While mom and dad were away, I watched Grandma take her two grandkids outside to play. This was a remote camping area and there were no swings or commercial toys to play with. A heavy rain had fallen during the night and the campground was filled with mud puddles. Surely, Nana wouldn’t let the kids play in the mud… Right? Absolutely wrong and for the next hour a five-year-old girl and her three-year-old brother jumped, hopped, and splashed to their heart’s content. When they finally had enough, the splashing duo climbed back into their camper, taking off their shoes to dry by a heater. They had so much fun.
No Toys Necessary
Our group of primarily adults spent the week camping in a variety of weather from rain, to bright sun, to six inches of snow and the kids absolutely enjoyed themselves without the commercial abundance that many children play enjoy. Once dressed for the weather, they went outside and just played- chasing each other, exploring the campground, and occasionally being entertained by an adult. Camping can be intimidating to newcomers, especially if you are used to planning for an entire family that often includes commercial entertainment at shows, parks, and theatres. You will quickly learn that Nature can be more interesting than many children think and a lack of a structured environment stimulates imagination and creativity.
This post from Recreation.gov speaks to three steps, yet each category has a host of suggestions to make camping successful for children. If you’ve never camped before, print these pages and use them as a checklist. Better yet, involve your family in the process. Camping teaches creativity, responsibility, and resourcefulness. By including the family they have ownership in the camping trip and have a bigger picture of things to come. This could lead to the younger members planning camping activities for the adults, the kinds of experiences sure to build memories.
Ask anyone about their most vivid childhood memories and if they went camping with their families, it’s those memories that often rise to the surface. Do you like the idea of camping but find it too daunting after putting in long work days, school activities, and all of the necessities of life? Here are some tips for camping with kids that just may get you on your way.
And keep in mind, that if you have a fourth grader, they are part of the Every Kid in a Park program; they receive an annual pass during their fourth grade year! This pass provides the student, and their families, free entrance to hundreds of parks, lands and waters across the country. Visit the Every Kid in a Park website for more details about the requirements and benefits of this program.
https://www.recreation.gov/marketing.do?goto=acm/Explore_Go_Lists/three-steps-for-camping-with-kids.htm
