The Basics Of Camping With Children

Authors: Ronnie Foley

The new couch potato syndrome has added to the obesity problem in the U.S. TV, computers, and video games are all major culprits in keeping children glued to their seats at home instead of getting fit while playing outside. Video games, television, homework, and computers keep children in the house when they should be outdoors. A fun opportunity to coax your children away from their screens is to plan a fun family event. Camping provides the perfect opportunity to do just that.

When planning a camping trip, try to be as practical as possible. The activities and location of your trip should be suitable for your children's ages and capabilities. For example, taking a toddler white water rafting is not the wisest decision you could make.

Moreover, the activities should meet with approval from the kids. For example, if your children are afraid of horses, they are not likely to enjoy an eight-hour trail ride. Likewise an adventurous kid is not going to be happy with just camping and sleeping and no adrenaline-rush adventures.

It’ll take some effort for your family to go from being indoor nomads to outdoor enthusiasts. Gradual orientation to outdoor activities is necessary to prepare them for a camping exercise. If your kids already have an inclination toward outdoor events and enjoy family walks and picnics, then they are definitely going to be more agreeable to the idea of a camping trip.

You’ll also be able to generate interest and excitement about your camping plans by involving your family with the preparatory details. Get their opinion on what activities they would be interested in while camping. Do they like the idea of hiking, or would they like to try fishing? When you know what they enjoy, you will be able to pick the ideal campground. In fact, to make the experience even better, you can select the location together.

Children are often uncomfortable in new environments; this is an aspect of camping that you should be prepared for. Carry their favorite toys with you as this will be a comforting security blanket, offering them a sense of familiarity even in the new surroundings. Every member of the camping trip, including the little ones, should be equipped with a flashlight. A flash light can make them feel as comfortable as having a nightlight in the room.

Try to build in activities you know your children will enjoy. Be sure to have some of their favorite board or card games available for times when activities aren't planned or when the boring adults are sitting in camp chairs chatting. Also include their favorite snacks to liven up their spirits in case they are feeling a little low.

Remember, you are making memories, so let your children have a hand in documenting the experience from their perspective. Inexpensive disposable cameras can be doled out to each child to encourage them to click pictures of their experience just like the grown-ups are doing. Let them take pictures of plants, animals, and the tents so that they will have a keepsake to remember the excursion.

A camping trip involves a lot of planning and preparation. To ensure that your children enjoy their time in the outdoors, you will need to organize the activities carefully. However, please do not turn a potentially fun family outing into a strict, time-bound military exercise. The idea of camping is to relax and do things together, so make time for leisure activities as well. Also, invite the children to enjoy the simple activities of camping, such as cooking, building and monitoring a fire, and setting up tents. Take time out from the chores to go walking or exploring with your kids.

As camping has its share of dangers, make sure your children follow basic safety rules. Watch out for potentially hazardous situations that arise in unfamiliar territory. Keep a close watch on the kids especially if you are near a lake or have lit a bonfire. Don't hover over your children, though. Once they know the rules, let them play. Allow them to get dirty and have some good, clean fun. Just be sure they know the boundaries of the campsite so they know how far they can safely go.

With careful planning your camping trip will turn out to be a great success that will be cherished for years. To help the future generation, try getting your children outside in the fresh air as much as you can. It won't be long until they'll be outside all the time and you with them.