First time camping with kids? Q & A thread

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Plastic tote for clothes, one for each person. this prevents clothes from getting damp, very necessary if you're camping at the beach. We even bought a cheap small tent for storage and getting changed.

On one of our earlier camping trips, the boys emptied all of their clean clothes across the floor of their tent on day one and then all the clean clothes miraculously became dirty clothes. Now I pack their outfits in individual gallon ziplock baggies and throw all the baggies into a big ikea tote bag. When they're ready to change, they grab a baggie with their clean clothes and dirty clothes just go in the ikea bag. Usually I have another bag with just socks since they'll usually go through more than 1 per day. I save off the baggies to reuse but they're also good for storing other random things like the latest additions to the rock collection as the need arises.

If you're going to be swimming, bring a rope or strap to tie between trees to hang swim suits and towels to dry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Reviving this oldish thread to ask a question about camping with littles.

Last year my wife and I went camping for the first time for each of us. We also took our kids (now 6 and 4). We went on a couple of 2 night trips to primitive sites and my wife and kids loved it. It's a mixed bag for me, primarily because I end up doing all the labor (setting up, starting the fire, hauling supplies, etc), but that's a different story.

The kids want to go again this year, but for longer trips. I imagine 4 nights would be the max. My question is what kind of activities do ya'll recommend to fill the days?

During our trips we did hike, play in the water, visited a couple of sites near Natural Bridge, but just curious if there's anything else we may want to think about doing around the campsite that can be somewhat low-key. I found our schedule to be pretty packed and not relaxing at all and I don't want to come back even more exhausted than the last couple of trips.

If on beach bring enough sand toys to keep them entertained (maybe even small inflatable pool), go crab hunting at night or do activity around stars.
If on primitive site in woods read up on flora and fauna and go on scavenger hunt to identify things you find, take some twine or rope and make a teepee so they can play in their fort, hiking and campfire
Less primitive locations bring scooters or bikes and go for a ride around the campground
Find something historical to visit within 30 minute drive or so and go visit.
Kids love to help. Plan ahead and give yourself more time for fire and meal prep and let them help collect firewood or teach them how to make a fire. For cooking pick a meal that might be fun for them to make...foil pouch meal or maybe they help make a foil pouch dessert you throw on coals
Read a book around the fireplace

Just be present and off your phone and limit devices and try to enjoy spending time with them before they go off to college!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Reviving this oldish thread to ask a question about camping with littles.

Last year my wife and I went camping for the first time for each of us. We also took our kids (now 6 and 4). We went on a couple of 2 night trips to primitive sites and my wife and kids loved it. It's a mixed bag for me, primarily because I end up doing all the labor (setting up, starting the fire, hauling supplies, etc), but that's a different story.

The kids want to go again this year, but for longer trips. I imagine 4 nights would be the max. My question is what kind of activities do ya'll recommend to fill the days?

During our trips we did hike, play in the water, visited a couple of sites near Natural Bridge, but just curious if there's anything else we may want to think about doing around the campsite that can be somewhat low-key. I found our schedule to be pretty packed and not relaxing at all and I don't want to come back even more exhausted than the last couple of trips.

You might enjoy a state park with some activities available. Some of the parks around here have swimming beaches, kayak rental, nature centers. You also park next to your campsite, so hauling stuff is minimal. Agree that down time is also really important. Board games and books. We set up hammocks, drink tea (or beer), just chill out for the afternoon. That's a bit trickier with a 4 year old, but maybe you could plug the kids into an audiobook for an hour or so each day in the afternoon? Let them chill out in the tent by themselves, or share a hammock, and you and your wife can just relax. (My youngest is in middle school, so I may be forgetting what realities with a four year old look like.)

[Anonymous]

We always bring crocs to change into at the campsite. Since we have that no shoes in the tent rule, but go in and out of tent all the time, the crocs make it so so easy to slip on and off.

[Anonymous]

I think a camp stove is invaluable. It can make all our food if we don't feel like a fire or its just taking too long. Its especially great for making coffee and boiling water first thing in the morning. My favorite camping dinner for kids is tacos. You just have to brown the meat and bring all your toppings already cut up. We're headed camping soon and I'm also going to make a batch of chili in advance then we just need to reheat for dinner on the first night. We always do bacon and eggs for one breakfast and the other is normally just oatmeal and fruit.

