Kids Activities at State Parks
Looking for suggestions for almost tween kids while at a COE campground. The older kids are 11 and 8 and we have bikes that they can ride on their own, they can visit a playground within view of our s...
Forum Discussion
cbshoestring wrote:
What do they "DO" at home? Do you entertain them constantly at home? Do they play in the yard with you keeping an eye on them?
Sit in your chair, and let them do their thing. If they start to wander off, remind them that you need to see them at all times.
Camping is a great opportunity to start learning independence. We still have the picture of your little boy bringing the bag of ice back to camp on his bicycle. What a smile on his face...:B He took a dollar, went to the end of the road, bought ICE & came back.
Of course we have that picture because we sat at the end of the site the whole time.....nervously awaiting his return.
Don't be a helicopter....we camped with some people last year that wouldn't allow their 8 yr old to make the loop by himself on his bicycle. We could see most of the loop in our chairs, but they wouldn't let him go unless one of them were with him. SAD :( Think of the independence he would have "thought" he had, while an eyeball could have been on him the whole time :W
Maybe times are just different....Our youngest is in the Air Force.
I agree, but I will point out that the OP has 4 kids (11, 8, and 2- 4yr olds per their signature). What I'd let an 8 or 11 year old do is different than what I'd let a 4 year old do. I also wouldn't want to put the pressure of "watching out for" the 4 year olds on the older kids. That puts the OP in a slightly different situation than having one kid or a couple at older ages.
