We have enjoyed the last 4yrs camping with our 2 boys. We have a 2yr old & a 4yr old. They have both been camping since about 2 months old. We love it and they love it even more. Just tonight my oldest was begging to go camping next weekend so I will be reserving a site tonight.
Like "Gezzer" said, let them enjoy themselves, let them explore, get dirty and just enjoy them. Also, with being new to camping, don't get frustrated! Setting up can be tuff and take a while your first couple of times so just remember you are there to relax and take in nature.
Joe
2004 Prowler 25Z "Limited Edition"
1999 Ford Explorer 4.0 SOHC
3.73 gear, Tranny Cooler, Oil Cooler, Monroe Air Shocks, DrawTite Sway Control
Paul & Janie wrote: Old Boy Scout motto "Be Prepared"!
Yup, 100 years old last year and still the same motto.
We RV-camped with our kids from an early age (the youngest was 3 weeks old his first campout). We have plenty for them to do, in case of bad weather, but they don't really spend much time inside the camper.
2001 Silverado 2500HD LS CC/SB Duramax/Allison Indigo Blue
2004 Cedar Creek 31LBHBS 5er Our Team Rallies Attended: 3½
We camped as kids, and camped with our kids. Remember to relax and enjoy your time together. Keep an eye on your kids and let them have fun, they wash up. Just don't let them be annoying to the other campers, but let them have fun. They will come away with life long memories, and so will you.
You may need to adjust your definition of cleanliness. DD wasn't so bad, but DS was forever in the dirt. We washed him up a little at meal time and a good cleaning at bed time. In between, sometimes it is best to pretend you don't notice.
Do not let them feed wild animals, as they might get bitten. DD did. Had to call her doctor to inquire about rabies, etc.
Sometimes they don't like to settle down at bedtime. We found that one of us going to bed with them helped.
When DD was 3 she was getting bored on the hike. I tossed pennies ahead of her, telling her that the aspen trees were money trees. Her little hands could only hold a few pennies, so she asked me to hold them for her. Three year olds can't count very well. A dozen pennies will last forever.
DS is now 25 and DD is 27. So I figured anything that I could remember was of some nominal value.
Wayne in San Jose
TV1:2002 Chevy 1500HD 4wd Crew Cab,Valley Odyssey brake ctlr,McKesh mirrors
TV2:2008 GMC 2500HD long bed 4wd Crew Cab,GMC brake ctlr,GMC mirrors
TT:Trailmanor 2720
Honda 2000
Yamaha WR250R,Polaris Sportsman 700 X2,Polaris Scrambler 500
We bought our trailer just before our DD turned two, she will be six this summer. They will be dirty the entire time you are camping, it is just a fact of life. A portable DVD player in the evening and a kids movie is a great recipe to get them to unwind and fall asleep. Take four to five times the amount of clothes that they would normally go thru. You may not need them, but it is nice to have them. Have a well stocked first aid kit, and know how to use it. There will be all kinds of scratches and minor cuts. We also keep childrens tylenol, a decongestant, and benadryl in the trailer all the time.
Do you have any friends or coworkers that have kids and camp? We now have a group of six or seven familes that go out at least every two months for a weekend. The kids range in age from three to thirteen. The older ones can help keep and eye on the younger ones.
That's just about when we started. The youngest is about to graduate college, and I have not a single moment of regret. The family grew together, traveled together, learned together. Hints. Keep your travel time down. A great part of the vacation is the travel. Stop at all those little towns. See the local museums. Some are really great. Stop at all the rest stops to sightsee. Make the travel part as much fun as the destination. For the older one, get a simple photo album and keep a scrapbook of the travels. Collect the free brochures, tickets from museums, etc. Talk about what was collected every evening to re-enforce the fun time of the day. Everything is replaceable. Things break. Things get lost. Things get spilled in the confines of a motorhome. So what! Your together and having the time of your lives. Happy Trails.
b uy some rubber rain boots, it will save your shoes!! Trust me on that. We started when our kids were 2 and three. I used to throw them in the trailer tub together, and bought them special Nemo bubble bath.
Also, get some bait nets, and some containers for catching pollywogs, frogs and bugs and such. and remind them at the end of the day the critters miss their moms and dads and need to be set free.
Another poster suggested games and puzzles, try the dollar store for some nice easy puzzles.
Another tip is to get some "camping clothes", from garage sales and such.
We once went camping on a wet weekend and I overheard parents complaining the kids had ruined their new clothes. Also pack a small laundry detergent just in case, and LOTS of quarters for laundry and the game room. I always kept some easy mac and cheese or something in case the kids didnt like what we were having to eat, or the hot dogs got too black
We dont get all upset if the kids track in some ud. we have a broom, and can sweep it out...I'd rather have fun in the trailer, and worry about scrubbing the floor when we get home.
You might want to get some small fishing poles as many of the campgrounds have a pond or lake. Also, outside toys like a stomp rocket (here is a link)
will keep them occupied for hours. sometimes we get the whole campground of kids, politely lined up to get a turn at the stomp rocket (there is also a junior one)
if you do garage sale, look for some coast guard certified lifejackets...you may get to invited on a boat ride, or just want to put them on the kids for swimming.
Some good games are scrabble jr, cards (you can start teaching the older child rummy) candyland and checkers.
Also, a rubber playground ball is a good thing to have, and some glow necklaces from the dollar tree.
Ours twins are now 16 years old. We started tent camping when they were 6 months. We did not take electronics. Let them use camping to de"fry" their brains. There are plenty of things to see and do. We've been in an RV since they were 7 or so. Do keep some toys and games just for the camper.
Even though my kids are now 25 and 27, I like to fill any remaining space in the freezer with Otter Pops. They won't make a mess if they melt and they are a refreshing treat on a hot day. Yes, I know they are just colored water with sugar, but I still like them.
The glow in the dark sticks are a good game for after dark, to play catch. If you are at a lake, take it to the boat dock after dark and experiment with lowering it on a string to see have far you can lower it before you can no longer see it. A little hands on science can be fun.
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