I have fond memories of going camping in the summer as a child. Fishing, swimming, and grilling hot dogs were some of my favorite things to do on the campsite. Often, it was just my mom who had to corral four of us kids on these outings. I’m sure the experience was more stressful for her than what she showed! There are some things that parents can do to make summer camping trips with the kids go smoothly—or at least as well as possible.
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Do outdoor activities to prepare children for camping
For city kids, the thought of “roughing it” at a campsite by cooking on a campfire and sleeping on the ground might be unthinkable if they aren’t used to the idea. For many kids growing up out in the country, as I did, going camping isn’t much of a stretch, since outdoor activities are a big part of a country kid’s daily activities. Before you take your kids on an overnight camping trip, think about these tips to help get them used to the idea.
Go for walks outdoors on your own land or available areas such as state parks.
- Have a picnic by a lake or river.
- Build a fire outdoors and cook hot dogs on long sticks.
- Camp overnight in your own back yard.
All of these activities were normal in my life. My parents had a lot of land, so we kids often explored it. We lived near lakes, so swimming and fishing were common for us. We had picnics, campfires, and, yes, we even camped in our back yard. Mom helped us build a fire that we four kids huddled around. When we went camping for real, it was nothing scary or even very different, as we had continually incorporated the outdoors into our lives. Parents don’t have to facilitate all the suggested activities, but getting kids used to being outdoors more will help prepare them for eating and sleeping outdoors when camping.
Pack essential camping supplies for kids
It’s a good idea to make a list of all the camping supplies you will need in order not to forget anything. We always took a tent, sleeping bags, fishing gear, and something to cook on. My mom had a small hibachi grill, charcoal, and lighter, but we also cooked on the campfires we built. Pack the cooler with hotdogs, perhaps sandwich stuff, and cold drinks. Take dry goods such as bread, chips, and crackers. Take a container of water. For overnight trips, a change of clothing isn’t essential, but some valuable items to take are sunscreen and toothbrushes, at the minimum. One of my family’s favorite spots was by a river, so we always took swimsuits. If the nights get cold, take jackets and extra blankets.
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Make sure you pack items specifically for the kids. There is likely to be some down time during the camping trip, or unexpected rain could thwart fishing or swimming plans. Kids can help choose their favorite books or board games to take along. A younger child might want to drag along his or her favorite stuffed animal. Fun things to do, comforting items from home—packing these kinds of items are important to ensure that kids feel comforted and entertained on their outdoor camping trip.
Make the camping experience fun
Kids will feel more a part of the camping experience when they are involved. At the camp site, even small children can help gather wood to stack for the night’s campfire. They can help roll out sleeping bags after the adults and older children set up the tent. Encourage the children to choose what activities they want to do. If it’s fishing, you might have to help them bait their hooks (like my mom did) and even throw the line in the water for them. They will certainly remember how fun it was! If it’s cool or rainy, have fun with the kids inside the tent playing a board game until the weather clears.
Kids will enjoy the campfire once it’s built and blazing. Break out the hotdogs to hold over the fire, and make S’mores for dessert. After dark, tell stories around the campfire. Steer clear from scary ones, though, so that nobody has trouble going to sleep!
Image Source: spykee, (CC BY-ND 2.0), via flickr
Finally, take pictures of your camping trip to remind yourselves of just how much fun you did have. These tips will help to make sure the kids want to go camping again! Are you ready for a family summer camping trip? Save on your trip with coupon codes by picking up your essential camping supplies from outdoor recreation stores like Rei, who offer discounts such as 50% off. Tents range in prices from around $100 to over $300, but right now, you can get a four-person tent for just under $90! Try the Banggood store, too, where you will be pleased to find even morecamping, fishing, and swimming gear. They have several tents right now, too, for well under $100, with one even holding up to eight people! Their waterproof sleeping bags are under $20, too! Utilizing these money-saving promo codes, along with the above camping tips for kids, will help ensure that your family camping trip is a success!
