When heading to the great outdoors on a camping trip with your children, you need to keep in mind that camping with kids is a whole different experience then just packing some clothes and food. Depending on your children's ages, you will need to consider packing some extra items to help make their vacation and your vacation a positive experience.
If you are traveling with small babies or infants, you should make a list of everything that you use at home on a daily basis with them and plan to pack a majority of those things for the trip. You can't just go with a diaper bag. You will need a port-a-crib or pack-n-play for naps and nighttime. If they love to hang out in a bouncy seat or their swing, that should go in the car too. Pack a bag full of different types of toys from chew toys to books to squeaky hand-held toys. Take things you know they love and that give them comfort. If they use a pacifier, pack 2-3 extra pacifiers. You don't want to be in the middle of nowhere only to discover that you can find it. If they have a favorite snuggly or blanket, pack that as well.
There will be a lot of new things to look at in the environment, but you know your baby's needs. If they are content to just sit and look around, great. If they aren't, then you need plenty to fill there time. Don't forget a baby backpack or frontpack so that you can carry your child on hikes and remain hands free.
If you are traveling with toddlers in the 1-3 year stage, you still need to consider what they do in a typical day and what you should take with you. Take some of their favorite toys, but also buy a couple new things to introduce when you get to the destination. Stacking cups, alphabet blocks, stacking blocks and books are all good, new toys that will keep them occupied. Take activity toys that they can use to explore their environment. Shovels and buckets for rocks, sand, dirt and water can literally occupy a small child for hours. Sometimes you just have to move them from one side of the campsite to the other and it is like a whole new world for them.
Pre-Schoolers through kindergarten age kids are a little easier to take camping. They are better able to amuse themselves and are more inquisitive about things that they see. You should take along games for them. Books about the outdoors are a great thing to have at this age. You can explore your surroundings and learn about the vegetation, birds and animals together. Take crayons and paper so they can draw pictures about what they see. Have them tell you a story about what they did that day or make up a story about a squirrel family that you see.
All kids should have some sort of identification with them in case they get lost. Include your name, address and cell and home telephone numbers. You should also include an emergency number of someone who is not camping with you since cell phones don't always work in remote areas. First aid kits should include child friendly supplies. Each child should have their own flashlight. They make great toys and are good for night walks. Reflective clothing for nighttime is important as well. Take extra clothing and plenty of warm clothing for children as children tend to get their clothes dirtier than adults and they tend to get colder quicker.
If your children are not close in age, consider taking along a friend for each of them or traveling with another family that has children. This will keep them from being bored and they will have someone else to share in their exploring and fun.
It is well worth planning ahead when going camping with children. It helps them to have a fun time filled with new and exciting things and the things that they love and give them comfort. By helping them to enjoy their camping trip to the fullest, you will also help yourself to have an enjoyable camping trip as well. |
