The thought of camping with kids can be terrifying. Will they sleep? Will they wake with the sun at 4am? What will I do if they wake the whole campsite up? What happens if it rains? How will I deal with wet clothes and mud? How do I stop them getting bored? What will they do without the TV or a tablet to entertain them? It can sound like hard work but there are some great reasons to take your kids camping.
Like everything that involves children, especially young children, there is a certain amount of stress involved. I am not going to lie to you! You might struggle on your first trip while you are still figuring everything out and maybe what equipment you need to make life easier too. Don’t let it put you off though. The more you do it, the easier it becomes (you can read my top tips for camping with kids here). You will have a great time (unless you have tried camping and already decided it really isn’t for you) and there are lots of reasons to try it with kids in tow.
1.They Love It
Top of my reasons to take kids camping list – because they love it. It’s an adventure. The road trip, the sleeping in a tent, the staying up late, the freedom, the campfire, the marshmallows… Its different and it’s exciting. They get to play with their friends for hours, days sometimes or meet new ones. They have fun and learn new skills. As parents we all know that heartwarming feeling of seeing your kids in their element.
2. They get to Spend Lots of Time Outdoors and in Nature.
Babies and young toddlers, get to experience things that they may not have ever experienced before. There is a whole world that they are able to explore with all of their senses when getting up close and personal with nature. There are all sorts of sites and sounds that they might not have had exposure to at home. Your chosen campsite might also have a pet chicken, or horses or an array of farm animals. These might not be things they have seen or interacted with before.
For older kids it might be that they get to see a thousand stars in the dark sky, go wild swimming or hear an owl twit twoo. Lots of campsites offer workshops and experiences for kids to take part in too.
Whatever their age, camping gives your kids the freedom to explore the area around you. Family friendly sites are a relativity safe way of allowing kids to play without being closely supervised at all times which gives them a feeling of independence. In today’s world, hours of time spent outside with freedom to roam especially in a natural area is a rare thing. Camping with your children, is a way to give them some of that time back which has so many benefits in its self.
3. It Builds a Connection to Nature
Today’s generation of kids are the most clued up on environmental issues. Global warming and climate change issues for example, were not things that were previously taught to kids. Awareness is obviously a good thing but at the same time, these kids are not spending time in nature. How can you care about something that you do not know? For kids who grow up in an urban environment, which is an ever growing number, it is particularly important that they spend time in nature to build that bond. Camping is a great way of fully immersing children in a natural environment.
4. It gets you Away from Everyday Life
Camping gets you away from your everyday routine. There is no work, no telly and often not much phone signal. There are minimal distractions. You spend time as a family, present and in the moment. Play games together, cook together, teach your child how to build a campfire or read stories around it. It’s great for family bonding. Even if it rains, you are more likely to remember cosying up in your tent together and entertaining yourselves than you are to remember an evening sitting around the television.
5. It’s Cheap
Ok, so the initial outlay may be quite expensive. Buying everything you need isn’t that cheap but once you have the main bits and a few extras to make sure you are comfortable, you are ready to go. You can add to your kit as and when from then if you need to. Once you have your gear, you only have the cost of your chosen campsites. They are usually a hell of a lot cheaper than an Air Bnb, B&B or hotel. Camping really opens up the opportunity to explore new places in an affordable way.
6. There are Health Benefits
Humans are designed to thrive in nature. It’s where we are made to live. So it is no surprise really that there are health benefits. Spending time in nature is proven to reduce stress and improves your mood but also it gives a little boost to you’re immune system. For you and your children! Its a time to slow down, take deep breaths, enjoy your green surroundings and feel great for it.
I’d love to know if you have any other reasons that you would add. Pop them in the comments below!