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Author: Edmundo Aldrich

With the dawn of the new electronic age, the new generation remains glued to television and computer screens with bright lights and deafening music that has made them lose touch with the outside world. Breaking the unhealthy hold that the electronic media has on them is not easy, but a camping trip may prove to be just the answer. An outdoor vacation is also an opportunity to spend some quality time with your family in a setting that is more exciting than the everyday environment of your home. Camping will also help in keeping their minds and bodies healthy and challenged. Finally, it will expose them to the many hidden thrills of nature.

Camping can be fun for all age groups, from toddlers to young children and from teens to adults. Toddlers instinctively love the outdoors and can be carried along by family members in a backpack designed to carry children comfortably on long hikes. Teenagers can enjoy the challenges that a tough hike would present. When you consider the boundless energy of children, you would think they are far more likely to enjoy camping than adults.

Camping is not just about pitching a tent and sleeping. There are various activities that can be included to make camping fun. Keep the experience fun by selecting activities which are best suited to your children. It wouldn’t make any sense to take a sedentary, out-of-shape child on a strenuous day hike up Half Peak, knowing full well the child will be exhausted a quarter of the way up. Age-appropriate activities will make the experience fun for everyone within the group, particularly the children.

The members of your family might not be as enthusiastic about camping as you are, particularly if they are hesitant about unplugging their electronic devices. You can slowly prepare them for this by spending more time engaged in outdoor activities. Go on some walks together or plant a family garden. This will get your kids ready to participate in new activities.

If you ask your children to participate in the preparation for the trip, they are more likely to have fun when it comes time to go camping and consider the trip their own. You can ask them what they would like to do during their camping adventure. Give them suggestions about activities that are available when camping and ask them what they find interesting. Their choice of activities will dictate the location of your camping site. It is better to mutually discuss and come to an agreement on the site location. They will be even more enthusiastic about the experience if they had a hand in choosing the location.

Children are often uncomfortable in new environments; this is an aspect of camping that you should be prepared for. Carry their favorite toys with you as this will be a comforting security blanket, offering them a sense of familiarity even in the new surroundings. In addition, give each of them a flashlight to help them cope with the darkness. Depending on where you live and where you are camping, it may be much darker out in nature than at home, so a flashlight will act as a nightlight in unfamiliar surroundings.

Try to build in activities you know your children will enjoy. Since weather is unpredictable, it is wise to carry small games or a deck of cards to keep children entertained in case of sudden showers. Their favorite food or special treats will also keep them in a good mood during the trip.

These camping days are going to be some of the treasured moments of your child's life, so help them create and keep special mementos of the trip. Give them each a disposable camera so they can take some pictures from their persepctive of the experience. Encourage them to snap some photos of anything that holds their interest, and put them in a scrapbook to commemorate the experience later.

A lot of effort goes into preparing for a camping experience. To make the trip a fun event for the children, organize enjoyable activities for them to keep them engaged and entertained. However, please do not turn a potentially fun family outing into a strict, time-bound military exercise. Camping is all about the experience, so keep your children entertained by involving them with the simple tasks, such as cooking dinner or setting up the tent together. Also enjoy exploring the surroundings with your kids.

While you don't want to leash your children to the nearest tree, you need to keep them safe. Unfamiliarity with the place may give rise to several dangerous scenarios. Don’t leave your children unattended around fire or water. Don't hover over your children, though. Once they know the rules, let them play. Allow them to get dirty and have some good, clean fun. Just be sure they know the boundaries of the campsite so they know how far they can safely go.

Despite their addiction to the TV and computer, you will be surprised to know that many kids take to outdoor events like a duck to water once they are introduced to them. It is essential, however, that you plan the event right so that they are able to enjoy the trip. Your kids will never forget the experiences they have with you in the great outdoors, and you will have your own memories to last a lifetime.