Camping is a great activity for a family vacation because it can interest children of all ages and, hopefully, it can create fond memories for years to come. But if you’re new to camping, how do you pull it off? Exposing your children to nature is a priceless experience, but there’s still quite a bit of preparation needed to ensure you have a successful trip.
Check out these tips for planning a camping trip with kids.
Practice at Home
Before dragging yourself, the children, and the camping supplies to the middle of nowhere, you can practice camping in your backyard to acclimate your younger kids to the experience of sleeping outside. You can even use your living room or spend an afternoon in a park or beach with a tent.
Encourage Your Kids to Pack
Give each child their own pack and a list of what they need for the camping trip. Offering them the chance to be involved with the process will hopefully make them feel as invested in the upcoming adventure as you.
Pack Camp Food
You can also ask your kids to help you pack the food you’ll be eating on the trip. Find out what they’d like to eat and maybe even have them pick out a few things. Keep in mind that you can make any camping meal more substantial by adding beef jerky. So you can have them pick out their favorite instant noodles or snack, even if it might not be the most nutritious option.
Choose a Campsite
Find a campsite that’s easily accessible and offers amenities for the first few times you camp. Car camping will be your friend until you can get everyone used to roughing it. Also, find a site with activities your family enjoys, such as a beach or hiking trail.
Anticipate Problems
Think about your children’s daily behaviors so that you can circumvent any problems before they occur. For example, if your toddler wakes up at dawn, be sure to have toys or books for them to stay occupied until the rest of the family wakes up. And if your teenager sleeps till noon, maybe have some earplugs for them.
Looking ahead to identify any foreseeable problems and considering these tips for planning a camping trip with kids will help you have a successful and even relaxing family vacation.
