Any "must haves" for camping with kids?
We're just starting out with 4 kids aged 3-10. Anything we must bring along. We're planning to bring some board games just in case we get rain. Any suggestions for us newbies?
Forum Discussion
Someone suggested glowsticks to me and my kids love them.
I always worry way more than I need to before we go anywhere as my kids love their computer games but it's amazing how quickly they forget about that stuff.
I give my kids jobs to do, like collecting wood etc and it makes them feel important and useful, which they are.
Don't underestimate how much fun a kid can have out in the woods, take a pack of cards and some blank paper and pens or even monopoly for the evenings.
Kids paracetomol/band aids/antiseptic wipes
Books on identifying birds/tress etc
Books on buschcraft type activities, let them make a den. Also, my eldest (13) has a small knife that she uses to whittle wood and make little carvings etc
Extra clothes in case things gets wet and you can't dry them.
Let them have a go at cooking, it's a big lesson in letting them try stuff you'd normally freak out about (eg the whittling!) It can be hard to stand back and let them cook something over a fire but remember that they have a sense of danger and instincts too and don't want to get hurt as much as you don't want them too. Obviously, this depends on age too, I'm not talking about letting a 3 yr old carry a pot of boiling water.
Above all, relax, it's supposed to be fun. Things will get messy and they may go to bed with marshmallow smeared all over their faces but they'll enjoy it.
And don't forget the stories round the fire, we take it in turns to tell one :)
I always worry way more than I need to before we go anywhere as my kids love their computer games but it's amazing how quickly they forget about that stuff.
I give my kids jobs to do, like collecting wood etc and it makes them feel important and useful, which they are.
Don't underestimate how much fun a kid can have out in the woods, take a pack of cards and some blank paper and pens or even monopoly for the evenings.
Kids paracetomol/band aids/antiseptic wipes
Books on identifying birds/tress etc
Books on buschcraft type activities, let them make a den. Also, my eldest (13) has a small knife that she uses to whittle wood and make little carvings etc
Extra clothes in case things gets wet and you can't dry them.
Let them have a go at cooking, it's a big lesson in letting them try stuff you'd normally freak out about (eg the whittling!) It can be hard to stand back and let them cook something over a fire but remember that they have a sense of danger and instincts too and don't want to get hurt as much as you don't want them too. Obviously, this depends on age too, I'm not talking about letting a 3 yr old carry a pot of boiling water.
Above all, relax, it's supposed to be fun. Things will get messy and they may go to bed with marshmallow smeared all over their faces but they'll enjoy it.
And don't forget the stories round the fire, we take it in turns to tell one :)