Also make sure you show your kids around the campsite when you get there. The last time we went we had an issue with a 9 year old who got lost coming back from the bathroom. She just got turned around and on the wrong loop but it was a good reminder to show kids around and make sure they know your site number.

We also do glow necklaces etc. for the kids at night to see them as they roam around.

[Anonymous]

We're pretty low key campers, but I LOVE to bring my dustbuster (cordless small vacuum) with us. It's just perfect for making sure the inside of the tent stays dirt free. A small broom works too, but I like the dustbuster...

We always cook mountain pies one night and the other night we cook chicken, veggies and seasoning in a foil. Each person has their own foil.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:None of this sounds fun.

Lol +1

I'm with you PPs. I'm stressed out just reading this thread. Camping sounds like so much packing and so much work. It sounds like you have to truly love the wilderness to do it. I wonder if the same people who love camping are the ones who can't figure out what people do for a week at the beach.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here.

Mosquito repellent -- I don't use any. I'm a bit immune, I think. Also, since they are really most active at dusk, a pair of socks and long pants are probably a better bet than a repellent product, especially if you are concerned about washing it off of kids.

Alas the mosquitoes love me and bite through my clothes! I may have to go with full-on DEET next time.

Me too!! No wonder OP loves camping!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think a camp stove is invaluable. It can make all our food if we don't feel like a fire or its just taking too long. Its especially great for making coffee and boiling water first thing in the morning. My favorite camping dinner for kids is tacos. You just have to brown the meat and bring all your toppings already cut up. We're headed camping soon and I'm also going to make a batch of chili in advance then we just need to reheat for dinner on the first night. We always do bacon and eggs for one breakfast and the other is normally just oatmeal and fruit.

Also make sure you show your kids around the campsite when you get there. The last time we went we had an issue with a 9 year old who got lost coming back from the bathroom. She just got turned around and on the wrong loop but it was a good reminder to show kids around and make sure they know your site number.

We also do glow necklaces etc. for the kids at night to see them as they roam around.

Thanks a lot for the advice. Now I want to go with my kids to camp somwhere but I don't know where.

Can you advise some places?

I've taken my kids since they were 4 and 6. My favorite places:

Cunningham falls state park

Cape Henlopen state park

[Anonymous]

What's up with the no shoes in the tent and the dust vac? I don't get it. What's the harm of a little dirt? (sure, not on the sleeping bag or pad)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:1. No shoes in the tent.
2. No shoes in the tent.
3. No shoes in the tent.

When our kids were small, we’d bring a length of brightly colored rope to make a warning circle on the ground around the fire pit. It helped us not spend the whole weekend saying “You’re too close to the fire.”

Amen to the no shoes in the tent. We put a little mat/rug in front of our tent door.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What's up with the no shoes in the tent and the dust vac? I don't get it. What's the harm of a little dirt? (sure, not on the sleeping bag or pad)

It’s nice to keep sleeping quarters clean. Personal preference.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What's up with the no shoes in the tent and the dust vac? I don't get it. What's the harm of a little dirt? (sure, not on the sleeping bag or pad)

Because once it gets in the tent, it invariably gets on/in the sleeping bag?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What's up with the no shoes in the tent and the dust vac? I don't get it. What's the harm of a little dirt? (sure, not on the sleeping bag or pad)

Because the constant friction of all that grit lowers the life of your tent, and can result in a hole/worn spot, which means leaking. Because I don’t want dirt and bugs in my sleeping bag. Because I want to keep my clean clothes clean. Because it makes packing up so much easier if you don’t have to empty out a gravel pit from inside the tent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's up with the no shoes in the tent and the dust vac? I don't get it. What's the harm of a little dirt? (sure, not on the sleeping bag or pad)

It’s nice to keep sleeping quarters clean. Personal preference.

Correct. Standard protocol for even regular campers. Who wants dirt all through the tent? Dust buster is a bit much, but we always leave our shoes outside of the tent