Staying Fit
Summer is coming, and with it, pleasant temperatures across much of the United States that just beg for time spent outdoors, enjoying nature.
Planning a family camping adventure with kids or grandkids is a great way to make your precious bonding time together last longer — and naturally unplugged too.
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When it comes to entertaining children, time in nature has been proven to be one of the best options, with benefits such as building confidence, teaching responsibility, getting kids moving, and even reducing stress and fatigue, according to the Child Mind Institute, a New York–based nonprofit that works to improve the lives of children struggling with mental health.
But to plan a camping adventure with young children, you might be wondering where to start — and that applies whether it’s your very first time camping at all or your first time attempting to do it with kids in tow.
“I would suggest going as a couple first or camping with friends before taking children,” says former scout leader Peggy Cleveland, 61, of Tacoma, Washington. It’s important to know that you enjoy the experience before embarking on it with kids, she says.
From there, you can graduate to camping in the backyard with the kids or grandkids, or even venturing to a park or campground close to home, Cleveland says.
“You want to be close enough to home that you can throw everything in the car in the event it is a disaster,” she says.
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A combination of tent and car camping is a good option for a first camping trip with children.
Courtesy KOA
Limiting your camping trips to a weekend before building up to longer stays is a good idea too, she says. Cleveland recommends a combination of tent and car camping (which is when you pull your car right up to a campsite and keep everything handy, as opposed to hiking to the site and carrying everything with you) for a first camping trip with children.
And new campers might want to consider a fall adventure to start, she says, calling it the perfect season for beginners. “It is not as hot, and the cooler evenings are more conducive to sleep,” Cleveland says.
Slow your pace and enjoy the lessons along the way
Part of the joy of a camping trip with kids is exposing them to life lessons you can’t always instill in the same way when surrounded by four walls at home or in a classroom.
“Activities like setting up camp exposes [kids] to valuable life skills, like problem-solving and resourcefulness,” says Diane Eichler, senior vice president of marketing at Kampgrounds of America (KOA). But it’s important to proceed at a slower pace so kids can keep up with everything that camping involves, she warns.
“Engage them as much as possible and allow extra time for setting up camp, preparing meals, and hiking or exploring, as kids may need more breaks along the way,” Eichler says.
And don’t forget to embrace the magic of the experience together.
