Some time back I posted about a pack I put together for my two girls (2 & 5 at the time) and their 4H friends.
back pack for kids

While it may be too basic, the idea is to have it when out hiking and camping. My girls do take it when they go. I don't even have to bug them, they ask for it.

Proud papa moment.

Anyway, one of the things that is in their packs is a safety booklet with checklists of things they need to do and we (parents) need to do each time before going out.

I never posted it before because I felt it is just a crude tool for the kids. But the moms liked it and my wife has been bugging, er, encouraging me to post it to get feedback on it.

While 12 pages may seem like a lot, realistically, only the back cover would be looked at in a "survival" situation. The rest is preparation. And the 12 pages is printed on 3 8 1/2 x 11 pages, front and back, laminated, folded and tied together (emergency cordage and tinder.

Anyway, here is the booklet I made for the kids. Feedback away. No worries about sparing my feelings. It is all constructive to me. The backgrounds are all white but they show up grey in the pictures for some reason.

Front cover



Inside















Checklists





[img]http://img292.imageshack.us/img292/8373/4hbookletpg11vt1.png[/img]

Back page

[img]http://img292.imageshack.us/img292/142/4hbookletpg12ri1.png[/img]

The packs have since been more personalized for individual comfort and needs and components upgraded as upgrades are made available.

Aloha:

You Might add a stuffed animal like a Beanie Baby. It could work in conjunction with the book when you upgrade it. And 5 year old girls still like somthing to hold on to when they feel loneley.

On the next edition, maybe explain the STOP acronym? I don't know many 5 year olds that know what "observe" means:

S
T
O
P

Stay where you are. Think about when you last saw your parents. Look around- have you been here before? What can you do to help your parents find you?

Something like that. my $.02

Thanks everyone for your comments. Any more suggestions for version 2.0?

The kids actually like taking it hiking and camping and do use the items in there. The most popular by usage are the magnifying glass, flashlights, telescope/microscope doodad, and the good old pen and notepad. If they had their way, they would use the whistles all the time too. I let the kids blow them periodically, because sometimes you have to do to learn.

Before they were given their packs, the kids and parents went through a two our "class" on the items in there and theire usage as well as the booklet. The kids and the parents agreed to do the checklists and I did recommend having a personal item for each child as well as individual stuff that the parents feel are appropriate, such as medicine, etc. I weighed out the packs with a full water bottle and snacks and it came out to right around two pounds. I wanted the loaded packs to be under three pounds closer to two.

STOP is explained, but not in writing. I know observe and plan are a little difficult for kids, so we practiced and when we went over the booklet, I used both eyes and ears to explain observe. And they are told to stay hydrated and to stay put unless it is dangerous to do so. I also periodically drill my kids. And we go over the booklet and their gear prior to going out. And as the kids use their stuff and are outside, they get more comfortable with them.

I had one of everything opened to explain and practice with. The opened items made their rounds to each family so they could play and learn at home while keeping their kits pristine. I am happy to say that the packs are users and they have been personalized by the kids.

We now have about a dozen or so kids (not including the adult kids like me) that join us on our outings. We will be camping again in April after taxes.

Oh yeah, I also upgrade the kids' gear and provide duplicates to the parents as practicable. It is an expensive process so not everything is first class up front, but everything is usable. I think after I sell my rental property, I want to upgrade their signal mirrors and then their whistles. I may have to hit up Redflare for the purchase.

I' like the contents of the books, maybe you could also give some very,very-basic first-aid instructions on when to use the wet-naps, bandages en sanitairy-napkin.

About your kit: does that shake-flashlight really work? I heard some rumors about them not working properly. Are you also goin gto upgrade these?

Your booklet is very well done. Your scouts are lucky to have someone to take the time to go though saftey programs with them. The only thing that i see that i would change is stay dry under the tree in the rain. Around here you want to stay away from the trees in the rain because of lightning.

Thanks for the feedback.

The shakelight does work and we have a fauxton clone backup.

For liability purposes, I didn't include any first aid in the booklet. But we did practice when we went over the kit. I used a red pen to draw a big gash on myself and we went over the cleaning, bandaging etc.

They each have a rounded point school scissors and nail clippers for theit cutting implements. I am not ready to give them knives just yet.

I did get the tip on lightning, but am not sure what else to suggest as we are mostly in a tropical rain forest environment. I would appreciate suggestions on alternatives.

Neat job on the booklet. Sorry that I'm going to be
a bit long in this post. It's a bad habit of mine
when someone asks my opinion about stuff written
on a page.



Why not take a picture of a kid actually wearing the
poncho and put it there instead of the arrow pointing under the tree?

The statements for both parents & child to sign are a
touch confusing. For example, you have a statment
"I read this booklet to my Mom or Dad at least 3 times"
and have the parent sign. Okay, so you want the parent
to sign to prove that he or she was read to; however,
the "I" in the statement is the child, not the signer.

