Emergency kit checklist for a family with children
23 things to have ready for a family with two children, with how much water and food to store for 2 adults and 2 children.
For 2 adults and 2 children, store 36 L of drinking water and about 23,100 calories of food for 3 days1, plus food your children will eat, children's arrangements.
With children, being ready is mostly about familiar food, something to do and knowing who collects who.
Who this plan is for
Two adults and two children. SupKit's planning assumptions for this household:
| Who | Energy a day | Drinking water a day |
|---|---|---|
| Adult × 2 | 4,500 calories | 6 L |
| Child × 2 | 3,200 calories | 6 L |
Water and food for 2 adults and 2 children
| 3 days | 7 days | |
|---|---|---|
| Drinking water | 36 L | 84 L |
| Food energy | 23,100 calories | 53,900 calories |
What a family with two children should add
- Food your children will eat
Familiar foods and snacks your children are happy to eat. - Children's arrangements
School or childcare contacts and who would collect your children.
Also on Canada's official kit list
- Canada's kit list includes a corded phone, chargers, a flashlight, a radio and spare batteries.2
Everything else every home needs
- Food: food for everyone, manual can opener
- Water: drinking water
- Hygiene: hand sanitiser, wet wipes, toilet paper and bathroom products, personal hygiene supplies
- Power & warmth: flashlight, spare batteries, charged power bank, battery or wind-up radio, blankets or sleeping bags, camping stove, warm clothing
- Health & safety: first aid kit
- Plans & essentials: emergency contacts, meeting point, utility shut-offs, some cash, important documents, insurance details
See the full household checklist for what each one involves.
A sample shopping list for 3 days
One way to reach 23,100 calories with long-life food. SupKit estimate Swap in what your household likes.
| Item | How many |
|---|---|
| Canned chili | 12 |
| Canned soup | 13 |
| Baked beans | 11 |
| Microwave rice pouch 250g | 7 |
| Canned tuna | 10 |
| Crackers | 2 |
| Peanut butter | 2 |
| Dried fruit and nuts | 3 |
| Granola bars | 2 |
| Canned fruit | 6 |
Allergies, dietary needs and children
Plan around everyone at home: allergies, intolerances and diets come first, and familiar food matters most for children. Recipes vary between brands, so always read the label of the product you buy.
| Food | Typical allergens | Typically suitable for |
|---|---|---|
| Canned chili | varies by recipe | check the label |
| Canned soup | varies by recipe | vegetarian |
| Baked beans | none of the main allergens in its main ingredient | vegan |
| Microwave rice pouch 250g | none of the main allergens in its main ingredient | vegan |
| Canned tuna | fish | check the label |
| Crackers | cereals containing gluten | vegan |
| Peanut butter | peanuts | vegan, gluten free |
| Dried fruit and nuts | tree nuts | vegan, gluten free |
| Granola bars | varies by recipe | vegetarian |
| Canned fruit | none of the main allergens in its main ingredient | vegan, gluten free |
Typical allergens and diets are SupKit's guide to the main ingredient, not a product's label.
- Canada names 11 priority allergens: eggs, milk, mustard, peanuts, crustaceans and molluscs, fish, sesame, soy, sulphites, tree nuts, and wheat and triticale.3
- Packaged foods must declare priority allergens and gluten sources by plain source names in the ingredient list, a 'Contains' statement, or both.4
- Companies may add a 'May contain' warning for possible cross-contamination; it is not a substitute for good manufacturing practices.4
Young children
Questions
How much water should a family with two children store?
36 L for 3 days or 84 L for a week, for 2 adults and 2 children, at 3 litres per person per day.
What extra does a family with two children need?
Food your children will eat: Familiar foods and snacks your children are happy to eat. Children's arrangements: School or childcare contacts and who would collect your children.
Sources
- SupKit planning rules (SupScore 2026.5), SupKit. SupKit's own planning data.
- Emergency kits - Canada.ca, Government of Canada (Public Safety Canada). Checked 27 October 2026.
- Food allergies, Health Canada. Checked 28 October 2026.
- Before you shop: food allergies and allergen labelling, Canadian Food Inspection Agency. Checked 28 October 2026.
- Nutrition for Healthy Term Infants: Recommendations from Six to 24 Months, Health Canada. Checked 28 October 2026.
- Infant botulism, Health Canada. Checked 28 October 2026.
- SupKit household preparedness checklist (2026.3), SupKit. SupKit's own planning data.
We summarise official guidance in our own words. Always follow advice from your local authorities.
