Camping as a family is bonding time, a time to tell stories and get to understand everyone better. You can start camping with your kids at any age. Kids love the sensory experience of nature that enable them to appreciate the outside world and have the memories forever. Even though you can envision it to be all fun, camping with kids needs proper preparation. Below are some essential tips you should put in mind if you’re planning to go camping with these little ones.
Find the Right Camping Site
Your kids will love the star-dotted skies, the call of an awl at a distance, and the crackle of a campfire if the camping environment gives them the chance to do that. This means you need to find a camping site where kids will have some peace of mind. A good camp should have all the amenities suitable for the entire family.
Find a camp with activities that children love. If you’re camping with kids for the first time, you can consider campsites that are closer to home. Ensure the site is kid-friendly because, unlike adults, kids can easily get scared.
Safety First
When it comes to kids, you can’t overlook anything related to safety. Camping can turn out chaotic, and you need to understand this. This is not the best time to get adventurous and take unnecessary risks. You must ensure the place you’re visiting with your kids is very safe, and accidents are rare.
You must also know that kids are curious, and they can get lost in the camp when roaming around. Ensure you lay down some rules and make them understand how they should behave while out in the camp. They should not wander into other people’s campsites because you’re probably not going to be the only family around. Teach them some security measures if they are caught up unaware.
Maintain the Sleep Routine
Camping is not the time to mess up your kids’ sleeping routine because you might go back home to a fresh, annoying start. Ensure your kids stay true to their sleeping routine, no matter how much they might still want to play or gather around the fire. Of course, you can allow them to watch the stars and enjoy the campfire for a little while before they go to sleep.
They may find it hard to fall asleep faster because of the change of environment or the sleeping routine. Read them a book or tell them a story if that’s the routine they’re used to. Remember to carry the best dawn comforter to help them fall asleep faster and protect them from the cold weather.
Allow Them to Get Dirty
Camping time is not the time you will expect your kids to stay clean throughout the day. If you do that, you’re going to deny them the chance to explore nature and have fun. You should understand that nature is dirty and learn to be lenient with the kids no matter how dirty they become.
Accept that they are going to be messy from their fingernails, hair to the entire body. Their shoes are going to be muddy, and you won’t like the sight of their clothes. Pack clothes that are easier to wash. Set up a washing station with enough water and soap so that they can wash off dirt from their feet and hands.
Good Food is Important
This might be the time that the entire family may want to get some candy treats and all the sweets in the world. However, you should be careful to ensure your kids don’t take advantage of this opportunity to over-snack. Remember a healthy diet for the kids all the time, no matter how annoying they may find you.
Also, remember to carry extra snacks because kids are going to be playing a lot; hence, they need to eat most of the time. Get some fun treats like roasting their favorite meat in the fireplace. Don’t forget the fruits and of course, clean drinking water.
Ensure the Kids are Comfortable
The comfort of your kids should start from their dressing to what they are eating, their play area, and of course, their sleeping area. Dress your kids well and carry extra sweaters, socks, shoes, and hats if necessary. Also, don’t forget good bedding because they need to get a comfortable sleep.
Protect their spine, legs, head, and neck whenever they fall asleep because the camp may not be the most comfortable place to sleep. Don’t forget some quality pillows for the neck.
Put the Phone Away
Your kids will only enjoy camping if you enjoy with them. Camping time is a time to bond with the family, and you should ensure that’s exactly what you do. This is the time to make up for the time you buried yourself in the office and couldn’t find time to play football with your son. The world outside the camp is going on, but it doesn’t have to ruin the adventurous moments.
You would indulge yourself and enjoy life better with your kids if only you stopped receiving those phone calls. Inform your callers that you’re out camping so that they can allow you to enjoy it.
Keep it Simple
If you’re camping with kids for the first time, it is normal to get overwhelmed and stressed. This will mostly happen if you do more than you should be doing. Don’t overstretch yourself. Understand the needs of your kids, and don’t get annoyed when they do something silly. If you observe your kids keenly, you will notice how happy they are. Everything will not be as complicated or messy as you thought.
Camping incites emotions and eliminates stress. The experience of nature is some form of therapy for the entire family. Ensure your kids get the most out of it by making it fun and allowing them to be themselves. This is the time to notice your kids’ behaviors and learn to interact openly, especially if you have teens. Don’t forget to take notes of the mistakes so that you improve on your next camping.
Resources: Scary Mommy, REI, Parents, The Pragmatic Parent
