GoCampingAmerica.com | Posted February
    2nd, 2017

               

    Camping with Kids

               

    Happy Camper Blog

             

             
               
                 

    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:Kid

    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!Kid

    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