Going to camping is always fun for the whole family but it can sometimes become boring especially if you have young children with you. This way children are engaged in outdoor activities which results to their interest being retained and the experience made memorable. In this article we will provide you with some useful tips regarding camping and some entertaining activities that you and your children can perform in this trip.
Scavenger Hunt Nature Based Game
Scavenger hunt is one of the most well-known children’s activities that can be held in any park. You can easily make a list of those items that are easily available in the surrounding such as different type of leaves, flowers, stones or beetles etc. Take this list and explain to the children to search for all these items. This activity will make them occupied, at the same time giving them a channel through which they will be able to learn something new about the surrounding natural environment. If u go camping with kids must read for safety tips.
Nature Crafts
Nature crafts are among the various constructive techniques of keeping Children entertained. Perhaps one can allow the children to pick things from nature such as leaves, sticks and flowers and then challenge them to make stuff out of those items. Some of the activities that children can carry out include making of leaf rubbings, making of flower crowns or making stick houses. It also promotes the develop of creativity by the participants and fascinates their perception that they are closer to nature.
Storytelling Around the Campfire
Whether it is listening or reciting stories from a fire, most everyone loves this tradition up to this generation. These, if possible, become even more special for children when they get an opportunity to write their own narratives. Subject for children’s creativity can be a particular subject or an idea like ‘A Night in the Jungle’. It does not only help expand the imagination of the child but also forms a closer relationship between the child and the family. To know more about camping with kids please visit.
Star Gazing
Camping sites are usually in door to door areas and there is minimal light at night hence observing the stars in the sky can be very interesting. Encourage children to go out and night and try and point out some of the basic stars or constellations or planets. It also helps to use a star chart or the relevant application for this type of activity to be as exciting as possible. Besides, it is useful to stimulate their knowledge and at the same time, let them look at the nature from a different angle.
Camping with kids Outdoor Games
It is fun playing games outside especially when you are in a camping ground and the children are energetic. You can engage in normal kids exercises that include hide and seek, tag, or even frisbee. If you have some space and resources available, it is possible to arrange a ‘mini’ treasure hunt or an ‘obstacle course’. Apart from being recreational activities, these games help developments of children’s health, agility and team-building abilities.
Fishing or Rock Skipping
This can be fishing, rock skipping if your camping site is near a river or Lake respectively. I believe fishing is interesting and enjoyable activity through which children can learn how to be patient. HOw ever Rock skipping is also an enjoyable games that are helpful in the development of the children’s coordination and their ability to concentrate.
Bird Watching
This shows that bird watching is like any other standard pastime activity that can be able to help educate and entertain those people who would prefer that kind of activity. Relatively simple bird spotting can be done with the help of binoculars and a brochure containing information on different kinds of birds to which one can attract children’s attention to birds living around them. Children must be allowed to watch different species of birds, their colouration and the sounds they make. This enhances thier observation skills and make them have a special feeling for the natural environment.
Nature Walks and Hikes
Nature walks and hikes are good types of outdoor activities that can be carried out for children. Fear not, there are plenty of options of trails that you can take and if the ones below do not suit you, you can always opt for a shorter and less strenuous trail. The two of them went for a walk and throughout the walk, they discussed more of development of plant, insects and wild life. Such activity make them curious and offer them with chances to learn something new about nature.
Campfire Cooking
Cooking in general around a fire can be a good way of passing time when one is in the outdoors. With children you can toast the marshmallows, or prepare s’mores. If adventurous, one can assist in preparation of easy campfire recipes for example the foil packet meals of even camp fire- pizza. This means that they have understood the elementary tasks of cooking and the final output that is the food that they prepare is there for them to taste.
Photography
If your child is a bit older then photography is perfect as an activity that your child can enjoy while Camping. To depict nature, you can appeal to them to capture images using a simple camera or their smart phones. They will know how to look at their environment in a novel perspective while their creativity will also improve. You can also inform them that they have to make some photo journal where they can record their camping trip.
Nature Journaling
Nature journaling can be defined as art of writing or sketching what one sees or experiences at a given environment and it is an entertaining and informative form of activity that can be used to entertain children during camping. You can just give them a notebook and coloured pencils and tell them to write or draw whatever they feel like about the event, observations, thoughts, etc. They can also draw what they see or write about the things in their surrounding such as plants, animals or insects. It helps develop their exterior observation and they have a feeling of intimacy with the environment.
Building Forts or Shelters
Forts or shelters construction can be fun and engaging to children but can be built in many unique and creative ways. You can suggest to them to give dry branches, leaves and any other natural products to build a shelter or a house of cards for the little one. It helps in improving their handling of problems and also they have the fun of having worked with their mates. They will also learn when they complete their fort they will be very happy and this will boost their morale.
Nature-Themed Arts and Crafts
While on a camping trip, you can co-ordinate nature-oriented art and craft exercises which is a wonderful method to discover children’s creative abilities. You can manage to teach them to make Nature prints where they paint a leaf or a flower and transfer its print on paper. Besides this, you can motivate the child paint on the pinecones or rocks, for instance, the named arts. These activities will also manage to occupy them and at the same time stimulate their imagination and creativity.
Conclusion
It is not easy to entertain children during camping but when you involve them in certain activity, they will have fun as well as a great outing. By so doing you not only make them fun filled but you also allow them to interact with nature, learn new skills as well as foster family togetherness. That is why I highly recommend these activities in the next camping trip and such time will be so fruitful and memorable for the children.