camping games

  • CAMP, FAVORITE GEAR, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

    Camping with Kids: 101

    If camping with kids sounds fun but overwhelming, this post is for you! Today, our friend Tabby is sharing her very first camping experience with kids, since becoming a parent. She’s here to tell you that while it might seem intimidating, camping with kids is easier and more fun than you can imagine! If camping with kids is on your summer bucket list, here’s everything you need to go before you go. And if it’s not on your list, here’s why it should be!

    Camping with Kids: 101

    Reasons to camp with kids

    Kids need nature. I don’t feel like access to nature should be a privilege for children. Being immersed in nature is a necessity. Have you heard that quote floating around, “Children can’t bounce off the walls when you take away the walls”? I think that quote is so perfect and completely describes one of the biggest benefits of getting children outdoors and into nature.

    Camping is one way to give kids the space they need to play and learn. Camping gets us away from the noise, the TV, the Wifi and all the constant begging for the tablet. We go camping and trade tablets for smores and TV for making stick-men and women. Camping allows us to tune out all the things that don’t matter in exchange for quality family time and memories that will last a lifetime. I pinky promise you, camping with kids isn’t as intimidating as you may think it is and it’s more important than ever.

    what you need to pack when camping with kidscamping activities for kids

    Why I was intimidated

    Before this experience, I was under the impression that camping with kids would be stressful, exhausting and expensive. I was convinced it would not be worth it while the kids were so young and overall not fun for us parents. I am a classic over-thinker and I was feeling incredibly overwhelmed by the idea of camping with kids because I literally had no camping gear. However, now that I have camped as a parent, I can promise you that it is so much easier than I imagined.

    One thing I learned is that you don’t need nearly as much as you think you do. You don’t need to plan elaborate activities for the kids. You don’t need to go somewhere exotic. Your gear doesn’t need to be expensive. Camping with kids is not only easy, but really fun for everyone! In fact, after our first camping trip as parents, we decided to go back out into the wild only two weeks later and we have two more trips planned for next month. I already know each trip will get even easier now that we gave it a shot and have one experience under our belt.

    camping packing list for kidscamping with kidstips for camping with kids

    What to pack when camping with kids

    I know myself well and I know that I tend to overthink things. I make everything more complicated than it needs to be. When coming up with a packing list, I purposely tried my best to avoid Pinterest and all the millions of articles about EVERYTHING you need to pack. Instead, I thought about what we really needed. Then I asked for personal opinions from groups I am in with like-minded people (Hike it baby, Wildschooling). I also met one new friend at a park to talk about camping with kids. It was seriously so helpful to hear from someone who had done it successfully.

    how to plan a camping trip with kidscamping with kids

    Here’s what we packed:

    • Weather appropriate clothes for the whole family (check the weather where you are going beforehand)
    • Rain boots, we use Lone Cone boots (they are affordable and durable)
    • Sand toys
    • Tent (preferably with rain cover)
    • Camping chairs for the whole family
    • Cooler with food and ice
    • Flashlights and/or headlamps
    • Glow stick bracelets or necklaces for the kids to wear at night (to keep track of them and because they’re fun!)
    • Paper plates and paper plate holders
    • Utensils, roaster sticks for smores or hotdogs (or you can find and use a stick)

    hiking while camping with kids

    • Firewood (a lot of campgrounds will also sell firewood, but you will want to find that out first) (be aware of restrictions on bringing your own)
    • Sleeping bags (Our first trip it got to 32 degrees at night and we used 3 comforters and were toasty all night. If you’re camping where it gets cold at night put a blanket UNDER your air mattress or sleeping pad, on top of it and then 1 or 2 more blankets on top of you.)
    • Bug spray (I just found out they make bug repellent WIPES! There are wipes with DEET OR wipes without DEET)
    • Sunscreen
    • Waterproof matches for starting a fire
    • First Aid kit just in case (I bought a standard one and added Benadryl, children’s ibuprofen, a $3 snake bite kid because it eased my mind)
    • One or more hammocks and hammock straps! (Man, this was a huge hit…the kids couldn’t get enough of the hammock. Our second trip we had 7 kids total at the campsite and they all had so much fun with it.)

    I may be forgetting some things on this list, so before you go, just think “What do we really NEED?” Basically, you need somewhere to sleep, food and weather-appropriate clothes. Everything else is for fun and comfort.

    what to pack when camping with kidskids camping tips and advice

    Where to go camping with kids

    If you have young kids that don’t know how to swim I suggest not camping close to water. This way you don’t have to worry about turning your back on the kids for a second. Finding a great campsite is as simple as Googling “campsites near me” and looking at a map. I highly suggest camping with friends who have kids around the same ages as your kids. We’ve done that twice now and it’s a blast! The kids love playing with friends, its endless fun for the kids and the parents! Another resource to look into is HipCamp, it’s the Airbnb for camping. <— By clicking my affiliate link we both get $20 after your first camping trip towards another stay!

    camping with kidsadvice for camping with kids for the first time

    What to do when camping with kids

    If you’re camping at a campsite with a camp host, use their knowledge! Our host told us about a hike nearby and helped guide us to a hot spring that was also close. Otherwise, you can do your research on Google when you’re planning your trip. For us personally, we mainly like to relax.  I don’t go camping to be on a rigorous schedule.

