small toy for each child, a book for each family member, and crayons with 15-20 Disney coloring pages
How About You?
Leave me a comment and tell me what you will be adding to your kit. Why? What entertainment products will work for your family? What do you already have?
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| Week #18: Religious Needs | Week #20: Entertainment | Week #1: Packaging Your Kit | Series Into: Survival Kit Series, A Week by Week Approach |
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Becky is a wildlife enthusiast and pet and livestock care expert with a diploma in canine nutrition. With over a decade of experience in animal welfare, Becky lends her expertise to Simple Family Preparedness through insightful info about pets, livestock, bee keeping, and the practicalities of homesteading.
During Easter time, Walmart had little four packs of Uno cards (they are about an inch by an inch-and-a-half. They were a dollar for the four pack. My children and I each have a deck and they only take up a tiny bit of space since they are so tiny. They are good quality also (not paper thin).
Score! Lucky you!
Batteries! We go through batteries like crazy…in important stuff like flashlights, but also things that might keep our three year old entertained in the instance of an evacuation.
Yes, keeping the kids entertained is the most important part!
I have a couple of new decks of cards, pencil and paper, and a magnetic travel game, but I love the chalk idea and am going to add some to my supplies.
Sounds good Leigh!
I have a couple decks of cards packed and uno too. Also have travel sorry. Oh also have a couple of word search books. Try to pack things that we already know we like!
Yes, that makes it safe!
We have a deck of cards, a small pad of plain paper, pencils and colored pencils, a pencil sharpener, and string (think Cat’s Cradle and the like). I think I will also add the card game Flux and print out that list of games.
I just added a small doll and cars for my daughter. We already had cards, dice, paper and pencils. I might also add some crayons though if it is hot they would melt and make a big mess.
Yes, I’ve had crayons in there before and they made a huge mess. Try colored pencils instead!
Oh yay!!!! I won! I won! I’m so excited!!!!!! 🙂 Yay!
Thanks so much! Can’t wait!
As for this week, we each have a book, but I am thinking of adding some dice. Those games sound fun! And perhaps a small set of dominos? Oh and I probably should scrounge up some cards…hmmmm…
Thank you again for a great post! Speaking of entertainment, I just received my order from your site! Thank you again for the excellent prize! One of the items I ordered was the “Don’t Die Out There” playing cards. They are great because I have older kiddos that would enjoy a deck of cards if we had 72 hours to kill, but they also include survival tips and hints that can come in handy in the wild. 🙂 I’ve also seen them where they have star-gazing information on playing cards. I know my son would love those.
I’m glad you are enjoying your stuff! (-:
Wow, lots of great ideas! Thanks for sharing! We have cards (uno & regular)& dice, paper & pencils & our Bible of course. I love all the ideas & will be adding some of those as well. I was thinking of (laminated) paper dolls, too, if you have someone who would enjoy them. I’m dating myself, but we loved ours when we were kids.
Yes. A good idea! My 3 and 1 yr old girls would love those!
Wow, so glad I found you on Pinterest. I have been looking for a easy way to start and this is the bomb! Last week I dug out my suitcases and decided to start with them. they are on wheels and I have a bad back so not sure a backpack would be a good idea when it was fully packed. I am just going to jump right in where you are and will eventually be on track. Thank you from the bottom of my heart <3 .
You are welcome Beth! I hope it continues to be helpful!
We have crayons and a book. Chalk. Those small princess dolls a book for our child. We can grab one for ourselves off the shelf before walking out the door. Just need to make sure that’s added to our plan so we don’t forget. We also have cards and dice. Those small first aid kits you can get for a dollar will fit a yahzee sheet perfectly. One section on the top and one on the bottom. I taped over the whole sheet so its semi water proof and you can use it over and over again by wiping it clean. Crayons,pencil, and even pen come off easily. They also make those dry erase crayons. The card deck and five dice fit perfectly. We even have a small pen in it. However the pen came with another compact item we where given so I’m not sure where everyone would find a small pen. We also have a small doodle pad for our child. Again can erase it. And one of our favorite games in travel size. I need to add pen and paper. Forgot all the games you could play with those tks.
That Yahtzee idea is great! I should check out those first aid kits so I can take Yahtzee! Great idea!
I just found your blog via Pinterest.
We live in the Florida and are under the current hurricane watch for Isaac. I wish I had found your blog sooner, but better late than never. Today I am working on the binder
Take care and be safe! Hope it goes away from you!
I need to add more to my kits specifically, but if we’re leaving by car, I have a whole bag of tricks we use for car trips. Magazines, books, crayons and paper are all in the car already, along with cards and dice.
I love the chalk idea! I’ll have to add that this week. I do also have some small travel games, like memory and a travel Sorry. I should do something for the grown-ups. We always forget about ourselves. 🙂
To go along with the playing cards, we have a copy of “According to Hoyle” a book with rules & instructions for hundreds of card games & variants. We really enjoy playing card games and with Hoyle, we can pass the time learning new ones – can really help avoid boredom with just playing hand after hand of the same old Gin. Also make sure to have lots of paper for score keeping and pencils – with a sharpener.
