List of camping gear?
What is on your list of much needed/appreciated gear when you are camping with young children?
Forum Discussion
We have a 6 year old boy, will be 7 by the time camping season starts, and a 2.5 year old girl. 6 yr old has been camping since 2 months old, the 2/5 year old since 3 weeks old. I keep the 5er stocked with a second set of all basics. our son loves building, digging, and anything with wheels so the toys are reflective. Last year our daughter did whatever her brother did. We always have a bin of books in that gets loaded at the beginning of the season and stays in the trailer. If your kids are more into sports then you will want to bring some basic sports gear for them. Our son's best buddy always bring his baseball bag, he loves baseball and can always find someone to play with him.
bikes always come, for the little one whatever wheeled toy she would use at home. a few trips we took the cozy-coop.
if we have hook-ups then the DVDs, but unless it is inclement weather the TV doesn't get turned on, they get up, get dressed, and go outside to play.
we have traveled with the Thomas take-along trains and had tracks all over the camper. we now travel with some legos.
one of our outside storage bins is just for toys, it is doesn't fit in there is doesn't come. it is full of buckets, small shovels, small trucks, bats, balls. the beginning of the season it gets emptied what they kids haven't played with or don't want to play with anymore comes out, then they get to add something new, if there is space.
bikes are great. our little one was in a kiddy bike seat at 10 months old. I found the smallest kid bike helmet that fit her head, and off we went. when our son turned 5 we got him a trail-a-bike. it is great, then we can go for longer rides and don't have to worry about him tiring out. the one this we as parents did, we started wearing helmets. decided if we were going to win the argument with the kids we would do it best by example.
we also have a canoe, when our son turned 6 he got a kiddy kayak. so now on smaller lakes he paddles on his own.
as for the inside of the trailer. I prefer to use sheets and blankets on their bunks. easier to wash when beds need to be changed. they have both been on bunks since the beginning. we have corner bunks with a small opening so we put safety gates across the openings.
a baby monitor was a must for several years. then we could join friends at a campfire and keep an ear on the kids in the trailer.
also walkie-talkies are now always with us. our son can take one and go off on his bike. if there is an issue he can call us, or if it is time to eat we can call him.
bikes always come, for the little one whatever wheeled toy she would use at home. a few trips we took the cozy-coop.
if we have hook-ups then the DVDs, but unless it is inclement weather the TV doesn't get turned on, they get up, get dressed, and go outside to play.
we have traveled with the Thomas take-along trains and had tracks all over the camper. we now travel with some legos.
one of our outside storage bins is just for toys, it is doesn't fit in there is doesn't come. it is full of buckets, small shovels, small trucks, bats, balls. the beginning of the season it gets emptied what they kids haven't played with or don't want to play with anymore comes out, then they get to add something new, if there is space.
bikes are great. our little one was in a kiddy bike seat at 10 months old. I found the smallest kid bike helmet that fit her head, and off we went. when our son turned 5 we got him a trail-a-bike. it is great, then we can go for longer rides and don't have to worry about him tiring out. the one this we as parents did, we started wearing helmets. decided if we were going to win the argument with the kids we would do it best by example.
we also have a canoe, when our son turned 6 he got a kiddy kayak. so now on smaller lakes he paddles on his own.
as for the inside of the trailer. I prefer to use sheets and blankets on their bunks. easier to wash when beds need to be changed. they have both been on bunks since the beginning. we have corner bunks with a small opening so we put safety gates across the openings.
a baby monitor was a must for several years. then we could join friends at a campfire and keep an ear on the kids in the trailer.
also walkie-talkies are now always with us. our son can take one and go off on his bike. if there is an issue he can call us, or if it is time to eat we can call him.
