tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8310549977743467565.post3748066648307092485..comments2023-10-15T00:34:28.064-07:00Comments on The Village: Camping with ChildrenUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8310549977743467565.post-23439683596489805522010-07-26T10:40:07.159-07:002010-07-26T10:40:07.159-07:00We just got home from camping and we had a blast, ...We just got home from camping and we had a blast, but it is quite different with little kids! Make sure little people understand about staying away from the fire; we had issues with my son wanting to "help" put wood in the fire. Also, make sure you have something that they can do! It seemed like we were always telling Lucas no until we found a couple of things that he could do.Meganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12187035189911769457noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8310549977743467565.post-30657632948025652122010-07-20T09:35:43.198-07:002010-07-20T09:35:43.198-07:00Plan for transitions. It will take time to set up...Plan for transitions. It will take time to set up and take down camp, and your children will want to help (and get in the way), or they will see it as an opportunity to escape (the little con artists!). It's helpful to have an established activity for small children to do while you are working on other things. Of course older children who can help should, but younger children need something to keep them busy during the transition times. If it's cool and your car came with a DVD player, maybe that would be a great time for a movie. Or they sell these non-spillable bubble buckets at Walmart for a few bucks. Toddlers can stick their wand in and blow bubbles all by themselves without spilling the bubbles. I'm sure others have ideas for these somewhat difficult times. But if you have a plan, then you won't get caught unaware and get stressed out right at the beginning or end of your trip!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8310549977743467565.post-88421719001781017562010-07-17T06:34:38.704-07:002010-07-17T06:34:38.704-07:00We love to camp with our kids. I have a 4 1/2 yea...We love to camp with our kids. I have a 4 1/2 year old and a 14 month old. We've been camping with the kids since my oldest was 6 months old. The first few campouts when they are just babies are so nice to do close to home. We live near mountains and canyons, so we can camp within 30 minutes of our home if we choose. It's nice to do a trial run close enough that if you absolutely hate it, you can leave your stuff in the night and just go home to the beds to sleep, then come back and get your gear in the morning. Also, pack winter hats to put on the kiddos for the night. It makes an amazing difference on whether they stay warm since we lose so much heat through the tops of our heads. My kids won't go to sleep with them on, but I'll stick them on their heads after they've fallen asleep. <br /><br />I also sleep with my youngest kids'(I'm talking babies, here) change of clothes, a diaper, and the portable wipes pack in my sleeping bag. I know it sounds silly, but it's easier to get them dressed with warm clothes and who wants an icy wet-wipe on their bum on a cold morning? Little gloves are nice for the kids for first thing in the morning, too.<br /><br />I agree with Tannie that pants are essential for crawlers and young walkers. They get so dirty anyway, but they always seem to spend more time on the ground among the dirt and rocks than you would imagine possible. <br /><br />We also pack special treats that we don't usually get--capri suns for the kids to drink instead of just water, frozen fun-size Kit-Kat bars to use as rewards for finishing a warm hike, and some other fun snack.<br /><br />Keep dinners simple. I've made homemade rice-a-roni from an online blog ahead of time and then just warmed it up with a little water. We do tinfoil dinners, but have all the stuff prepared ahead of time (including parboiling the carrots and potatoes so they are done at the same time as the meat. That helps you avoid undercooked veggies and burnt meat) so it's just a matter of throwing it together and putting it in the fire. If you like Hamburger Helper, they make simple camping meals. We also like to take stew and warm it up. The key--try to do the preparation at home and minimize your cooking time at the campsite. <br /><br />It's so much fun, but a bit of work. Once you have all the gear, it makes for cheap vacations in beautiful areas. Don't stop after your first try--it takes a while to get it down!Heatherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10524711255960254441noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8310549977743467565.post-89443055587857915262010-07-15T20:43:24.597-07:002010-07-15T20:43:24.597-07:00This was REALLY helpful. I am really hesitant to c...This was REALLY helpful. I am really hesitant to camp with my kids when they are under 2 or 3 but these tips help me feel a bit more at ease about the idea. Thanks!Jared and Deliahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08091298654305263506noreply@blogger.com