There’s a certain charm about the weather getting warmer – besides being much more pleasant for all kinds of activities, it also reminds us of the good old summer days of our childhood. No school, no obligations, the only thing we had to worry about was what outdoor activity to engage in. But I’m sure some of your fondest childhood memories were the ones made while camping with your family. Gathering around the fire, singing songs, telling stories and roasting hot dogs and marshmallows – ahh, the good times! Now that you have your own family, you can relieve those exact experiences in a new light. Plus, camping makes for an amazing bonding time. So, if you want to make this summer an unforgettable adventure for your family, wait no more and start packing your camping bags!
First of all, you need to gather all the camping essentials, such as a tent, sleeping bags and some kitchen tools. But since kids can be quite unpredictable in their wishes and demands, going camping with them requires that you are fully prepared. You will definitely need to pack some sunscreen so they don’t get sunburns from playing all day out in the sun, a first-aid kit just in case, allergy medications and many other pieces of camping equipment online stores offer. Being a parent trying to organize a trip and at the same time buy all the needed essentials, means being quite busy, so buying camping equipment online can really save you a lot of time as you can do it from the comfort of your home.
After you’ve collected the needed gear, you need to decide where to set up a camp. You’ll probably want to go somewhere quieter and closer to civilization, but think about it – in order to give your kids something to remember for a lifetime, a location that’s a bit further away from the society will be much more interesting. Choose one that preferably has a stream near where you can go fishing, or woods for building a den, rocks that you can climb and all sorts of opportunities which are way more fun than sitting in a meadow. Holiday parks with perfectly cut lawns usually make for a boring experience, however some of them might have play parks for kids and people who would look after them and engage them in fun activities. Alternatively, you can go online and look for tips on how to find a good camp spot.
Going camping is a versatile experience for the whole family. By engaging in fun activities your kids can learn a lot about nature and about being self-sufficient. Go hiking together and teach them about the different types of plants they can’t easily find in the city. You can bring a telescope and some binoculars to observe the night sky and talk about different constellations. Who knows, maybe this will motivate them to become scientists when they grow up. Gathering wood to light a fire, or preparing camping food will certainly enhance their motor skills and teach them responsibility.
Camping is a great way to teach your kids some essential life skills, but the best thing about it is that it will bring your family closer. Even the simple act of kicking a ball or playing Frisbee can help develop a stronger bond. We know how today’s stressful lifestyle leaves us with less and less time to spend together. And even when we do get the chance to do so, there’s almost always some distraction standing in the way of making a real connection – smartphones, laptops, TV and whatnot. Camping will make you forget about your worries at work, will get you away from the virtual world and closer to your loved ones. Waste no time and do it this summer!
