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Family Camping Kids Activities!
There are many types of family camping kids activities to consider when spending time in the great outdoors. Here is a list of some of the basics, along with any equipment/gear/supplies you might need:
Hiking/Walking - I think this goes without saying, really. But I have met families who camp together and have never thought of hiking to spend the time. Most family camping sites will have beautiful walks or hikes nearby – even those in paid campgrounds. Check out our pages on
family hiking
for things to consider. Always take along plenty of water and snacks (and your sun hats) – and don’t forget that you have to return just as far as you go.
Fishing - Our family isn’t big on fishing, but my dad was when I was little. I remember many family camping trips we spent on rivers or lakes. We got our kids a fishing rod (to share), because one of our camping partners loves to fish. It's become a favorite family camping kids activity.
Though we seldom camp too close to water (too many mosquitoes), it’s always within short driving distance. We’ll pack up some lunch, make sure we have all the gear, and drive to the river. This is one of those times when you’ll probably need your bug spray; I usually have my own fanny pack ready to go with bug spray, sun screen, and a small first aid kit. Most states don’t require kids under the age of ten or twelve to have a fishing license – but adults will need one if you want to keep the fish you catch. Be sure to look into that with your state’s parks and rec department before you leave.
Biking - This is my husband’s number one choice for a family camping activity – in fact, he’ll do it every chance he gets! Our son is finally getting old enough (and good enough on a bike) to go with him on easier trails. Check out our pages on
family mountain biking
to see how we encouraged and taught our son to participate in this activity. Whether or not Son D goes on the big trails with Daddy, he always brings his bike, helmet and gloves. We make sure there are areas where he can ride near the family camping site.
Sand Activities - We bring along buckets, shovels, water toys, etc for every family camping trip. The kids get incredibly dirty, but they have so much fun! We also have bug vacuums and little butterfly nets – as well as camp backpacks with tiny binoculars, plastic army knives, canteens, and so on. These are great family camping kids activities for those in-between times, when you don’t have hours to spend but need something to occupy the kids until the next big event. And don't forget family writing and journaling to complete the kiddos' recorded memories of their days.
Kids Crafts - Although we don’t always have time for this, I try to bring along at least one good craft, just in case. I make it something which can be done with minimal supplies (like glue or stickers). You can find these types of family camping kids activities at any craft store (such as Hobby Lobby or Michaels).
If you don’t mind buying in bulk, check out Discount School Supply, as well.
The pinwheels you see in the picture were fun, but they were also parent-labor-intensive. The kids loved them when they were finished; however, I won't try something that tough again until they're older. My kids crafts for this year will be small treasure boxes (which they can decorate with stickers and glitter glue) and small bags (for which I have fabric paint and plastic, stick-on gems).
Recreational Activities - There are many options for these – including baseball, Frisbee, football, or soccer. We bring along a bunch of balls in our tub, and the kids choose as they go. My husband loves darts, as well, so we have a kids’ dart board, as well as a real one. For quieter recreation, don't forget the camera (see our Family Photography page)!
Rainy Day Activities - Of course, no one wants it to rain when they’re family camping, but it does happen. We’ve even seen hail! Even if the forecast is for heat and sunshine, it doesn’t hurt to have a couple of rainy day family camping kids activities, just in case. My favorites are coloring books (with a small bag of crayons), puzzles (which we also keep in Ziploc bags), and
reading books
(our pages on Family Reading). Bring along picture books for younger kids, but also consider chapter books you can read aloud. If you’re interested, check out the link above where I discuss tons of books which I think are ‘discussion worthy’ and strong family books. Card games are also good choices for tent-time.
Nighttime Activities - Because our kids are still on the young side, we haven’t done a lot of nighttime family camping kids activities with them – but I have them ready to go. The easiest (and often one of the more exciting) activity is a night hike, especially if they get to wear their pajamas. You don’t have to go far, but when you reach a good outlook, turn off the flashlights and study the night sky together. I took astronomy in high school and college, so I managed to learn some of the constellations. But even if you don’t have any background in that, you can find star charts at any educational or book store. Also, if someone has a telescope, here’s another great chance to spend time learning together. Sitting around the camp fire and singing can be fun too. Most kids enjoy singing, and they’ll teach you some silly songs, if you don’t know any of your own.
One of the reasons I love
family camping
is the great variety in kids activities – and there’s no doubt that all this time spent playing together in the beautiful outdoors strengthens family bonds – and creates lasting memories.
We have some possible kids activities on our Family Fun Products page. Check it out for ideas!
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