Are you planning to take the kids outdoors for a full sensory and nature exploration for a one of a kind experience and bonding moment? You must expect and bring the things that you kids need not just to enjoy the whole activity plus more.
Camping is one of the best outdoor experiences that provide great bonding and exploring time with your tots or teens. It’s never too early or late to organize one. As a parent, you’ll want to practice safety first, yet letting them go from time to time helps simultaneous development and building confidence.
Besides the tent camping essentials like essential oils for bug bites, you need to bring extra stuff that will surprise and amuse your kids, just before they hit the bed, stargazing, or on the spot adventure. We know the pain points and desires of every parent and why camping is one of the best activities you must try.
Nature provides a full sensory experience, and a family camping trip is an excellent way to introduce the younger generation to the joys of being outside. From babies to teenagers, kids of all ages will find plenty to keep them entertained on a camping trip, including star-studded skies, the distant call of an owl, and the tiniest of bugs at work in the dirt. Camping can help them open their eyes and awaken their senses to their natural environment.
Things You Should Have to Amuse Your Kids in Camping
Being close to nature expands your kids’ world. There are tons of ways to amuse kids, toddlers, and even teens—however, the level of interest and amusement of kids stands out.
Captivating your child’s interest, curiosity, and awakening their curiosity is a challenge for parents, but once you’re there, marveling with their reaction is priceless.
While leaving all devices and gadgets behind is one of the main goals of camping, it’s not as practical as it may sound. Believe us when we say, packing your smartphone or a battery powered TV will save your sanity if you encounter a few camping dilemmas.
Take these five things on your next camping adventure and mesmerize kids instantly, especially after long hikes and a busy day, they deserve a reward after all. If their energy is still high after all the activities on your first day, your kids will surely appreciate this.
Portable Devices
When you pack for camping essentials, don’t be guilty if you’ll include a few handy devices to take along on your nature exploration. There are plenty of tools you can take along that does not require massive space on the pack.
For example, portable TVs that are battery operated are an excellent option, especially if you have two or more kids. You can organize an outdoor movie night. Kids will surely be amazed at your ways to bring the screen even without electricity at the campsite.
Unique Camping Lights
Transform the ordinary tent into a magical one; string lights won’t fail to amaze kids when it is a total blackout, and all you hear are insects, bugs, and an owl hooting nearby; it adds magic to keep your tent illuminated with string lights.
It’s your choice to bring a colorful one or a warm yellow. Your kids won’t mind, especially if it’s the source of light for your camp night. You might be surprised that it’s not just your kids whose amaze, even the kids in the nearby tent.
Camera or Magnifying Glass
On a day hike, when kids are ready to explore, be dirty and all, let them have their camera or a magnifying glass. It will help them capture images and things that they like. A magnifying glass will help them see creepy crawling bugs and insects.
Having a walk in nature will ignite kids’ interest in the new-found environment and how beautiful life is. The exercise helps develop a child’s motor and sensory skills.
Massive Tent Or A Primitive Cabin
Kids get amazed with new things, be it grand like a primitive cabin that is cozily comfortable to sleep with after the whole day’s adventure or a massive tent everyone can stay late at night and play with their pillows.
If you’re going for a tent, allow your kids to help with the setup. Some parents even start camping in the backyard for preparation. That way, kids feel relaxed and cozy with a tent and outdoor sleeping.
The Favorite Snack
What surprises kids the most is having a delicious snack after a tiring day. Make camping extra special without compromising the food that your kids will ‘devour’ after a busy day. You might be surprised as your kids when it comes to how much food you can savor while outdoors.
Picnic Table with Candlelight
The outdoors provides a unique ambiance that you won’t find at traditional candlelight dinners, so take advantage of it! Use a checkered tablecloth and some pretty candles to dress up your picnic table. For sure, your kids will enjoy your camping dinner.
This can also be a chance to show your culinary skills to your kids by preparing some gourmet camp food.
Canvas, Paint, and Paintbrush
Even if you are camping, you should make time to be creative with your kids. Nature has been a source of inspiration for many people, including painters and artists, and drawing or painting is a better way to capture its beauty. Have a drawing and painting bond session with your kids while camping.
Decorations for your Campsite
One way to improve your camping experience with your children, especially if you have them, is to add some fun decorations.
Setting up camping chairs by the fire or lighting up the evening with string lights can be as simple as that. You can also go all out with an outdoor rug and pretty vintage lanterns.
Scrapbook
If your children have a scrapbook or would like to start one, you can include the items you collected during your camping trip as mementos. Pamphlets, hiking maps, and leaves would make excellent additions!
Balls
Balls of various sizes are lightweight and convenient for impromptu games of toss, keep away, or ball tag. Bring a soccer ball and demonstrate how to kick it to your child. Bring several balls or balloons of the same sizes and practice juggling.
Bubbles and Sidewalk Chalk
Bubbles and sidewalk chalk are lightweight items that offer numerous creative play opportunities. Chalk can be used to make art and play games. Bubbles are entertaining to blow and chase. These items are especially useful if your child needs a quick diversion while you are setting up camp or preparing meals.
Frisbee
A Frisbee is a lightweight item that is enjoyable to play with. It is an excellent activity for honing movement skills and improving coordination. If you have a group of older kids who want to throw a Frisbee, you can make it into a game of ultimate Frisbee!
Woods
Campfires and camping go together like marshmallows, graham crackers, and chocolate! Instead of doing all of the work of setting up a campfire on your own, involve your child. Learning to start a fire is a survival skill worth teaching, from gathering and chopping wood to lighting the fire. Older children can be taught how to saw and chop wood safely, while younger children can be taught how to gather sticks and place kindling in the proper shape to start a fire. Then, of course, you can indulge in those s’mores!
Glow Sticks
Bring out the glow sticks after the sun has set and the campground is dark. Glow sticks can be placed in clear plastic water bottles for night bowling, bent into rings for ring toss, laid on the ground for hopscotch, or clipped into a large circle for hula hoop fun. Glow sticks can be used in a variety of inventive ways. Place your glow sticks in the freezer between uses to make them last longer, or use some reusable LED glow sticks.
Conclusion
Whether you are backpacking, camping with a car, or using a recreational vehicle to hit the nearest or farthest campground, parents are always on the look-out for details and ways to make the trip extra memorable for their kids.
The things that you will take along with you transform the whole picture and make it a memorable experience. Safety first and let your kids explore. The things you bring with you transform the whole camping trip and make it a memorable experience. Safety first, and then let your children explore. These things will help you in keeping your child active, happy, and engaged on your upcoming family camping trip.