For many preppers, one of the biggest challenges isn’t building an emergency stockpile or learning survival skills—it’s getting their family on board with preparedness. If you’re the only one in your household who sees the importance of prepping, it can feel frustrating and even isolating when your spouse, kids, or extended family don’t share your sense of urgency.
The good news is that with the right approach, you can encourage your loved ones to take preparedness seriously—without fearmongering or overwhelming them. In this post, we’ll discuss some practical tips and conversation starters to help you get your family involved in prepping.
1. Start with a Casual Conversation
Jumping straight into worst-case scenarios can scare people off. Instead, ease into the topic with a casual, low-pressure discussion about practical preparedness. Some ways to start the conversation include:
- “What would we do if the power went out for a few days?”
- “If a big storm hit, do we have enough food and water?”
- “Do you think we should have an emergency plan, just in case?”
- “Remember when [a recent event] happened? It made me think about how we’d handle something similar.”
These types of questions get people thinking about preparedness in real-life terms, rather than abstract doomsday scenarios. Once they start considering everyday risks, they may be more open to taking small steps toward prepping.
2. Focus on Everyday Emergencies
If your family isn’t on board with the idea of prepping for major disasters, shift the focus to common emergencies they can relate to. Instead of talking about total societal collapse, emphasize preparedness for things like:
- Power outages due to storms or grid failures
- Job loss or financial hardship, which can make food storage valuable
- Natural disasters, such as hurricanes, wildfires, or winter storms
- Medical emergencies, where first-aid knowledge is crucial
By framing preparedness as a practical and responsible approach to daily life, it becomes less intimidating and more relevant.
3. Lead by Example
One of the best ways to get your family involved in prepping is to lead by example without pushing them. Instead of lecturing, show them how small preparedness steps can make life easier:
- Keep extra food and water in the house and mention how convenient it is not to run to the store.
- Create basic emergency kits for the car and home and explain how useful they are for small issues.
- Start a garden or learn DIY skills to demonstrate self-sufficiency in action.
When family members see how prepping improves daily life, they’re more likely to get on board.
4. Make It a Fun, Family Activity
If prepping feels like a chore, it’s harder to get buy-in. Instead, make preparedness a fun and engaging family activity. Here are some creative ways to involve your loved ones:
- Outdoor Adventures: Go camping or hiking to practice outdoor survival skills like fire-starting, shelter-building, and foraging.
- Cooking Challenges: Try making meals with only shelf-stable foods to get used to using long-term storage items.
- Emergency Drills: Do a fun “lights out” night where you turn off power and practice living without electricity.
- First-Aid Training: Take a CPR or basic first-aid class together to build confidence in handling medical situations.
By turning prepping into an interactive experience, family members will be more engaged and interested.
5. Assign Roles Based on Interests
If your family members aren’t naturally interested in prepping, assign them roles that align with their strengths and interests:
- Spouse or Partner: If they love gardening or cooking, encourage them to help with food storage and preservation.
- Kids: Let them be responsible for organizing emergency kits, learning survival skills, or even helping with inventory checks.
- Teens: If they enjoy technology, let them research apps and resources for emergency preparedness.
- Parents or Siblings: Engage them by discussing family safety plans and assigning responsibilities in case of an emergency.
Giving each person a specific role helps them feel involved without being overwhelmed.
6. Use Real-World Examples
People often resist prepping because they don’t see an immediate need for it. Use real-world examples to show why preparedness matters:
- Local News Events: “Did you hear about that storm knocking out power for a week? Imagine if we were in that situation.”
- Personal Experiences: “Remember when we ran out of [essential item]? If we had a backup, it wouldn’t have been a problem.”
- Historical Events: “During the Great Depression, people who had food storage did a lot better than those who didn’t.”
When people see how prepping has helped others, they’ll be more likely to take it seriously.
7. Respect Their Concerns & Avoid Overwhelming Them
Some people resist prepping because they associate it with paranoia or extreme scenarios. If a family member is hesitant, avoid pushing too hard or making them feel forced into it.
- Listen to their concerns and reassure them that prepping isn’t about fear—it’s about being responsible and prepared.
- Introduce things slowly instead of overwhelming them with massive prep lists. Start with one small step at a time, like buying extra canned food or creating a basic emergency plan.
- Avoid conspiracy theories or extreme rhetoric, which can push people away from the idea of prepping entirely.
The key is to meet them where they are and let them ease into preparedness at their own pace.
Final Thoughts: Start Small & Build Together
Getting your family on board with prepping won’t happen overnight, but with patience, real-world examples, and a practical approach, you can gradually build a preparedness mindset together.
Start with small steps, focus on everyday emergencies, and make it a fun, family-friendly experience. Over time, as they see the benefits of being prepared, they’ll become more involved—without feeling pressured.
By working together, your family will be stronger, safer, and more resilient for whatever the future holds.
