Camping with Kids

by April Russell

Hints of springtime are starting to appear, and with them the promise of warmer days and more opportunities for outside play. Research has shown many benefits of unstructured time outside for children, including healthier bodies, stronger imaginations, and better problem solving skills.

One of the best ways to encourage your children to play outside is to take them camping. Not only will a family camping trip inspire your child’s sense of exploration in nature, but it has the added benefit of allowing your entire family to spend quality time together with no distractions. In our technology-centered culture, it is all too easy to allow screen time to win out over conversation, but an escape to the great outdoors will give your family the chance to reconnect to each other.

With just a bit of preparation and imagination, you can give your children – and yourself – the gift of the great outdoors this spring.

Make a List, Check it Twice

Planning ahead is key to having a successful camping trip, especially when young children are involved. Start with choosing a location that fits your needs. Some campsites offer several amenities, including running water, electrical hook-ups and hot showers. Others – usually identified as “primitive” campsites – offer only the bare bones: a clear spot for your tent and a stone circle to hold your fire. “Roughing it” might be a bit more difficult if you have very young children, or if your family is less experienced in the outdoors. You’ll also want to decide if you’d prefer to hike to your campsite, or if you’d rather be able to camp directly out of your car.

Tip: both the Texas and Arkansas State Parks Departments offer over-the-phone assistance with choosing the right campsite.

Once you know where you’ll be camping, you’ll be able to think about what you need. Make a list of items you know you will need on the trip, being sure to differentiate between the essentials and the items you would just like to have around for comfort (such as books or electronics). Also keep in mind that how much you pack will be affected by how far you will need to walk to get to the campsite.

Tip: if you are new to camping, with a quick Internet search you can find sample pack lists online for any level of camping – from novice car-campers to experienced back-packers.

When your list is made, start gathering together all of your gear in one place to make packing easier. Identify any items you need to purchase beforehand, such as new sleeping bags for the kids or commodities like toilet paper and bug spray. Pack your supplies in a bag that is easy to carry, or at least pack so that you can find and get to everything you need, if you are car camping.

Keep the Kids Involved

Going camping with your children is the perfect way to encourage their independence by giving them more responsibility. Give them their own bags to carry, packed with essential supplies. Or better yet, let them pack their own bags. Let your kids help choose the campsite or pick the spot to pitch your tent. Put them in charge of gathering wood for the fire, or you can take the opportunity to teach them how to build a fire on their own. No matter how you choose to do it, giving your children the chance to be in charge is sure to boost their self confidence and enjoyment of your time outdoors.

During the day, you may want to give your kids free reign to explore the area or go for a hike on some nearby trails. You may even want to put together a scavenger hunt or a nature check list to encourage their exploration. But after the sun goes down, it is a good idea to have a few activities prepared to keep everyone entertained before bed. A deck of cards doesn’t take up much room in your pack and is a great way to pass the time around the campfire. For a more creative activity, take turns making up funny stories, or pair up and start a game of Charades.

Practice Safety First

While you’ll want to keep your trip focused on having fun together as a family, it is important to remember to practice a few key safety measures just in case. A basic first aid kit is an essential item to have in your pack, and can be purchased at any outdoors store, or even in the outdoors section of your local department store. Any good first aid kit will include the necessities for treating minor cuts and burns, bug bites, and sprains or breaks. Many also include snake bite kits, which are good to have on hand if you will be hiking in a more remote area.

At the campsite, take the opportunity to teach your children precautionary safety skills. Before setting up camp, walk with your kids around the perimeter of the campsite to establish boundaries for exploration. Discuss how they should be careful to observe their environment to ensure a sturdy step and avoid getting lost. Give your children whistles to use in case you do become separated, and make it clear that they should remain in one spot until you are able to locate the source of the sound. When choosing a spot for the tent, keep an eye out for dead trees or broken limbs overhead, which can become a hazard with little warning. Model proper fire safety by keeping your campfire enclosed in a pre-made fire pit or in a stone circle, which will prevent hot embers from rolling away from the fire.

Major camping accidents are very rare, and though proper care should be taken to ensure everyone’s safety, overall your experience should allow your family to relax and stretch their legs in the great outdoors. There are many beautiful state parks in the area that provide the perfect atmosphere for even those very new to camping. You can even set up camp for the night in your own backyard! Either way, with a bit of planning you can create a brand new experience with your family that will likely stay in their memories for a very long time.