Camping with Kids

Camping trips
are a great way to create family memories that will last a lifetime. Here are
10 useful tips for camping with kids to help insure that everyone has a good
time:

1.
Do a test run. If your family is new to camping,
do a test camping trip in your backyard or somewhere else close to home so
your kids can learn what camping is all about while they’re still in familiar
surroundings. As an added bonus, this test run will help you discover things
you may have forgotten to pack, so you’ll be better prepared when you take a
“real” camping trip.

2.
Get the kids involved in planning. Have a family
meeting and decide where to go on your camping trip, what kinds of meals to
make and what types of activities you want to do. Getting the kids involved
in the planning process will help increase their enthusiasm for the trip. You
can even give the kids “assignments” like packing their own clothes.

3.
Make a list of what you’ll need. Write down all
of your “must haves” as you think of them so you don’t leave essential items
at home.

4.
Don’t over pack. When you’re camping with kids,
it’s easy to throw in too many “what if” items. While it’s good to be
prepared for things like rainy weather or a muddy campsite, leaving some
things at home, like favorite toys, can help the kids learn to use their
ingenuity and imaginations.

5.
Plan ahead for activities. To help keep the kids
busy, bring along some simple items they can use to create campground
crafts or play some fun outdoor games.

6.
Be prepared for emergencies. Hopefully, nothing
will happen, but it’s always good to be prepared. Pack a first aid kit, and
when you arrive at the campground, make sure you know where you can find a
land line to use if cell service is spotty and find out where the nearest
hospital is. The American Red Cross offers a free app for iOS and Android
that can guide you step by step on how to handle a variety of first aid
scenarios.

7.
Review safety rules with your kids. Teach them
about safety issues involved with things like campfires, poisonous plants and
wild animals. Give each of your kids a whistle to wear around their neck so
they can signal for help if they wander away from the campsite and can’t find
their way back.

8.
Follow your usual routines as much as possible.
Kids thrive on routines, and it can be helpful to continue
them when they are in an unfamiliar place like a campground. If, for example,
you always read them a bedtime story, bring along some favorite books.
Reading them by flashlight will be a whole new experience!

9.
Let the kids help cook. With all of the fresh
air and outdoor activities, they’re sure to work up an appetite. The wait
times for breakfast, lunch or dinner will seem much shorter if they can help
with meal preparation in a way that’s appropriate for their age. Plus,
they’ll be proud of their culinary creations!

10.  Capture the memories.
Whether it’s taking photos, keeping a journal of your camping adventures or
having the kids write stories or draw pictures about their favorite
experiences, you’ll enjoy taking out these mementos years from now and
reliving all of the great times you had.

Photos collected
from Pixabay.com and Pexels.com