Camping With Little Ones

Spending time together as a family does not need to break the budget or require a great deal of advance planning and preparing. An activity as seemingly simple as a backyard campout will result in lasting memories and countless laughs and bonding opportunities. Here are some ideas to help your family have a fun filled camping trip right outside your backdoor:

Work Together – Gathering supplies, planning the menu and activities and setting up and breaking down your camp site are all activities that can be best done by working together. Involve the entire family and everyone will feel included and part of the team.

Borrow Equipment – There is no need to go out and purchase brand new tents and sleeping bags for your backyard camping trip. Ask friends and neighbors if they have any camping gear you can borrow. You can also scour yard sales and websites such as freecycle.org to find free or inexpensive camping items. Be sure to bring your little one’s security items such as a blanket or stuffed animals out into the tent with you.

Have a Great Meal – The best thing about having a campout in your backyard is your access to your home and kitchen! Dinner can be made as usual and then transported out back to be enjoyed al fresco. Keeping a small cooler of drinks and snacks tent side will help your children feel more like they are actually camping and they will enjoy the novelty of it.

Plan Fun Activities – If you have access to a fire pit, plan to roast marshmallows and make s’mores. Give each family member a flashlight and play flashlight tag or take a nighttime nature walk around your yard. Play board games and cards as you share jokes and stories together as a family.

Be Flexible – If the weather does not cooperate on your planned camping night, switch it to another night or have your campout inside. Make tents in your living room and have everyone camp out on the floor together. If your backyard setup is not comfortable or if anyone gets spooked, feel free to pack up and head back inside. The point of this family activity is to have fun, and flexibility is the key to a successful campout.

See Also:

Family Movie Night
Little League Tailgate