Camping With Kids - Surviving The Trip

While the idea of camping with your family is a nice one – days out, time spent fishing, hiking, and enjoying other 'bonding' activities, the reality it not usually that idyllic.  Many children today want modern, sophisticated entertainment – if they groan at the thought of sleeping in a tent, then perhaps you should consider a compromise.  Rent a cabin in the woods, or stay in a hotel and just make day trips to the countryside.

If your children do enjoy spending time outdoors, or are excited at the prospect of some 'adventure' then camping could be for them – but there are some things to consider before going camping with kids .

Kids Are Messy, and Camping is Messier

Children are usually unphased by dirt, and children out camping will make a mess.  Children who are tired after a day out hiking, climbing and playing will be even more resentful of the thought of tidying up or staying clean than normal, so expect them to want to cut corners.  If they can't be bothered with the hassle of putting on their boots before going to the camp site outhouse, then they will walk around outside barefoot, for example.

Your kids will get into dirt.  It will get into their mouths.  Live with it.  Being exposed to some dirt can actually help their bodies learn to inoculate against some bacteria.  And don’t get too fussy camping with kids.  If they drop their sandwich on the ground and pick it up, let then eat it.  You probably only packed so much food to begin with.

No Restrooms?

Before your camping trip, find out what the potty laws are where you plan to camp.  If there are no outhouses on the camp site, then you will have to relieve yourself the old-fashioned way. Once you've been camping a few days, you will get used to this, but you should make sure your children learn how to do things safely and cleanly. 

Teach them to recognize poisonous plants so that they don't squat down on them by accident, and make sure they know to wipe themselves with paper or old cloth, rather than with leaves.  Make sure that all feces are buried, and that they burn any paper or cloth after it is used – or, if they are too young to use matches, that you do it for them.  If you aren't ready to handle this, then you should not go camping with children.

“He Likes Me.  Can I Keep Him?”

Children can fall in love with cute animals quite quickly – don't fall for the 'He followed me here' line – domesticated animals like cats and dogs may do that, but if a moose calf, or baby squirrel, or anything like that is suddenly at the tent, the chances are it was ushered there by your kids.  Young animals need to stay where they are, and should not be separated from their mothers.  If your children will not respect wildlife, then they should not go camping.