Children these days are born into the world of technology, spending most of their time hooked on screens. Most of them have not even experienced the joy of outdoor activities.
A fun camping trip is a good way to let kids get in touch with the beauty of Mother Earth. Want to give it a try? Here are five tips to prepare parents and their children for an exciting camping adventure.
Practice camping at home
Camping is an outdoor activity that involves overnight stays away from home. If children are outdoor newbies, it might come off as a shock to them to be sleeping in a different environment. Pitch a tent in the backyard or in the living room. Let them hang out inside and suggest for them to try to sleep in it to become comfortable with a new environment.
Prepare the things you need together
Allow the children to help when it comes to preparing the things needed for the trip. Give them the responsibility to pack their items in their bags. Let them help in packing the snacks that the group would be bringing along to kindle that excitement for the trip. Make sure to keep ready-to-go snacks that are accessible when traveling and at the campsite.
Research on activities
Activities could be something as simple as watching the stars during night time, roasting marshmallows around the campfire while sharing stories or singing songs, or going on hiking trips or going fishing. Make sure to plan appropriately to avoid hearing the dreaded “I’m bored” from them.
Find teaching moments
It’s the parents’ job to remind children that we need to do our part when it comes to saving and protecting the environment. Teach them to respect wildlife, segregate and dispose the trash properly, and not deroot the plants. Let them help out when it comes to simple things like setting up tents, making campfires, or cooking meals. Share fun facts of the plants and trees that you come across.
Prioritize safety and have fun
Once in the campsite, make sure to set some ground rules for where the children can roam. Set some boundaries. Give them whistles and teach them to whistle if they get separated from the pack. At night, make sure that everyone has access to flashlights or lamps. Each campsite has different hazardous areas to take note of. Keeping children safe is the top priority but it’s also important to have fun.
Families can take cues from Ed Stafford who takes his wife Laura and their two-year-old son on an epic adventure by living off the grid on an Indonesian island for a month. Catch their story on Ed Stafford: Man Woman Child Wild on Discovery.