How To Introduce Your Kids To Camping


A family camping trip is one of the cheapest holidays you can go on, so long as you have already invested in all the relevant equipment. Much cheaper than a trip to an interstate or overseas theme park and probably more educational too.

Thinking about things to do to have exciting yet safe moments with our young ones may have limited our options these days, especially whilst overseas travel is restricted due to COVID-10. But there are certainly still some other ways to enjoy a little family time, such as camping.

Camping can be a lot of effort, especially when you have kids, but it’s actually worth a try to let your kids have a night they can remember. However, camping somewhere far outside for the first time can be a little frightening for them, and needless to say, a lot more expensive if it’s at a caravan park. That said, do you know that you can let the kids experience real-life camping even in the proximity of your own home?

First things first; you may need all your camping gear for the kids to be aware of the things that are essential for the activity. Tents, compasses, flashlights, maps, and your handy magnifying glasses are the must-haves for them to have a great experience of what it is like camping for real.

Where To?

Maps

You must first introduce your kids to reading maps. While the whole majority of kids now rely on tracking devices and GPS, it’s still important to be able to read maps and go their way around without technology. You may need to explain to them that devices tend to lose battery life and you can’t always rely on technology. Reading maps is better for you to be able to know your way around when all devices fail. In this way, your kids will be aware to not always trust technology, as it tends to malfunction in the worst of cases. They can even save their battery life for emergencies!

Compass

Kids might be mesmerized seeing a real compass and being able to know their way around. Better than your typical GPS, compasses work as a navigator even without a battery. GPS might be a thing, but it does not work well especially when huge clouds are forming above camping sites. Educate your kids on how to use a compass together with a map, for them to know the right direction they must go. Yet, don’t forget to tell them to always go North if they realize they are lost!

The Campsite

Now you can make use of your tents. You need not go to a mountain, park or forest for your child’s first trip, instead go camping in your backyard. When you’re setting up the tent, make sure to get your kids involved as well. Help them read the user guide in setting up the tent; this might mean a longer time assembling your camping abode but it sure is beneficial in developing their critical skills. Think of it like a giant Lego set!

Another thing to do is have a treasure hunt. Set up treasures on the North, South, East, and West sides of the house for you to assess whether or not they are able to have a takeaway on the proper use of compass and map. This would enhance their skills in analyzing directions that can also develop their survival skills in real-life camping situations.

At night, you can enjoy having s’mores by having a little campfire, and even tell tall tales for your kids to enjoy. When playtime is over, turn all the lights off and enjoy a glimpse of the stars for a much more true-to-life camping even just at the comforts of your backyard.

Now you’re all set. It’s time to get into a camping activity for your kids to enjoy. No need to go out of town; just a little creativity would make your family’s camping experience a memorable one!


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