Kids, dog, tent, toys, snacks, miscellaneous camping
gear, cooler, binoculars, and camera—everything’s packed (or at least that’s
what you’re telling yourself). As you pull out of the driveway, the young
couple next door (still childless) wave goodbye, their faces
registering an alarmed look that clearly says, "Are you completely out of your
mind?" Take a deep breath and relax. We’re here to reassure you that you’re not
nearly as crazy as the neighbors think. Camping and hiking with children can be
an immensely rewarding experience—with great perks that include not having to
fight your way past the theme park’s gift shop entrapment section on your way
to the exit.
The key to a positive experience?
Prepare in advance, be ready to roll with the punches when at least some of
those preparations inevitably fall apart at the seams, and always keep both
your sense of wonder and your sense of humor at the ready. Family travel expert
Candyce H. Stapen, author of 27 travel books
(including her most recent, Fun With the Family Virginia: Hundreds of Ideas for Day Trips with the Kids, 7th ed. (Globe Pequot
Press), offers the following tips for camping with your kids.
- Give your kids a job to do. Even three-year-olds can be in charge of helping to
pick up trash or setting a picnic table. Enlisting the cooperation of your kids
makes them feel important, and helps with the tasks involved with camping.
- Explain the nighttime noises and critters to
first-time campers. After dark, the woods can be scary. While it’s still
daylight, point out the sounds of birds in tree branches, squirrels scurrying
through the underbrush, and other critter noises. Although your child has heard
these sounds while at home, listening to them from a tent can be unsettling if
a child isn’t prepared.
- Try out the gear at home. With toddlers who are first-time campers, consider
setting up the tent and rolling out the sleeping bags for a trial run in your
living room so that little ones become familiar with this gear, and are able to
go to sleep easily. (And don't forget to choose the most eco-friendly camping gear available!)
- Get your kids excited about camping by having them
choose an activity. This could be as simple as picking the easy walk to a
waterfall, or visiting the park’s nature center.
- Make rain plans. Two adults and two preschoolers in one tent when
it’s raining isn’t any fun, unless you plan ahead. Bring games, storybooks, and
other things you can do together to pass the time until the sun comes out.
- Pack emergency medicines. Along with your typical camping first-aid kit, pack
children’s aspirin or similar medicine in case of fevers, plus natural cold remedies and whatever else you might need in an emergency. Consult your
doctor ahead of time.
- Keep the driving distance from home reasonable. The trip
starts when you close your front door, so consider your toddler’s tolerance for
long drives. You don’t want to arrive at the campsite after a difficult drive
and start the trip with a meltdown—yours and your child’s.
- Be honest about your comfort level for roughing it
with young kids. While it’s romantic to camp with your partner under the
stars at a remote beach with no running water or bathroom facilities, it could
be a nightmare with preschoolers who crave the comfort of bathrooms and flush
toilets.
Read More: Hiking With Kids >>