Questions Parents Ask Me Most About Power Outages with Kids

Answered by Chelsey, Founder of Prepared Kids Canada

Hi, I’m Chelsey, founder of Prepared Kids Canada. I’m also a mom of two.

I created Prepared Kids because I couldn’t find an emergency kit designed specifically for children—one that not only included quality gear, but actually taught kids why each item matters and how to use it with confidence.

Power outages are one of the most common emergencies families experience. They can last for a few minutes, several hours, or sometimes much longer. For adults, a power outage can be inconvenient. For children, suddenly losing the lights, internet, television, heat, or familiar nighttime sounds can feel confusing or frightening.

The good news is that power outages are also one of the easiest emergencies to prepare for as a family.

Here are some of the questions parents ask me most.

“What should I do first when the power goes out?”

Before searching for candles or worrying about everything in the refrigerator, take a moment to assess what’s happening.

Look outside to see whether neighbouring homes and streetlights have also lost power. Check your electrical panel if it appears that only your home is affected. You can also check your local utility provider’s outage information using your phone, as long as you still have service and battery power.

Then bring everyone together.

Children usually feel safer when they can see that the adults are calm and have a plan. Explain what you know in simple terms:

“The power is out in our neighbourhood. We’re safe, and we have everything we need while we wait for it to come back on.”

Sometimes that reassurance is the most important first step.

“How do I keep my child from becoming scared?”

Children often take their emotional cues from the adults around them.

You don’t need to pretend that everything is perfect, but speaking calmly and confidently can prevent the situation from feeling much bigger than it is.

Give your child a simple job. They could retrieve their flashlight, help gather blankets, choose a family game, or make sure everyone has their water bottle.

A child who has a role often feels more capable and less helpless.

It can also help to practise before a real outage happens. Turn the lights off one evening and have a short family power-outage drill. Show your children where the flashlights are stored and let them practise using them.

Familiar situations are usually less frightening than unexpected ones.

“Should we use candles during a power outage?”

I understand why people immediately think of candles. They’re inexpensive, familiar, and often already in the house.

But whenever possible, I recommend using flashlights, headlamps, lanterns, or other battery-powered lighting instead.

Candles introduce an unnecessary fire risk, especially in homes with children, pets, blankets, or people moving through dark rooms. It only takes one candle being knocked over to create a second emergency.

Headlamps are particularly useful because they leave both hands free. Children also tend to enjoy wearing them, which can make the outage feel more like an adventure and less like something scary.

Keep dependable lighting somewhere easy to reach—not buried in a basement box that you’ll have to find in the dark.

“Does every child need their own flashlight?”

Ideally, yes.

It doesn’t need to be large or expensive, but every family member should have access to a dependable light they know how to operate.

Children may need to walk to the bathroom, find a comfort item, or move safely through the house. Having their own flashlight gives them a small but meaningful sense of independence.

Make sure the flashlight is stored in a consistent place, and check the batteries regularly. A flashlight isn’t much help if nobody knows where it is or it doesn’t work when the lights go out.

A solar- and USB-rechargeable light can also be useful during longer outages because it gives families more than one way to recharge it.

“How much water should we have at home?”

Canadian emergency-preparedness guidance generally recommends having enough supplies to remain self-sufficient for at least 72 hours.

Water is one of the most important parts of that preparation.

A common guideline is approximately two litres of drinking water per person per day, plus additional water for cooking and basic hygiene. Babies, pets, medical needs, hot weather, and physical activity may increase the amount your family requires.

You don’t need to create a frightening stockpile overnight.

Start with enough for one day. Then build toward three days. Store it somewhere accessible and check packaged water periodically for damage or expiry recommendations.

Preparedness becomes much easier when you build it gradually.

“Will our tap water still work?”

Sometimes it will, but that depends on where you live and how your water system operates.

Municipal water may continue running during a power outage, although water pressure or treatment systems can sometimes be affected during a prolonged emergency. Homes that rely on a private well may lose access to running water immediately because the pump requires electricity.

That’s why it’s important to store water before you need it.

Pay attention to instructions from your municipality or public health authority. If officials issue a boil-water or do-not-consume advisory, follow the exact directions provided.

A water filter can be a useful backup tool, but parents should understand what their particular filter does and does not remove. Not every filter makes every water source safe.

“How long will the food in the refrigerator stay safe?”

The most important thing is to keep the refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible.

Every time the door opens, cold air escapes.

A closed refrigerator can generally keep food cold for several hours, while a full freezer can maintain its temperature much longer than a partially filled one. The exact timing depends on the appliance, room temperature, how full it is, and how often the door is opened.

Teach children not to browse through the refrigerator during an outage.

When the power returns, don’t rely only on smell or appearance to decide whether perishable food is safe. Food can contain harmful bacteria without looking or smelling spoiled.

When in doubt, throw it out.

Losing groceries is frustrating. Food poisoning is worse.

“What foods should I keep for power outages?”

Choose foods your family already eats.

An emergency is not the ideal time to discover that your children hate every item in your food supply.

Useful options can include:

• Shelf-stable milk or milk alternatives
• Crackers
• Nut or seed butter, where allergies allow
• Canned tuna, chicken, beans, soups, fruit, or vegetables
• Granola or protein bars
• Applesauce and fruit cups
• Dry cereal
• Ready-to-eat meals
• Familiar snacks
• Food for babies or family members with specific dietary needs

Remember to keep a manual can opener with your supplies.

Choose some foods that require no heating or added water. During a prolonged outage, you may want to conserve both.

Rotate these items into your usual meals before they expire and replace them as they’re used. Emergency food doesn’t have to sit untouched for years.

