Kids love camping. These trips involve new food, new areas, and new activities; your kids might be in a state of excitement for the entire duration of your trip. Take extra steps to make sure that the experience is as fun as they hope it will be.
Pack Extra Snacks
Outdoor activity always makes kids hungry. Camping is extra work; between helping the parents set up the campsite, exploring the wilderness, and enjoying activities like hiking or swimming, your kids are going to work up an amazing appetite.
Plan for your kids to eat extra snacks outside of normal mealtimes. Keep trail mix, granola bars, and other easy foods that your kids can eat when they feel like. Bring more than you think you will need; something about the fresh mountain air gets kids in a snacking mood.
Buy Kid-Sized Camping Supplies
Younger children may have a hard time connecting with the camping experience, especially if they are too small to help set up a tent or organize the campsite. Provide kid-sized supplies that will make them feel included and appreciated.
Small flashlights are a great place to start. Kids can get scared without the city lights they’re used to; a personal flashlight to keep by their sleeping bag will be a great comfort. Other ideas include small camping dishes, binoculars, and even kid-sized camping chairs made just for them.
Supply Extra Shade
Most kids aren’t used to the outdoors. They will have fun during the first few hours, but they might quickly become tired of the exposure to sun, wind, and weather conditions.
Solve this problem by providing an “indoor” area for your kids to retreat to. Caravan awnings extend the space outside your camper. Place camping chairs in this shady area; your kids will definitely relax here in between hiking and playing at the campsite.
Teach Smart Fire Safety
If you plan on having an open blaze, it’s essential that your kids understand the basic rules of fire safety. You don’t want an accident to happen while you’re away from the security of the city.
Start by asking kids to keep a safe distance away from the fire. Don’t allow roughhousing near the blaze, and teach them to assume that all surfaces near the fire are hot. Poking at the fire and throwing things into it should never be permitted.
Let your kids watch you set up the fire. Show them the water and dirt that you keep nearby in case of an emergency. When you put out the fire, explain to them why you need to wait thirty minutes for the embers to completely die down. These safety skills will help them when they’re adults taking their own kids on a camping trip.
If you do it right, camping with your kids can be an excellent family bonding experience. Prepare in advance so that you can relax when the trip actually starts.
