When we had five children ages seven and under, as well as a variety of foster teens and babies in our home, we discovered one of the most helpful tools for being prepared on outings. We packed “supply tubs” and kept these in our vehicle so that when we were out running errands, traveling, visiting friends, or whatever, we had extra things that we most commonly needed.

We stocked the tub with supplies at the beginning of spring and we restocked items as cold weather came. We replaced perishable items if we ever had to use what was in the tubs. These emergency supply tubs helped us through many stressful moments and unforeseen circumstances, including times when someone would forget their shoes, get car sick and need an extra outfit, or when we ran out of diapers.

Whether your family has one child or ten, you may want to consider creating an individualized tub for your family. Below are some specific suggestions to help you decide which items to put in your own tubs. Remember, these don’t have to be huge containers! Just use a small plastic or cardboard box or even something like a large beach bag would work.

Emergency Supply Tub Items for Cool Weather:

- A pair of gloves and a hat for each child (You can purchase gloves and hats for about $1.00 right after Christmas so stock up then. Remember, these don’t have to be fancy – just an extra pair that will be functional in an emergency!)

- One pair of socks for each child (In case your child’s socks are soaked while you’re out running errands, taking a field trip, or visiting friends, you’ll have an extra pair of fresh, clean, dry socks. Don’t forget to replace these once you’ve washed them.)

- For younger children, keep an extra change of clothes appropriate for the season. This is especially important for babies and toddlers or any child that is not fully potty trained. It is also a good idea to keep an extra outfit for any child prone to motion sickness!

Emergency Supply Tub for Warm Weather:

- Flip flops or water shoes for each child (These don’t need to be expensive. Just keep these handy in case you have an unexpected opportunity to wade in a creek or explore some other area where shoes would get wet.)

- Extra change of clothing

Emergency Supply Tub Items to Keep Stocked All Year:

- Unopened bottles of water (We refill bottles of water to save money. Do NOT put refilled bottles of water in your emergency supply tub. Pack the tub with unopened water only to avoid contamination if the water sits for a long period before you use it.)

- A hand towel or a couple of wash rags (to clean up diaper leaks, food spills, or to cover with cool water and place on a child’s forehead during a bout of motion sickness)

- If you have a child still in diapers, stock extra diapers in your tub. You only need three or four in there. Since these are for emergencies only (if you forget your diaper bag, for example), make sure you remember to switch these diapers to a larger size if your child grows into a larger diaper during the year.

- Small pack of diaper wipes if you use them

- Sample size toiletries (Just in case we had an unexpected invitation to stay overnight somewhere or if we decided to stay out of town after a long day of field trips, we kept a few toiletries – soap, a toothbrush for everyone, toothpaste, shampoo – in our emergency supply tub. These things didn’t take up much room, but it was great to have them handy when we needed them!)

- Non-perishable snacks like crackers, small cereal boxes, cookies, juice boxes, peanuts (for those without allergies), trail mix, etc. These snacks were very helpful when there was an accident and we were stuck in traffic or if we were in the middle of nowhere and didn’t plan ahead for food.

- A small flashlight and batteries, if necessary (To avoid corrosion, remember not to store the batteries with the flashlight, not in the flashlight.)

- A copy of proof of homeschool registration (This may sound silly to some people, but I just think it’s a good idea. If anything ever came up where you wanted to apply for a teacher discount or participate in a special teachers’ only event, you would have proof of registration with you. Some places provide registration cards for your wallet, but if you have a registration letter, stick a copy in your supply tub.)

- Small toys that the child can play with if waiting in traffic, visiting someone unexpectedly, etc.

First Aid Kit

- Lots of Band-Aids

- Antibiotic ointment

- Acetaminophen or Ibuprofen

- Anti-nausea medicine

- Gauze

- Small pair of scissors

- Tweezers (for splinters, etc.)

- Alcohol pads or antiseptic

- Small bottle of sterile water

- Antacids

Roadside Emergency Kit

- Jumper cables

- Flashlight

- Flares

- Folding reflective triangle

- Multi-tool with screwdriver, etc.

- Rain poncho

- Reflective vest

- Shop rags