The "stay dry" "stay warm" "use sunscreen" pages seem
to be more general info not specific to "if lost"
However, the "if lost" and "get help" pages seem more
related to each other, yet are not next to each other.
It might make more sense to connect these two ideas
(if lost & get help).

On the "get help" page, you show a picture of
two whistles. How about a picture of either
one girl blowing a whistle, or a picture of
three whistles?

If the stuff is laminated, do the kids actually
mark on the pre-hike checklist each time they go out?
Then do you erase it for next time? What about
having a separate "adventure log" for the stuff
that the kids are supposed to check off each time?
E.g. a little page that isn't laminated and
can be replaced with date, adventure name,
and check boxes for initialling the other stuff.

-Kuovonne

If you're in Hawaii, how about just putting in there "stay under short trees" in regards to lightening? For most of the island (hawaii) I saw, other than the volcano, trees were everywhere. At least short trees have less chance of catching lightening. Another thing might just be to teach the parents about lightening safety and have them practice at home with the kids. You folks don't have a shortage of rainfall!

Just a thought, and I have no idea if it's true, but would sitting on a fallen log help decrease the chances of a lightening strike? wood tends not to conduct all that well?

Thanks for the ideas.

The checklists are copied/printed for each outing so the original in the booklet stays intact.

I made the booklet late at night after the kids went to sleep and I get done with work, so it is not perfect. I do want to make a revision so am gathering indeas. Maybe on our next camping trip, I can get the kids to model for version 2 to make the instructions clearer.

Our trails tend to be pretty well maintained so we don't have a lot of fallen logs lying around the trails, where I would want the kids to stay. And I have no idea if they are more or less conductive.

The trees at trailside tend to be of pretty even and uniform growth. I am more concerned about the kids moving off the trail for some perceived safety. I think it more prudent that they stay trailside where they are more likely to be found quickly.

Trying to cram all my thoughts into something as small as possible while tired makes for not necessarily the clearest format. But I do like the idea of action pictures with the kids.

Do any of you have any ideas of other things to add?

The chances of a lightning strike on Oahu is very rare.

Are the children able to open the packaging for the space blanket and the poncho easily?

Have the parents dress the kids in a bright colored top.

What trails are you taking them on?

Hi,

As I said before, I think you did a great job with the booklet.

1) I think that the idea of taking action shots of the girls on your next outting for the next version of the booklet is a great idea.

2) On the "if lost" section, do you tell the kiddos what to do if they hear someone calling for them? e.g. If you are lost and hear someone calling for you, signal back (whistle, flash, yell) but stay put untill you can actually see the adult.

-Kuovonne

Aloha balrog,

There are able to open everything in the kit. They have their own brightly decorated shirts that they like to wear out hiking and camping.

The keikis have gone on Diamond Head, Manoa Falls, Aiea Loop, Waimano, Waimea Falls and Ho'omaluhia to name a few.

Aloha Kuovonne,

Thanks, I think the booklet is an ok first attempt, but I am not totally satisfied with it. I really like the action shots idea, but since this was done before any of the hiking and camping trips...But I will add them into a future edition.

The what to do if lost part was gone over and they have practiced it and periodically get surprise questions on it in addition to regular review. The booklet is just a prop, it is the process of learning this that really matters.

Hi Aloha,

I love your idea. I'm a children's book illustrator, so this kind of thing is right up my alley. Personally I have always wanted to see something that made preparedness more accessible to children, so I applaud your effort!

Have you examined educational children's books in the store for your target age group? I'm not sure if this project was intended for 5 year olds, but parts of it seem very "wordy" (the checklist) and are probably beyond their comprehension. MDinana has some good comments with how to explain the STOP acronym.

Things like the checklist would do very well with a small image of the item right beside the word. I see you have a photo of the bag and components already, which is helpful. Usually in the industry there would be clean black and white line drawings, color "spots" (small illustrations) or photos throughout the book showing the equipment and how it is worn or used.

If you have the time, check out a few books in the educational market. Workbook-type breakdowns of information, age-appropriate language, lots of illustrations or photos, and presentation are often over-looked by the casual reader but make a huge difference in being understood by the child.

Lastly, please consider changing from that gray background to something lighter (even white) to make the text easier to read and save on your printer ink!

Sorry if my advice just basically puts more work on you. Your project is a very good idea and looks like tons of fun. I don't even have kids and I want to make one too, must be because I make kid's stuff for a living anyway.

Aloha Christina,

The background is white, but when I saved the pages as images, it added the grey backgroud. The checklists are for the parents to go over with the kids. It wasn't meant to easy child reading.

I really envision the kids only looking at the back cover.

Let me know when your book comes out and I will buy one.

I have gotten so much good feedback, I am not sure where to begin.