    Above, I mentioned bringing sand toys. The kids will love digging and playing in the dirt. I was against bringing too many other toys, but that’s just me. Try a scavenger hunt or set up a slackline. Go collect wildflowers or splash around in a creek. One of our favorite activities was making Stick-Men. I found a tutorial in the CAMP bundle from Wild and Free. Basically, the kids use their imaginations to make stick people. So simple, yet it was a huge hit for us!

    family camping trip tipstips for family camping tripscamping with kids

    The moral of the story

    Overall, camping with kids is so much more fun and easier than I ever imagined. All you have to do it go and have fun! If you are an anxious person like me, fight those feelings that tell you to fear everything. Try not to be a Debby Downer and kill the fun vibes while camping! Instead, give it a try and you’ll be sure to create some happy memories in nature with your kids and spouse. Make a list, bring the necessities (and a camera), relax and have fun!

    Also…drown out your fire after use! Make Smokey the Bear proud!

    camping with kidsCamping with Kids: 101what to pack when camping with kidscamping hammocks for kids

    Additional camping resources for parents

    If you’re looking for even more info on how to camp with kids, we’ve got you covered. Check out these great camping resources below:

    family camping gear packing checklist

    Printable camping gear lists for families

    To make it easier for you to get started on your next family camping trip, we put our ultimate camping packing list for your family in a free printable 2-page PDF for you! Use this as the perfect start to create your own master packing list. You’ll also be signed up to receive our  AMAZING weekly newsletter, filled with fun outdoor activities and inspiration for getting your kids and family outside! You can opt-out anytime (although we’d hate to see you go). 

    [maxbutton id=”1″ url=”https://mailchi.mp/6ad1ea8208c2/fw0osm9qnr” text=”PRINTABLE CAMPING GEAR LIST” ]

                 We hope you’ll consider a camping trip with your kids this year!
    What’s your best advice for camping with kids?

     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    My name is Tabby, I am homeschooling mama of two little wild ones. I love photography, being outdoors, dogs, podcasts and rollerblading!
     
    You can find me on Instagram @sunshine_and_kewpie
  • OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

    Slacklining for Kids

    Slacklining is a perfect way for kids of all ages to hone balancing skills while building core strength and confidence. My son received a slackline as a gift this past Christmas and we’ve had so much fun using it these last few months. Slacklining is one of my kids’ favorite backyard activities and I’m blown away by how much time they spend on it daily, balancing, bouncing and playing games. Today, we’re walking you through the basics of slacklining for kids and why it’s a great product to add to your backyard activities.

    Beginner's Guide to Slacklining with Kids

    What is a slackline?

    A slackline is a two-inch-wide nylon webbing strip with a ratchet tensioning system. Some slacklines have a bit of a rubber coating to make learning to balance on it easier. Most slacklines attach easily to trees with no additional tools or rigging needed. Some come with an extra training line (help-line) to hold on to from above, which is great for beginners and helps encourage the correct arm position. Some also include protective tree pads, instruction manuals, and a carrying bag. You can get them in a variety of lengths and a beginner kit ranges from $40 – $100. This Flybold slackline kit comes with everything you need to get started at a decent price point.

    Slacklining with kidsbackyard slackline for kids

    Benefits of slacklining

    Kids absolutely love slacklines – they incorporate so many of the things kids find fun: balance, falling, bouncing, physical challenge. Slacklining helps build their core strength and balance, improves focus and confidence and is a total body workout. It also get kids outside and keeps them active!

    • Develops balance
    • Improves core strength
    • Total body workout
    • Improves stability muscles
    • Rehabilitation and injury prevention
    • Improves focus
    • Develops coordination
    • Gets you outside

    Benefits of slacklining for kids

    Perfect for backyards

    Slacklining can be done anywhere, which is another reason why it is becoming so popular! All you need is a slackline and a couple of trees or posts. You can easily put up a slackline in your own backyard, at the park or on a camping trip. The slackline is tethered to two trees like a tightrope, but is flat, stretchy and bouncy. Most slacklines are very long, so you can ratchet the line to fit any distance. If you don’t have two trees, you can use posts or even purchase a portable slackline rack.

    How to teach your kids to slackline

    Tips for beginner slackliners:

    • Position the slackline very low to the ground so kids won’t get hurt if they fall off
    • Ratchet the slackline as tight as possible (although a little slack makes it easier to walk across)
    • Keep your eyes up and not looking down at your feet
    • Start by balancing on one leg at a time (count to 100 then switch)
    • Learn to balance on each foot before starting to walk
    • Go barefoot to help with grip
    • To minimize the bounce, have an adult sit on one end of the line

    slacklining with little kids

    Take it up a notch

    Surprising to me, there’s actually a lot of things you can do on a slackline. In addition to the obvious walking across it, you can balance on one foot, walk sideways, walk backwards, bounce on it, do turns, sit on it or jump onto it. My kids play games on the slackline (who can bounce the highest), they challenge each other and incorporate it into backyard obstacle courses they set up. The possibilities are endless. My kids also like to time each other and see who can walk across the fastest and who can balance on one leg the longest. Once children gain confidence on the slackline, they can try teaching themselves slackline stunts or raise the slackline higher, to make it harder to balance. 

    If you really want to up the ante, try adding a ninja ropes course slackline. This will help improve hand strength (great for helping little ones with writing), upper body strength, coordination and confidence.

    backyard slacklining

    Have you or your kids ever tried slacklining?