Can you imagine being inside your home for months and not even once getting the chance to go out and breathe some fresh air?
It would have felt impossible if humans worldwide hadn’t just recently spent their life living like this. Cooped up in their houses, anxious and waiting for the pandemic to be over.
Now that things are going back to normal (or new normal?), it is a great time to spend some quality time outdoors with our family.
What can be a better way than camping!
A camping experience is great for kids. They can learn so much from being in the great outdoors. Not to mention, the sensory learning experience can be so wonderful for young kids.
However, children tend to get bored quickly, so it can be quite overwhelming for parents to think of camping activities to indulge in to keep the kids entertained.
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Camping Activities for Kids
If you have kids of different ages, you will probably need a couple of activities throughout the day that appeals to them all. Remember that you are not just trying to keep the kids busy. This is your family time, and everybody, including the grownups, should get involved and have a good time.
There are a ton of family activities to try at camping. Here are some below:
Family Activities
Family camping means everyone is in it together. Plan most activities that will be fun for all age groups like:
- Scavenger Hunts:
A scavenger hunt is one activity that older children and young kids can enjoy together. Play it the traditional way or make it a nature scavenger hunt by preparing a list of things that mother nature has to offer like a lake, pine cones, etc. This can also be a fun way of collecting firewood for building a fire.
- RV Camping:
Not all kids are comfortable in the outdoors. Plenty of kids would be happier staying indoors. For such kids, a fun camping trip could be RV camping. It provides the comforts of home, but you still enjoy the pleasures of nature. Moving around in an RV and going to some far-off places can be a great camping trip. If you have family living in a different state or perhaps a place your children want to see in the US, plan a summer trip. There won’t even be any hassle of staying in hotels because of the RV.
- Board Games:
Board games are a super fun camping activity. Settle down on the ground and play your favorite board game to your heart’s desires. Choose games that are simple and friendly instead of competitive so that it can remain a fun game instead of turning into a dispute between siblings.
- Camping Charades:
Making up special camping games out of regular ones is a fun activity and makes the game more fun. Try camping charades by acting out things you might do on a camping trip and have the other team guess what they are doing. You can spend hours making up more fun games that will end with fits of laughter.
- Camping Olympics:
Camping Olympics is a fun thing to do with your family. Everybody divides up, and each individual represents their favorite country. Then, you can play whatever you want, volleyball, racing or running marathons, football, or see who can jump the highest. Depending on the kids’ ages, pick a mix of easy and difficult games, so everyone has a chance of winning. It can be an engaging family camping activity that can last the whole trip.
- Water Activities:
Pack an inflatable pool, balloons, and water guns for fun-filled water activities. You can even have a water fight. This can be a great activity for summer for everyone to cool down.
Camping Activities for Older Kids
It is essential to ensure that all kids are engaging in fun activities. However, it doesn’t mean that kids have to be doing something physical all day. Camping is a great way to destress especially older kids who are busy with school all year and have little time to catch a break.
- Hiking Trails:
If you decide to go set up camp at a national park, there are plenty of designated hiking trails that you can go on with your kids. Younger children need not participate in this activity since hikes can be long and tiring. It is a very effective camping activity if you want to spend time with your older kids.
- Scary Stories:
Who doesn’t love telling scary stories sitting around the campfire enjoying some smores? Get creative with your children once the younger lot sleeps and enjoy making up scary stories while surrounded by the deep dark woods.
Camping Activities for Younger Kids:
Many young kids can entertain themselves. They are curious by nature, so most kids love the outdoors and spending time in the open air. While you have to make the older children get up and have fun with some physical activity, younger kids can jump around all day without sitting down for a minute. Here are some camping activities for younger kids that they will enjoy:
- Tent Camping:
Tent camping is a great outdoor activity for little kids. Their little bodies can easily fit inside with plenty of room, and you can snuggle up with them in a sleeping bag to read books, tell fun stories or play a card game.
- Glow Sticks:
Night in the woods can be scary for younger children. Make them comfortable by bringing glow sticks and letting them have fun with them. You can look up lots of fun camping games to play with glow sticks to create your own.
- Camping Craft:
Young kids love to do camping crafts. Find things around you and try to create something with them. Make a hedgehog out of leaves, paint some rocks, or draw something on the ground using sticks. The world is your oyster.
To Sum It Up
Keeping kids engaged on an outing can be pretty challenging. Especially if all the kids are of different ages, and you have to keep that family camping trip vibe going strong.
Remember that while you plan to make everything fun for the kids, don’t forget to include yourself in all the fun.