Outdoor camping with your children can be a wonderful, fun and bonding experience for both of you. Is there an age that is too young to take a kid camping? That depends on both you and your child. I remember my friend taking her son when he was only six weeks old. He slept in his swing in the shade the entire weekend, hardly making a sound. However, her next baby hated everything and screamed for hours on end and so a weekend camping trip with him was not what you’d call relaxing.
The great thing about outdoor camping with most kids is that they love being outside and the freedom it allows. Many kids will entertain themselves using their imagination and all a parent has to do is sit there and watch. It’s great fun to explore the ants on the ground, the pretty wildflowers that we’d normally consider weeds, and sticks that readily become guns. (At least for my little boy.)
There are a couple of things I did find helpful with small children while outdoor camping. One thing I liked to do when staying in a campground was to get a spot as close to the playground as possible. If we were right next to it, and could see it clearly, I could let my son play while I worked around the campsite. (Of course common sense should rule here, never leave a child unattended or let them get out of your sight.)
If you are tent or popup camping, or don’t have a bathroom in your RV, getting close to the bath/shower house might be a good idea. Some kids have to be on a real toilet to feel comfortable. Of course if you are primitive camping this won’t be an option, in which case you can get a Portable Toilet
, with a real toilet seat, if need be.
If you have child that gets bored easily you’ll want to have a few ideas in mind for when they start complaining. Frisbees, a butterfly net, balls, and possibly even a bike will help keep your child occupied and by using what you have around you, (i.e. sticks, leaves and acorns) you can not only entertain, but even make some unique crafts that you can keep as a souvenir of your trip. (In a later post I will focus on nature crafts that you can make with kids.) Books, board games, coloring books and crayons, and possibly even a portable DVD player or handheld game system are good to bring along for rainy days, and most kids will feel safer and more in control if they have their own source of light such as a small flashlight or battery powered lantern.
Comfortable sleeping arrangements are important for a child who is outdoor camping. Kids who don’t get enough rest can become more irritable, or have other behavioral extremes such as hyperactivity, and they are also more susceptible to accidents. Investing in a good Air Mattress Travel Bed 
or cot will be well worth it when you have a happy, well-rested child to deal with.
Here are a few other important items to take when you are outdoor camping with kids: (Future posts will go into more depth on some of them.)
- Bug spray
- Sunscreen
- Rain gear including waterproof boots
- First aid kit
- Extra clothing (bring about twice as many outfits as you would pack for yourself)
- Easy to grab healthy snacks such as cheese sticks, apple wedges, individual snack cups of applesauce, yogurt, or pudding, etc.
- Familiar bedtime items such as stuffed animals, pillows, or blankets
- Kid friendly drinks (sipper cups or juice boxes, etc. – don’t forget hot chocolate if it’s cold!)
- Skin/Baby wipes (makes it easy to clean dirty hands and faces)
- Items to roast in a campfire such as marshmallows and hot dogs
Our family hiking during an outdoor camping excursion to Red River Gorge, KY
