Camping with kids can be a delightful adventure filled with unexpected moments. Here’s a lighthearted look at what you can anticipate when you hit the great outdoors with your little ones.
- Let’s be real: you’ll be lucky to snag about 1.7 hours of sleep each night.
- Even with a cushy foam camping mat, you’ll find yourself crammed into the 12-inch gap that isn’t covered, resting on a bed of rocks while the rest of the family enjoys a cozy slumber.
- Expect a smorgasbord of breakfast tacos, burgers, hot dogs, and sandwiches. Your kids will be living on tortilla chips and Nutella sandwiches, washing it down with juice boxes for two days straight.
- Your kids will revel in unprecedented outdoor play.
- When boredom strikes, you’ll encourage them to “explore!” and “find sticks!”—essentially turning nature into their personal scavenger hunt.
- You’ll make the trek to the bathroom about 84 times, or every five minutes.
- They’ll somehow manage to never go at the same time.
- You’ll have to teach them the art of peeing in the lake.
- And then in the woods.
- Your daughter will adamantly refuse to use the public restroom.
- Yet, she’ll have no qualms about dropping her pants just ten feet from your neighbor’s camper, calling for someone to help her out.
- Cue the “let’s talk about privacy” conversation, especially when your neighbors are clearly in view.
- “Stay away from the fire.”
- “You’re too close to the fire.”
- “Please don’t wave those lit sticks around.”
- Expect burn holes in your camping chairs.
- And likely in your favorite T-shirt too.
- You might let your kids stay up past their bedtime for the sake of camping—hello, s’mores and beer! (The beer’s for you.)
- They’ll repay your generosity by waking up at the crack of dawn.
- That dawn will arrive earlier than ever before.
- And you’ll be wide awake, thanks to your rocky sleeping arrangement and the fact that tents don’t come with blackout curtains.
- Soon enough, they’ll start whispering sweet nothings like “Where is everyone?” and “Can we make cinnamon rolls?”
- You’ll attempt to shush them but ultimately give in, realizing that you’re camping—welcome to Mother Nature!
- Where are all the shoes?
- “I CAN’T HOLD IT ANYMORE!”
- Between four families, you’ll have two electric skillets, one Crock-Pot, a griddle, 13 spatulas, eight rolls of toilet paper, 72 juice boxes, and—surprise—no coffeemaker.
- So, you’ll resort to chugging a Diet Pepsi.
- As you settle into a camping chair, sip your caffeine fix, and watch your kids dig in the dirt, you might finally relax.
- Until someone urgently needs to go potty again.
Camping with kids is a chaotic yet rewarding experience full of laughter and some eye-rolling moments. For more information on parenting and adventures, feel free to check out this other blog post or explore CDC’s excellent resources on pregnancy. If you’re looking for fertility tips, Make a Mom is also a great authority on the subject.
Summary:
Camping with kids is a fun-filled adventure that comes with its own set of challenges, from sleepless nights to unexpected bathroom breaks. But amidst the chaos, the joy of outdoor exploration and family bonding makes it all worthwhile.