“Can I use a barbecue or camping stove to cook?”

Yes—but only outdoors and a safe distance away from doors, windows, garages, and vents.

Never use a barbecue, propane stove, charcoal grill, outdoor heater, or generator inside your home, basement, garage, tent, or enclosed porch.

These devices can produce carbon monoxide, a gas you cannot see or smell. It can cause serious illness or death before a family realizes something is wrong.

Opening a window or garage door does not make indoor use safe.

If you plan to use outdoor cooking equipment during an outage, learn how to operate it safely before an emergency happens.

“What should we do if the outage happens during extreme heat?”

Heat can become dangerous quickly, especially for babies, young children, older adults, pets, and people with certain medical conditions.

Close blinds or curtains during the hottest part of the day. Move to the coolest level of the home. Drink water regularly and reduce strenuous activity.

If the home becomes dangerously hot, go somewhere with working air conditioning if it is safe to travel. That could be the home of a friend or family member, a cooling centre, a library, a community centre, or another public location identified by local officials.

Watch for symptoms of heat illness, including dizziness, headache, nausea, unusual weakness, confusion, fainting, or skin that feels extremely hot.

A power outage is inconvenient. Extreme heat can turn it into a medical emergency.

“What if the power goes out during winter?”

Winter outages require a different plan because the temperature inside the home may begin to fall.

Close doors to rooms you aren’t using so your family can concentrate warmth in one area. Wear several loose layers rather than relying on one heavy item. Use hats, warm socks, blankets, and sleeping bags.

Never use an oven, barbecue, or outdoor fuel-burning appliance to heat your home.

If the indoor temperature becomes unsafe, or if your family includes young children, older adults, or anyone medically vulnerable, relocate to a warming centre or another safe location with heat.

Your family should know in advance where you could go and how you would get there.

“How do I keep everyone’s phones charged?”

Start by keeping devices charged during severe-weather warnings or whenever an outage seems possible.

Portable power banks are extremely useful, but they also need to be charged and checked regularly. A solar or hand-crank device may provide additional backup, although charging can be slower than people expect.

During an outage:

• Lower the screen brightness.
• Turn on low-power mode.
• Close unnecessary apps.
• Use text messages instead of long calls when possible.
• Avoid using the phone for entertainment.
• Turn off Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or location services when they aren’t needed.

Your phone may become your connection to outage updates, weather warnings, family members, and emergency services. Protect its battery accordingly.

“What should be in a child’s power-outage kit?”

A child’s supplies should be practical, familiar, and appropriate for their age.

Helpful items can include:

• A flashlight or headlamp
• Spare batteries, stored safely
• A whistle
• A water bottle
• A warm blanket
• A rain poncho
• A comfort item
• A small activity such as cards, a colouring book, or a magnetic drawing board
• A written family contact card
• Simple emergency instructions the child can understand

The kit shouldn’t just be packed and forgotten.

Go through it together. Let your child handle the equipment, ask questions, and practise using it. Gear becomes far more useful when a child understands what it is for.

“How do I keep kids occupied without electricity?”

This question usually arrives about twenty minutes after the Wi-Fi disappears.

Power outages can be frustrating for children, but they can also create a rare break from everyone’s usual routines.

Keep a small collection of outage-friendly activities available:

• Playing cards
• Board games
• Books
• Colouring supplies
• Puzzles
• Storytelling games
• Glow sticks
• Building toys
• A family scavenger hunt using flashlights

You can even create a special “power-outage box” that only comes out when the electricity is off.

That small tradition can completely change the atmosphere. Instead of children thinking, “Everything is gone,” they begin thinking, “We know what we do when this happens.”

“Should I unplug appliances?”

It’s a good idea to turn off or unplug sensitive electronics and appliances that could be damaged by a surge when the power returns.

You may want to leave one light switched on so you’ll know when electricity has been restored.

Make sure generators and alternative power sources are installed and operated according to manufacturer instructions and local safety requirements. A generator should never be used indoors or in an attached garage.

When the power returns, give major appliances a little time before switching everything back on at once.

“When should I call 911?”

A power outage by itself usually isn’t a reason to call 911.

Call emergency services when there is an immediate threat to life or safety, such as:

• A fire
• A downed power line creating an immediate danger
• Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning
• A serious medical emergency
• Someone trapped or injured
• A life-sustaining medical device that has lost power and no safe backup is available

For general outage information, contact your electricity provider or check its official outage system instead.

Teach children that 911 is for real emergencies—not for asking when the lights will come back on.

“What is the most important thing parents can do before an outage?”

Make the plan before the lights go out.

Know where your flashlights are.

Charge your power banks.

Store drinking water.

Keep familiar shelf-stable food available.

Install working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms with battery backup.

Decide where your family could go if the house became too hot or too cold.

Then include your children in the conversation.

Preparedness works best when it isn’t something adults quietly do behind the scenes. Children deserve to understand the family plan in a way that makes them feel capable rather than afraid.

Final Thoughts

Most power outages are manageable.

What makes them stressful is being caught without working lights, charged phones, safe food, enough water, or a plan everyone understands.

You don’t need to prepare for every possible scenario in one day.

Begin with the basics. Add a few supplies at a time. Practise with your children, and make sure everyone knows what to do.

The goal isn’t to convince children that the world is dangerous.

It’s to show them that when something unexpected happens, their family knows how to respond.

Stay prepared. Stay curious. And remember—the goal isn’t to raise children who are afraid of emergencies. It’s to raise children who are confident enough to face them.

— Chelsey
Founder, Prepared Kids Canada