Camping is a great way to bring your family closer together, no matter their age. There’s something about being surrounded by the wilderness and crisp nighttime air that will make anyone feel more alive, and it’s never too late to try it for the first time.
Children that have never gone before will be bound to have some excitement and questions, so it’s up to you as the parent to make sure that they feel comfortable and safe. Here are some tips on making sure that your children enjoy their first camping trip.
What to Do Before You Leave
Before you leave for your trip, you need to prepare yourself so that you’re as organized as you can be. Camping is not a simple activity, and there are many steps that need to be taken so that everyone is comfortable and safe during their stay.
In order to save as much time and energy as possible, you should plan out every step of your trip in advance.
Involve the Kids in the Process
When planning for your trip, you should make sure that your children are involved in the process. They can be a great help and will enjoy being involved, as well.
Allow them to pick out their own supplies, so they feel like they’re contributing to the trip. They can be as involved as they want to be, but it’s important that you don’t take over too much of their work.
Include your kids in the decisions and don’t make them feel like they can’t decide for themselves.
Create a meal plan and grocery list
A meal plan and grocery list are extremely important so that you know exactly what you’re planning to eat and where you’ll be getting your food.
Let your kids be part of the meal planning. It’s an easy way to ensure that you will have groceries, but it’s also an excellent way for your children to feel that their opinion matters.
Ask your kids what meals would they like to eat while camping, don’t forget to pack some of their favorite snacks and everything should be fine.
Choose a fitting campsite
When choosing a campsite, there are a few things that you need to keep in mind.
First off, you’ll want to make sure that the campsite is located far enough away from any major urban areas so that you and your children can enjoy the wilderness.
You’ll also want to make sure that there are plenty of activities for the children nearby, such as parks, swimming pools, or playing fields.
The last thing you want is for your children to feel trapped in an area where they have nothing else to do.
Check the weather forecast and pack accordingly
If you’re planning on going camping, then you should definitely check the local weather and pack accordingly. You don’t want to be caught in a storm with no way to react.
It doesn’t have to be a cold-weather trip, but it’s important to keep your children properly dressed so that you can enjoy their trip regardless of the weather.
Do a test run at home
It is good practical that you try camping outside your home before you immediately go on a trip.
This will make your children familiar with the experience of camping and will make it more interesting.
While camping outside your home, you can teach your children to pitch tents, collect firewood, and cook simple meals. This will make your family feel more at ease when they are in a real campsite.
What to Do While You’re Camping
Camping with kids can be very fun, but it’s important that you keep your children on a schedule and make sure they’re always busy.
By keeping them busy, they won’t have much time to get bored and will be better able to enjoy themselves.
Don’t change the home routine
If you’re camping with children, it’s important not to change the home routine. Make sure that you keep up with their normal schedule of sleeping, washing, and eating.
This will help them feel like they’re still at home and will make it easier for them to get used to camping. You can even go about your usual camp activities, such as going swimming and fishing.
Don’t let camping take over too much of your schedule; it should still be relaxing and fun.
Take away the fear of the dark
Make sure that your children know that the dark won’t hurt them. They will have to get used to it, but you can also make them feel more comfortable by creating a cosy area lit by string lights, flashlights, glow sticks, or walking around with a lantern.
This will help them know that the darkness won’t harm them. It’s important to keep their minds occupied so that they won’t get scared.
Create a comfy sleeping area
While camping with kids, it’s important that you make a comfortable sleeping area by bringing in pillows, warm blankets, sleeping bags, mosquito bags, etc.
It’s important to make sure that the kids have enough blankets and pillows so that they can be comfy no matter where they sleep.
There are a lot of things that you can make your own, such as hot water bottles or marshmallows for roasting.
Dedicate part of the campsite to washing up area
When you’re camping, it’s important that you keep the kids clean. Be sure to have a dedicated look-alike bathroom area, where you can wash up.
You should also have plenty of containers to wash in and fill with fresh water every day or so. You should also make sure that you have a fair amount of trash bags and extra garbage bags so that you can properly dispose of your trash.
Stay flexible and relaxed
Finally, remember to stay flexible and relaxed. You’re camping with your children, so you should be able to go along with whatever they want.
Just make sure that they’re not doing anything too dangerous and that they’re having a good time.
If they don’t want to do something that you planned, then just let them have fun at their own pace. Remember to spend some time talking, playing games, or hanging out with your children for family bonding.
Overall, camping with children is something that should be a lot of fun. It’s important that you keep both you and your children happy while camping so that they will have a good time.
While camping with your children, it’s important to let them do as much as possible. It might not work out perfectly every time, but remember that you should stay relaxed and try to let them have fun.
For more tips for camping with kids check out this post.