Since we might not have perfect lighting available, we make sure that the playing cards have large numbers on them and have plain, white (uncluttered) faces so it’s easier to read the cards.
We also have a couple of Sudoku & crossword books from the dollar store tucked in.
Like someone else mentioned, a dozen dice (extras since it’s easy to lose the little buggers) you can have lots of fun with Farkle or Yahtzee. You can buy Yahtzee score sheets, or be cheap like us & just write them up as needed on a tablet.
Forgot to add that for the pencils, we pack a few of the fat pencils like the ones first graders use. We like these better than regular pencils because the thicker lead doesn’t break off as easily so they last longer. Also they seem to write a little darker which goes along with the less than ideal light situation. To help protect the point, we use the cap from an old Sharpie style marker- fits snugly on the fat pencils.
Fabulous ideas Tom!
i plan on adding a deck of cards, pen/crayons, paper/coloring pages, and small toys for my kids
I have playing cards and found a set of small lightweight dominos as well as my Sunday School book and a daily devotional book along with pen, pencil, sharpie and paper.
Chalk in a plastic zip lock bag. Really fun for kids and can also be used to make a SOS sign if need be.
FABULOUS idea! I’ll add it to the list!
Congrats to Anna! 🙂
Luckily I have this department covered in my emergency prep! Playing cards/card games of all sorts since I regularly use this with my granddaughter, family, and friends. If we are able to be home there are also many board games, trivia games, crafting supplies, crayons, markers, coloring books, etc. I love to do this sort of thing all the time anyway. We have a tendency to get a good bit of snow up this way so indoor entertainment is important. 😀
Way to go Lisa!
How about a set of 5 or 6 dice- there are alot of games to be played with these and a pc of paper to score- Farkle for adults and yahtzee- get some score pads – they are not expensive! LCR-(Left, center, right) just need a few pennies or matchsticks to play that- it takes up not too much space and entertains for hours. Hangman can be played on the pad or paper and even old fashion tic tac toe, draw up a bingo and use pennies to cover the spots or keep a set of chips in the 72 hr kit too.
Oooo! I love the dice idea! Adding it now! I’ve never heard of LCR! And BINGO?! I should have had you write this post!
Ah yes, Dutch Blitz was one of those games we added and UNO….I will have to add some Lego mini figures as my son LOVES legos…I also have added a little advance activity book for our son. I just realized I have a couple duplicate books that are favorites of our son…probably should add those! Will have to look into the waterproof Bible and cards. Good ideas, Rachel!
We have coloring books, about 4 different card games, and couple other little books. I just need to add the crayons and other writing things that I purchased and figure out a couple small toys to add. Card games are compact and easy to add. We also have some candy of various kinds added as that is entertainment in its own way!
Yes, candy can definitely entertain me…a little TOO well sometimes!
Candy is also good as a quick fix… pick-me-up. Could also be considered as part of important medical treatment if someone (you, a family member, or even a stranger) is diabetic and has trouble w low blood sugar.
i have added sugar packets to my kit for this purpose as well. Sugar packet and salt packet added to a bottle of water can be a life saver. Will act like a gatorade type drink.
I won?!?! WOOO! Thank you so much!
I have some coloring books and card games packed in our kit, enough to keep the kids busy. But I also keep lots of rawhide and dog toys in it as well. We have 9 dogs and when we’ve had to head to the basement during tornado warnings it was important for me to have something to keep the critters, as well as the children, busy. And of course some golf magazines for my hubby =)
Sounds like you’ve got everyone well taken care of Anna!
My family loves Dutch Blitz. So we just bought a new set for the bags. Also got a new set of Uno as well.
We’ve got lots of stuff for this area. Also suggest a waterproof Bible. Hubby found them at our local Family Christian Store. Also found waterproof playing cards at Walgreens. these items both cost a little more, but are worth it.
Added Mad Libs to my older boys bags and small activity/coloring books for the little guys. Love the “Water WOW! Doodle Book” s I got them at Walmart. It has a refillable water pen attached to a spiral coloring pad w thick board book type pages. The child colors on the page w the water pen and the colors appear. when the page dries, they can color again! Not alotta choice: Cars, Disney Princesses & Barbie is all i have found. may be more avail online.
Oh my…. My L’l Girl just cam in and looked over my shoulder (actually my arm). apparently there are lots of Water WOW! boks to choose from other than the 3 walmart carries. She just had her BDay and Christmas is soooo far away. What to do? What to do? Easter I guess. LOL
https://www.thefind.com/family/info-water-wow-doodle-book
Love the idea of a bible Rachel! You are always one step ahead of me! (-: We will be doing a “religious” category in a few weeks. I swear you can read my mind!
We only have a set of face cards in our kit. That won’t help much for the kids. Luckily, we have most of the other stuff around the house, so I won’t have to buy anything. I’ll just have to gather it and add it to the kit. Thanks!
Free is always best!