Before I begin on the do’s and don’ts or good ideas when camping with kids, I would like to discuss an epiphany I had recently. My wife and I bought our camper a few years ago. Those few years are now turning into several very quickly and we would like to use it more but that is for another discussion. We bought the camper to camp as a family and do family trips. For a while this was and is still great but I recently wanted to book a few trips where it would be Father/Son/Daughter or “Guys Trip” or just solo. I am not excluding my wife but like every relationship we don’t share the same interest in everything. I like desert camping she doesn’t. So over the holidays I did a dad/kid camping trip and mom got to stay home and relax. Win-win for everyone, I got more time with my kids and she got a weekend to herself.
There is also value in camping with your kids as a dad. I have a different approach to how things get done. Basically, you want it done that includes at least taking the initiative to do it yourself and if you can’t then ask for help. Many helicopter parents worry about feeding and sleeping schedules. It’s camping, they will be fine. They have been with you dozens of times before and know where the food is and where to sleep.
So is it safe to camp with kids? I would say overall it is safer than many other trips or activities. The real danger is keeping them safe from themselves but trying to let them be on their own at the same time. I have found that the campgrounds you can easily find on the internet with a good web presence or a national or regional owner/franchise are on the safer side. This is because there is fewer long term campers and more seasonal or weekenders. The seasonal campers are generally in advanced age or retired and no surprise called snowbirds. They likely had kids of their own and glad to be empty nesters. So in general campgrounds are safe but use your best judgment.
Safer than most trips shouldn’t lead your kids to be ferrel and do as they please. Setting some simple rules are needed. other than the obvious one such as don’t leave the campground property there are many that you may not think of. You need to remember that others in the campground wan to enjoy their vacation as well. The campground is not your kids exclusive backyard. To ensure everyone is going to get along you need to provide the kids with boundaries. 1) Keep the noise level to a fun level. Laughing and happy noises are welcomed but we don’t need to hear from Bobby that he wants to know what is for dinner by yelling from the playground across the park. 2) Stay out of other campsites. This is a quick way to irritate a neighbor. Tell your kids to walk around not through. 3) Have a buddy. Simple, direct and enough said.
If your kids don’t listen to the rules or misbehave, camping is a great place for discipline and life lessons. Why you ask? I think because they all go into FOMO mode with the hundreds of things they could be doing, plus you have a little back-up. Back-up in the sense that your kids will want to save face in the eyes of others versus as if you were home alone. Make your call, set them in their area, either in their room/bunk or front row picnic table and go take a walk. They will learn quickly.
Take advantage of teaching them a new activity such as cooking, bike riding, horseshoeing, swimming or board games. You have what it seems all the time in the world and if you can get 30 minutes of productive time with them you will see them grow. If you need to mix it into your drinking time then do so, you can do two things at once.
My personal favorite piece of advice is, let them sleep in. Enjoy your morning walk and coffee or to do list. They will emerge out of their cave when ready and find those muffins or cereal if they get hungry. This goes back to letting them learn on their own. You are no longer tied to the walls of your home, you to can explore and get that much needed fresh air.
Teenagers! Some parks are a lot like Summer Camp or another cheesy 80’s movie. If you have a teenager, there are other teenagers to be sought or are on the prowl.If you have a wandering teenager, focus on getting him or her involved in the camping process and give them something productive. They want to be treated like an adult them, then give them tasks. I enjoy sending them to the camp store or something close by. They get the freedom to be on their own but they have a goal to fulfill and it must be done timely. They also can be tasked with watching the others, but do so respectively of their time.
Have your kids bring a friend. I know it may seem a lot to take on but it really isn’t. What is one more SMORE, hot dog or chair? This keeps your kids in check and they look out for each other. This keeps your kids out of your hair and shifts any responsibility of providing entertainment to them. Rarely do kids who travel with others play alone. Also, that parent may thank you for taking their kids of their hands for a few days and return the favor when you want to do a kids free camping trip.
What else should kids bring or have access to? The list is long but here is a few.
It gets cold and dark at night wherever you camp. I know it is obvious but it is important. Have a jacket available. Keep some extras stored in the camper and put flashlights in their pockets. They may not remember to ask for a flashlight but having a small Harbor Freight flash light really helps.
Water, have them bring their now so popular school water bottle. If they are going to eat junk food all weekend then at least keep them hydrated.
Kids do get homesick even though we don’t realize it. Bring something from their room with you. It could be a special pillow, blanket, hat or toy.
First Aid kit. I hate to sound like a parent but a quick way to ruin a trip is an injury. Campsites are not in the most ideal location for a quick trip to the ER either. I don’t expect you to set broken bones or put in stitches but you do need to have and know how to apply bandages. There is always the kid that falls off his bike within 5 minutes of getting there and skids his knees or the one who doesn’t listen and thinks whittling a piece of wood is a good idea.
Two-Way Radios. This is a tough one for me. I hate them. They do nothing but make a bunch of beeping noises every 20 seconds plus they rarely leave each other’s site anyway so what’s the point. Keep the radios for special purposes like crowded events, caravanning or parking.
Camping “rules” vary from day to night. I strongly suggest keeping the bike riding to a minimum at night after dinner. Many people don’e have lights and there is plenty of time during the day to ride.
Bring board games. It is very likely your campground won’t have the best or any wi-fi but who needs it? You will find that kids will quickly adapt to board games. It may take you to play it with them a few times and once they master it they will want to play on every trip.