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Guide · GUIDE 33

Keeping occupied in a crisis: structure and stability without power

Last reviewed on 04.07.2026

Because a fixed daily routine and meaningful activity provide stability, help buffer stress and help children process events. Since screens fail during a power outage, you need analogue alternatives: books, board and card games, crafts, music, conversation. Prepare a small activity set in advance – a card game weighs almost nothing.

Keeping occupied in a crisis is not pastime – it's stabilisation. A reliable daily routine and meaningful activity provide stability, strengthen cohesion and help especially children to process what they've experienced – recognised expert services count «calming», «connectedness» and «self-efficacy» among the core elements of psychological first aid for laypeople. Because during a longer power outage, screens, gaming consoles and eventually also mobile phones will fail, you need analogue, power-independent alternatives: books, board and card games, crafts, music and conversation. Prepare a small «activity set» in advance. This guide does not replace professional advice.

Why does keeping occupied matter in a crisis?

In a crisis, everyday life breaks down: no school, no work, no electricity, lots of empty time and uncertainty. Precisely then, a deliberately structured daily routine provides stability. Fixed mealtimes, activity and rest create predictability and a slice of normality – that has a stabilising effect, for adults and children alike.

Meaningful activity, shared activities and social contact are recognised protective factors for mental resilience. They are not a guarantee against fear or anxiety, but they provide structure, distract from distressing brooding and strengthen the sense that you have something in your own hands. Expert services in psychological first aid speak of «calming», «connectedness» and «self-efficacy» as core elements.

For children, keeping occupied is additionally a path to processing: they often understand stressful events not through words but through play. Familiar games and routines signal «the world is still fundamentally okay» and help put what they've experienced into perspective.

The practical snag in a blackout: familiar distraction runs almost exclusively via screens. If the power fails, the TV and gaming console are gone immediately, and after just a few hours or days, mobile and tablet batteries are also drained – precisely when time must be bridged. That is why analogue, power-independent alternatives are needed.

What can I do without power to stay occupied?

  1. Read books and read aloud to children; tell stories and recount experiences
  2. Board and card games (Jassen, Uno, «Eile mit Weile», chess, Memory)
  3. Puzzles: crosswords, Sudoku, puzzle booklets, word and guessing games
  4. Drawing, painting, crafts, handicrafts (knitting, folding, making)
  5. Writing: diary, letters, stories – also helps to order thoughts
  6. Music: sing, play an instrument, make music together
  7. Cook together and set the table – distribute tasks
  8. Simple movement and skill games (indoors and outdoors)
  9. Plan lighting for the evening: head torch, candles or camping lamp (observe fire safety)

Age-appropriate: what suits whom

Toddlers and children: simple games, painting, reading aloud, singing. Important are familiar things – the cuddly toy, the favourite book – and fixed routines (mealtimes, playtime, bedtime). Closeness and a calm tone from the carer soothe more than any explanation.

Teenagers: more demanding games, books, creative projects. It helps to give them real responsibility and tasks (looking after siblings, organising supplies, cooking) – that gives meaning and the feeling of being needed.

Adults: reading, card and board games, handicrafts, conversation. Consciously take breaks from news and situation reports; fixed «information times» on the radio instead of constant preoccupation with the threat.

Older people: familiar activities and especially company. Older people – especially those living alone – should not be isolated: play together, tell stories, check on them. Anyone with limited sight or hearing benefits from simple, easy-to-grasp and easy-to-hear activities.

Children: get through a crisis together and process it

Children sense the mood of adults very precisely and orient themselves accordingly. If you yourself are calm and present, that transfers – your state often has a stronger effect than your words. First, look after your own calm, then the child's.

Explain in an age-appropriate and honest way what is happening, rather than keeping it hidden. Simple, true words and room for questions give more security than glossing over. Politely correct false ideas.

Keep familiar routines as much as possible – fixed mealtimes, playtimes and bedtimes provide stability in uncertain times. Give time and space for play; children process what they have experienced through play.

Closeness, care and physical presence soothe. Small, age-appropriate tasks («help me set the table», «you are responsible for the torch») give the child a sense of control and self-efficacy when much feels beyond control.

