10 Survival Skills Every 12-Year-Old Should Know – Mom with a PREP

In today’s unpredictable world, teaching our children survival skills is becoming more critical than ever. Whether you’re a prepper or just a mom who believes in being ready for anything, ensuring your kids have basic survival knowledge can offer peace of mind. And no age is too young to start! By the age of 12, children are capable of learning crucial survival techniques that will not only help them stay safe but also boost their confidence and self-reliance.

Here are the top 10 survival skills that every 12-year-old should know, ensuring they’re prepared for any situation.

A basic survival skill that every child should know is how to construct a simple shelter. In a survival situation, being exposed to the elements can be life-threatening, so knowing how to protect oneself from wind, rain, and cold is crucial.

A simple lean-to or A-frame shelter can be built with branches, leaves, or even tarps. Teaching your child to use their surroundings to create a sturdy shelter can make all the difference in an emergency. Start by showing them how to look for natural coverings, such as trees or large rocks, and then how to enhance those shelters using found materials.

Teaching children how to build a shelter is one of the most essential survival skills they can learn. Specops Bushcrafting provides expert survival training, helping kids and adults alike master wilderness survival techniques, including shelter building. Equip your child with the knowledge and skills to stay safe in any outdoor emergency.

Fire is essential for warmth, cooking, and protection. Learning to safely start a fire is an invaluable skill for a child. While matches are handy, it’s better to teach your child how to use tools like flint and steel or a fire starter.

Fire-starting is an essential survival skill—learn how to start a fire even in wet conditions here.

Begin with showing them how to gather dry tinder, kindling, and larger logs. Then, demonstrate the technique of striking flint to create sparks and how to feed the fire with oxygen. Reinforce the importance of keeping the fire under control and never leaving it unattended.

Water is essential to survival, and knowing how to find and purify it can keep your child safe. Natural sources like rivers or rainwater are the best options, but even puddles or dew can be used in emergencies.

Teaching children how to find and purify water is a survival skill that could save their lives. Air Fountain provides an innovative way to generate clean drinking water from the air, ensuring hydration in any emergency. Give your child the confidence to secure their own water supply, even when traditional sources run dry.

Show your child how to locate water in their environment, and then teach them methods of purification. Boiling water is the easiest way, but if that’s not an option, they can use purification tablets or portable filters.

Teaching your child how to identify edible plants and berries in the wild can provide them with an important food source if needed. Begin with teaching them which common plants are safe to eat and which ones to avoid.

Foraging for wild foods is a crucial survival skill—discover edible plants and how to identify them here.

Start in your backyard or a nearby park to practice foraging safely. Always remind your child to avoid eating anything they cannot confidently identify as safe.

Accidents happen, and when they do, knowing basic first aid is essential. Start by teaching your child how to treat minor cuts, scrapes, and burns, which are common in survival situations. Additionally, they should know how to handle more serious injuries, like sprains or fractures, until professional help is available.

In an emergency, knowing how to treat injuries can make all the difference. The Home Doctor is a doctor-approved guide that teaches families how to handle medical situations when professional care isn’t available. Empower your child with first aid knowledge that could save a life.

Make sure they know the basics of using a first-aid kit and encourage them to carry one with them whenever they go on outdoor adventures.

Knowing how to signal for help can be a lifesaving skill in emergencies. Teach your child how to use reflective surfaces, like a mirror or foil, to catch the attention of rescuers. They should also know how to create large, visible shapes on the ground, such as an SOS signal, or use a whistle to make noise that carries over long distances.

Remind them to stay in one place when lost, making it easier for rescuers to find them.

In a world dominated by GPS, it’s easy to forget how to navigate the old-fashioned way—with a map and compass. But knowing these tools is essential in survival situations where electronic devices may fail. Equip your child with a reliable compass.

Knowing how to navigate without GPS is essential—learn how to use the stars and natural signs for guidance here.

Teach your child the basics of compass navigation, how to read a map, and how to use landmarks for orientation. These skills can help them find their way back to safety if they ever get lost.

Once your child learns how to start a fire, the next step is teaching them how to cook simple meals over it. Show them how to prepare food using basic cookware, or even just a stick to roast food.

Cooking in survival situations requires knowledge of long-lasting, nutritious foods. The Lost SuperFoods provides over 126 forgotten survival food recipes, designed to sustain you through tough times. Teach your child how to prepare survival meals that will keep them nourished no matter the conditions.

A good survival skill to teach is how to boil water, make simple soups, or roast meats. Make sure they know to always keep a safe distance from the fire while cooking.

While avoiding dangerous situations is the best policy, knowing some basic self-defense can be empowering for children. Teach your child how to stay alert and aware of their surroundings. Explain the importance of listening to their instincts and removing themselves from potentially dangerous situations. Introduce them to basic self-defense strategies for protection.

The ability to stay calm under pressure is one of the most important survival skills anyone can have, especially children. Teach your child techniques like deep breathing or visualization to help them stay focused in a stressful situation.

Encourage them to take a moment to think before they act, and remind them that staying calm will help them make better decisions and improve their chances of survival.

These 10 survival skills not only prepare your child for emergencies but also help them become more independent and resilient. As a mom with a prepper mindset, you’re equipping your children with tools they can use for the rest of their lives.

While mastering these skills is an essential step, there’s always more to learn about preparedness. To take your family's readiness to the next level, it’s crucial to stay informed about the bigger threats that could affect us all.