Family Camping - Give Your Family a Memorable Camping Experience

Best Family Camping Tents - Family Camping  can be one of life’s simple pleasures.  Whether it’s in camping grounds with 5 star facilities or out in the bush with the bare essentials, camping trips have the potential to provide lifelong memories for your whole family.  When your son runs inside covered in mud and excited about worms, he is probably ready for a camping trip. Not only will an outdoor excursion be an excellent excuse to turn off the TV or computer for an extended period, it will also make for a great family bonding experience for your child and the child in you. As fun as it can be, camping with kids takes planning, practice and patience. 

Many Thinks to Give Your Family a Memorable Camping Experience

Here are many thinks to give your family a memorable camping experience.

Start Small - Your child’s first experience doesn’t have to be in the wilderness with no running water. Consider the backyard experience a trial run for the real deal. After you’ve mastered your own yard, book a one-night trip at a campground within a short driving distance of your house. Paying by the night not only is affordable but also takes off the pressure of entertaining your child for longer than that.

Make a packing list - Perhaps not such a disaster if you’re able to pop to the shops and buy whatever it is (like 5 pillows at Target …), but a real spoiler if you can’t.  More serious is leaving medications and emergency supplies at home. Make a packing list and use it.  As with all activities that involve packing up the kids and driving to a different destination, preparation is key. Go through the list with your child and check off each item as you pack it in the bag or car. You supply the essentials, such as a best family camping tent, sleeping bags, map and compass, sunglasses, extra clothing, flashlight, first aid supplies, fire-starting kit, food and a cutting tool for the adults. Kids love having their own light source, even to just play flashlight tag on the roof of the tent or shine on your face while you tell a scary story (minus the scary parts for the young ones, of course).

Pick the Right Perfect Site - Many campgrounds offer more than just nature. That way you have a backup if your child tires of your nature hike. Hawley stresses the importance of picking a site that meets your child’s interests. “Camp near a lake or waterfall for the visual feel,” she says. “If your kid is into technology, incorporate a geocaching experience or bring your GPS. Incorporate their interest so that they are engaged for a longer period.” While you’re selecting a location, don’t forget the importance of the potty, especially if your child just mastered it and you don’t want to lose the momentum.

Ask the Experts - Never pitched or tent? Want to impress your kids with your ability to build a fire? You can get some free tips and learn just what you need for your first trip. Note I said informal.  Your night time walk might lead to some questions about constellations.  Guess the distance games brush up on maths skills.  It just takes a little cunning and ingenuity and before those kids know it, they’re learnin’. On the family front, it’s an opportunity to learn about each other without the distractions and busyness of daily life.

Keep food simple -  Kids (not to mention adults) will be ravenous from all that camping fun.  Save yourself the effort of lavish meals and go enjoy your camping trip.  An added bonus is less stuff and minimal cleanup. Our kids would happily eat sausages every day.  Nice’n'easy.

Decide what facilities you need - There’s an eternal debate about what real camping is.  The point is needs are personal.  Decide what facilities and amenities you need; or at least the very minimum that would make an enjoyable holiday. 

Take a Hike - Most campgrounds provide maps and well-marked trails for every level of hiker. There is no better way to experience nature than walking through it. Go off path and show them the nature. Bring a nature bag for them to collect things. Kids love special rocks. Pick up a self-guided scavenger hunt from the campsite or create one of your own. If you have a child who is wild about bugs, see how many bugs you can find on your walk. A daughter who loves taking photos? Torches are very handy for midnight treks to the loo.  It’s amazing how excited the kids get at the sight of a possum. (It was only the kids. I wasn’t excited at all and I did not take 45 photos of the little guy …)  Spotlight tiggy is a perennial favourite too.  Everything seems so much more exciting at night

Stay Safe - While most campgrounds are populated only by campers, there is the chance your little one may wander off in hopes of catching that butterfly or hoping to see a skunk. Make sure you walk him to the bathroom each time. At night, always carry a flashlight.You want to stay with your children.

Be warm - Even on a summer camping trip it can get pretty chilly at night.  That way, you can all bounce out of bed ready for the coming day’s fun.I always pack thermals for everyone.  We use sleeping bags rated for 0 degrees even though we rarely go anywhere that cold.  On warmer nights we just keep them unzipped at the bottom.

Keep toys to a minimum - Kids are amazing at making up games and inventing toys when given the chance.  Giving them the freedom to do just that without toys from home helps develop creativity and independence.  Leaving behind computers, mobile phones and whatever other gadgets usually demand mum’s and dad’s attention makes more time for family. You’ll pay the price with cranky kids (and likely cranky adults, too).

Be a Kid Again - Think about your favorite outdoor activities as a child and share them. Did you love finding the perfect stick for a walk in the woods? Let your child catch your excitement as you mimic the different bird sounds and skip rocks in the stream.

Get kids involved - Kids love the anticipation of a camping trip. At least younger ones do.  Even the youngest can help with some aspect of the setup once at your destination.  Our kids used to be in charge of handing out tent pegs initially.  

Going camping is something you can take with you. It’s something you will remember forever. So…Are You Ready to give your child a memorable camping experience..??