****ATTENTION****
http://www.zombiesurvivalwiki.com/page/School+Will+Kill+You
****ATTENTION****
So, you're a teenager. You want to survive the zombie apocalypse. Only, you can't drive, you can't buy guns, and you probably don't have a job, which means you can't really buy anything. You do, in fact, rely quite heavily on your parents/guardians for your survival.

Yet it seems every teenager is intent on cutting this lifeline the first chance they get. Why? These people have skills and knowledge, even if it isn't immediately apparent. And even if they are completely unskilled in anything, they are able to carry a load, and keep watch when you sleep.

The most common mistake made (and not just by teenagers) is acting once disaster has already struck. But here the crucial difference is that rather than stockpiling, planning and preparing, you have just one easy task: Talk to your parents.

Now, obviously you can't go up to them and say "We need a zombie plan". Few parents will react well to that. Something along the lines of "I've been watching the news, and I think we need a disaster plan, just in case. Nothing major, but it might help to know we are prepared in case [disaster] happens."

The disaster you name will depend on your area. Hurricanes or tornadoes are the big ones, earthquakes if you are in the region. Fire, flood, possibly riots (some areas are more likely to suffer this than others) or even the more temporary and mundane such as power cuts and heavy snow.


So what can you suggest to ensure they take your ideas seriously?

• Use reputable/government websites to your advantage. Show them information from sites like www.ready.gov and www.redcross.org
• Start small. Buying a few extra groceries each week is the kind of first step that will make sense. An extra bag of pasta or rice, a few more cans of soup. Nothing expensive, nothing out of the ordinary.
• Find information on first aid courses, self defence, or anything that you might find useful for your area. A few flyers would help bolster your argument a surprising amount.
• Don't push too hard. State your case as calmly as you can. If you meet with resistance, DON'T argue. Note their points, go away, work out how to solve the problem, and go back in a week or so.

What topics should you avoid?

• Zombies. Stick to realistic disasters, otherwise your concerns will be dismissed as immaturity.
  
• Guns (if your home doesn't already have any). Opinions on them are quite polarised, so if they aren't there, it's probably for a reason.

Few people prepare for bad times during the good ones. While money might be tight, and jobs might be scarce, this is the time when people are going to be open to the idea that things getting worse is a real possibility.