  1. Stay calm yourself – children orient themselves to your state
  2. Explain in age-appropriate and honest ways what is happening, and allow questions
  3. Maintain familiar routines and fixed times (eating, play, sleep)
  4. Give time to play – play is how children process
  5. Offer closeness and care; keep familiar things (cuddly toy, favourite book) within reach
  6. Assign small, age-appropriate tasks (strengthens self-efficacy)
  7. Consult an expert service if problems persist (see section on warning signs)

Preparing the analogue activity set

  1. Have one or two board or card games ready that everyone knows and likes
  2. Add a card game – small, light, suitable for many rounds
  3. Plan a couple of books and a children's picture book
  4. Art and craft materials: paper, pens, scissors, glue
  5. Notepad and pens for diary, letters, puzzles
  6. A puzzle booklet (crosswords/Sudoku) and a ball or similar for movement
  7. Don't forget lighting for the evening: head torch/camping lamp plus spare batteries
  8. For children, have a familiar cuddly toy or favourite toy ready
  9. For the emergency bag, a light mini-version: a card game and a paperback

Warning signs matter: when to seek expert help?

Stress, anxiety and grief reactions are normal during and after a crisis and usually subside over time, with closeness and returning structure. Keeping occupied and routine support this, but do not replace expert help if distress persists.

If significant changes persist beyond the acute phase or worsen over time – such as prolonged withdrawal, persistent severe anxiety, sleep problems or a longer relapse into earlier behaviour patterns in children – and they impair daily life, then this is a reason to consult an expert or expert service. This is a neutral sign, not a diagnosis.

Contact points in Switzerland: For children and young people, Pro Juventute advises round the clock and free of charge on 147 (telephone 24/7; chat and other channels at set times). Adults can reach the helpline Die Dargebotene Hand round the clock on 143 (call free of charge, depending on the provider, connection charges may apply). In a medical emergency, the ambulance emergency number is 144; in acute danger, police on 117.

Common mistakes

  1. Relying solely on screens and batteries – they fail in a blackout precisely when you need the distraction most
  2. No analogue materials prepared: no games, books or craft materials in the house
  3. Letting the day run without any structure – that leads to boredom, irritability and conflicts
  4. Leaving children to face their fears alone or hiding what is happening instead of explaining it age-appropriately
  5. Appearing tense and rushed yourself, thinking your own unrest goes unnoticed by the children
  6. Forgetting and isolating older or solitary people instead of including them
  7. Misunderstanding keeping occupied as a «repair»: it stabilises but does not replace expert help if problems persist
Analogue activity by age group
Age group Suitable activities What helps especially
Toddlers / children Read aloud, paint, simple games, sing Familiar routines, cuddly toy, closeness
Teenagers More demanding games, books, creative projects Real tasks and responsibility
Adults Reading, card/board games, handicrafts, conversation Fixed «information times», conscious breaks from situation reports
Older people Familiar activities, playing together, telling stories Company, not isolation

Basic principle for all age groups: fixed daily routine, shared activity and social closeness. Psychological first aid for laypeople – consult an expert service if problems persist.

Frequently asked questions

Why does keeping occupied matter in a blackout?

Because a fixed daily routine and meaningful activity in a crisis provide stability, strengthen togetherness and help cope with stress. Because during a power outage, TV and console fail first and soon mobile batteries too, you need analogue, power-independent alternatives.

What do I do with children without power?

Read aloud, paint, simple board and card games, crafts, sing and tell stories together. Familiar things and fixed times are important. Children process what they have experienced through play, so it is worth consciously making time for playing.

How do I help my child process a crisis?

Stay calm yourself as much as possible – children orient themselves to your state. Explain age-appropriately and honestly what is happening, maintain routines, give closeness and allow time for play. Small tasks strengthen the feeling of being able to do something themselves.

Which games and books belong in the crisis set?

One or two familiar board or card games, a card game, a couple of books and a picture book, plus art and craft materials and a notepad. For the emergency bag, a light mini-version is enough: a card game and a paperback.

How do I maintain a daily structure in a crisis?

Stick to fixed times for eating, activity and rest, as close as possible to your normal rhythm. Plan the day roughly, distribute tasks and consciously take breaks from news – fixed «information times» on the radio rather than constant preoccupation with the threat.

When should I seek expert help?

If significant reactions persist beyond the acute phase or worsen – such as prolonged withdrawal, persistent severe anxiety or sleep problems – and impair daily life. In Switzerland, Pro Juventute advises children and young people on 147, adults can reach Die Dargebotene Hand on 143; in a medical emergency, call 144.

Official sources