I have so many memories of camping with my family as a child. Memories of cooking Rice-A-Roni and Mac & Cheese (truly!) on a Coleman stove, fishing on the lake, coloring rocks…. When the hubby and I got married, the closest we got to camping was backpacking Europe. As a side note, I’d much rather pitch a tent than sleep in some of the hostels we stayed at. Once we had children, we shied away from the idea, thinking it would be too difficult. But both of us have not been able to stifle that desire to experience the outdoors with our children.
This weekend, we ventured out to do something most parents wouldn’t even consider given the ages of our children…we camped…in a tent…in the middle of the Sierras. And the kids loved every single minute of it. In fact, because we were prudent and didn’t plan to camp the entire time, we stayed in a hotel for the last leg of our trip. My son, however, wanted to continue our camping adventure!
I have to admit that it would have been effortless to pack our children up in the car, check into a hotel, and lounge by the pool all weekend. But my husband and I absolutely love the outdoors. And, you can’t go to Mammoth without camping, hiking, and exploring all the beauty of this place.
Even if you have small children (ours are 4 and 1 1/2), camping is not only feasible, it’s fun! Here are some of my tips for camping with small children.
1. Do your homework. Camping requires a little more preparation and thought. Research the area you’re planning on camping in and determine what amenities your family requires. Most campsites cater to all types of people from wilderness backpackers to trailer toting road warriors. Also take note of the weather conditions during the time of year you plan to visit.
2. Gear up. If you’ve never camped, I highly recommend visiting Planet Explore for a list of recommended camping essentials. In essence, you’ll need a tent, sleeping bags/air mattress, portable stove and cooking essentials, lantern/flashlight with batteries, fire wood (especially if you’re arriving late and won’t have time to find any at the campsite), emergency items (i.e. rain gear, first aid kit, etc.). Be sure to bring some comfort items and activities for the children. If they’re like my kids, they’ll likely be excited but it’s a good idea to have distractions should boredom or restlessness set in.
Speaking of tents, there are numerous types and they come in all shapes and sizes. Because we have two small children, we were camped in a 6-person tent. At just 13 pounds, The North Face’s Meadowland tent was easy to transport, spacious and comfortable for the four of us. We brought a king-sized air mattress with us and it fit comfortably along with our bags. My husband, being the boy scout that he is, pitched the tent unassisted in a short amount of time (the color-coded poles make it very easy to set up). One of his tips is to bring a plastic tarp to put down before pitching the tent to keep the bottom of it clean and dry. The tent also comes with a rain cover which helps with morning moisture and acts as a wind break.
3. Try it on for size. If this is your first time camping with your children, why not pitch a tent in the back yard to see how your children react to a night outdoors. This will help prepare your children for their first camping adventure and help you anticipate how your children will react. A practice run also assists in ensuring you have everything you need and you understand how it works. This is also a good opportunity to begin reinforcing the importance of having children stay close and not wandering off.
4. Safety first. Even if you’ve never visited the proposed destination, it’s a good idea to do some research about the types of situations you could encounter. For instance, are bears, mountain lions, snakes, or other wildlife prevalent in the area? Do temperatures drop drastically at night? Take note of the fact that you may be camping in an area without cellular reception. Ensure you have an emergency plan in place for the unexpected. For your first trip, you may opt to camp closer to a town or city.
5. Be flexible. Children get tired, hungry, and bored and aren’t cognizant of our schedules. Plan for rest stops, bring plenty of snacks, and listen to your children’s cues.
6. Have fun. Involve your children with tent and camp set-up, sing songs around the campfire, eat s’mores, and admire the beauty of the outdoors.
We are already planning our next camping adventure! My husband’s thought was to camp at one of our local beaches but I’d really like to do another wilderness-type adventure with the kids.
Have you ever camped with small children? What tips would you add?
No compensation was received for this post. The North Face provided a tent, Mammoth Lakes Tourism provided the campsite, Ford provided a vehicle loan.
- Discover Luxury at Sonesta Irvine: Your Ideal Staycation - August 8, 2024
- CHOC Walk Returns to the Disneyland Resort – Special Events and Ways to Support - June 28, 2023
- Beastly Ball Returns to the Los Angeles Zoo - May 8, 2023
YAY for camping. It is so much fun! We have only camped once with the girls and it was at Tombstone. It was a blast.