I also have two girls one is 11, the other is 2 going on 25. LOL. We normally go to state parks as most of them have some type of play ground. We also look for places to camp that have zoo's or aquriums close by. Movies and toys are a must, as others have stated. Also bring a camera...that is probably the most over looked piece of gear. You never know when the kids are going to give you a kodak moment.
Enjoy the summer with the kids....
We bring a small baby pool or a sprinkler. There are many state parks that do not have places to cool off it is nice for the tots to play in near the camper. You can also use it as a tub if you have an outdoor shower.
All the suggestions above are great, I'll just add mine here as well--here is what we've used/learned:
-rubber boots and rain coats for rainy days are a must, they LOVE to play in the mud puddles after the rain stops. Your camping, let them get wet/dirty and take a camera to capture those moments, they love to look back at when they played in the water puddles
-rubber balls, trucks/tractors to play with in dirt
-Barbies/babies and strollers to push them around in.
-sand shovels and pails and sand toys..can be used at your site and at a beach.
-books - can be read out side by the fire and in the trailer-book reading helps them unwind as well.
-games-candy land, chutes and ladders, puzzles-buy these to keep in the trailer-saves time on repacking.
-blocks are good for the younger one too.
-coloring books, crayons, markers, plain paper.
-a small photo book or a baggie-take them hiking and pick up different colored leaves, pine cones, twigs, etc., stuff they find on the hike and can put them (leaves) in their book or baggie. Helps with the imagination.
-One poster above said to go garage saling and get 'camping' clothes. Someone suggested that to me when I started camping with my little ones. It was the BEST advise, as I have a little boy where dirt finds him. He has ruined many of those camping clothes with mud stains, I do my best to get out what I can, wash them, and put them back in the camper as dirt continues to find him..saves money thats for sure. Always over pack and for different seasons with kids-you just never know how often they'll get wet/dirty or how drastically the weather can change.
-Have wipes on hand in a container for outside use or for cleaning them down at night.
- We do have a portable DVD player, however, they are only using it at night and thats if books doesn't help them unwind.
Most of all, have fun, relax and enjoy every single moment!
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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.
I have one friend that camps, but we haven't been camping together yet. She has two young children also. I would love to find more families to camp with.
Middle Tennessee has dozens of Corp of Engineer and State parks within a few miles. Each holds a unique experience for children and adults alike. Be cautious near the water and enjoy your summer. Slow down and let the wonders of nature and parenting unfold. Let the kids be kids, grab the camera and get ready for something special.
Our favorite places are Defeated Creek near Carthage, Fall Creek Falls near Spencer, and Townsend on the backside of the Smokies. When in the Smokies we never go near Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge... we keep all our travel and adventures in the park, away from the tourist/money traps of town.
Try staying at the Cades Cove campground in the spring (before it gets too hot). There are no electric or water connections and generators are not allow at night in any of the park campgrounds. It is great! Just the sound of campfires, children playing, crickets, and frogs.
Vols lady, you are in for some really special times with your girls. Give them a couple of spoons and a cup to play in the dirt and you're set. But, like some have said earlier, have things in the camper that they can do, coloring, blocks, dolls, what ever they play with at home. You will make memories that those babies will carry with them all their lives. Enjoy
We had a wagon for the kids to ride in. Ours was a light weight collapsible one from step two. It was plastic and the wheels could be tucked under for transportation. The wagon was great for hauling the kids, cooler, water toys... A few times we even folded the wheels under and filled it up with water and used it as a little pool. Worked great for entertaining the little one. We also had a folding booster seat, which came with a tray and safety straps. We would strap the seat to a lawn chair or into the wagon ..OH, and lots of empty Peanut butter jars..to collect lighting bugs, frogs, sea shells, the sky's the limit... Happy Camping.
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