Camping with Kids

I think camping is so much more pleasant as the weather's cooling. You don't run as much of a risk  of it being sweltering hot when you want to go to sleep, the bugs calm down *a little bit* and that camp fire is so much more inviting when there's just a bit of a chill in the air. Our family camps a lot, and I get asked all the time how we camped with an infant, and when that infant became a toddler, how we entertained him! Here are a few tips from our own experiences camping with littles.

1. Sleeping arrangements: for a smaller babe, tent floors are not really safe co-sleeping spaces, usually. Depending on the weather and the equipment, maybe, but a collapsible or not so collapsible moses basket style travel bed was perfect for our son. he was used to co-sleeping, so it was not a huge transition, but kept him away from folds and folds of sleeping bag and rolling toward tent sides. Now that he's older, he shares a two man bag with one of us, he'll probably get his own next year.

2. "Daylight Entertainment": Exploring stuff! Dirt! We try to limit our electronic entertainment when we're out camping, so trying to find creative and unplugged activities while the sun shines is fun for us. We do a lot of hiking and geocaching (don't know what that is? Stay tuned for the next outdoor fun post!), but we also like to laze around the camp site. Toddlers do not tend to enjoy "lazing around". A bucket and shovel is great, as is a scavenger hunt either for things you've hidden (12 bouncy balls, or 10 easter eggs, etc.) or things nature has hidden. An old egg carton with pictures of 12 things to find: a pine cone, a smooth stone, a clover, a brown leaf, a flower, etc. is a great scavenger hunt that encourages nature exploration.

3. "Nighttime Entertainment": Glo Sticks. I can't lie, these things are a lifesaver at night and make the changing light in a camp site less spooky, for kids who find that sort of thing spooky. Glow sticks are awesome and inexpensive. They're not as green as my usual attempts, but they are mighty effective, just be sure to take out all the trash with you. If you're in the right region and season, catching glowing bugs can be fun and inspecting them can be awesome, be sure to release them before tucking in for the night. And let's not leave out S'mores!!

What are your tips for camping with little ones and big ones alike?? What are your favorite places to go locally for camping? Share with us in the comments!