How do you get a child to be excited about the outdoors when the competition is the television and video games? How do you prove to a child that the same success that comes from the persistence, spirit and logic put into video games and pushing buttons can also come from the outdoors? The following tips may be helpful and will go a long way in creating a positive lasting relationship with your child.
Camping trips with children should be to places where there is a guarantee of action. A good example is camping in a park where large numbers of wildlife can be viewed, such as squirrels, chipmunks, deer and even bears. Other good choices are fishing, canoeing, swimming, etc. Children want action, not solitude
Remember that enthusiasm is contagious. If you aren't excited about an adventure, you can't expect a child to be. Show a genuine zest for life in the outdoors, and point out everything as if it is the first time you have ever seen it.
Always, always, always be seated when talking to someone small. Not only does this allow you to see eye to eye with the child it allows you to visually see the world from the child’s prospective. Fishing in a small boat is a perfect leveling activity for adults and children. No one likes others to look down at them.
Children learn behavior patterns and outdoor skills by watching adults, even when the adults are not aware they are being watched. Therefore, whether it is gathering sticks for a campfire, cleaning a trout or tying a knot be sure you are following a safe and proper procedure. When possible, never tell, but always show. A button usually clicks to "off" when a child receives a lecture.
A good rule is to let kids be kids! Let the adventure happen, rather than trying to force it within some preconceived plan. If the child gets sidetracked chasing butterflies or sneaking up on chipmunks, let them be. Many times a youngster can have more fun turning over rocks and looking at different kinds of bugs than sitting in one spot waiting for a fish to bite.
Expect a child’s attention spans to be short. Instead of getting frustrated, use it to your advantage. How? Try bringing along a bag of candy and snacks. When there is a lull in the camp activity, out comes the bag. Don't let them know what goodies await, so each one becomes a surprise.
Make absolutely certain the child's sleeping bag is clean, dry and warm. Nothing is worse than discomfort when trying to sleep and every parent knows that a refreshing sleep makes for a positive attitude the next day. In addition, kids can become quite frightened of animals that go bump in the night. The parent should not wait for any signs of this, but always play the part of the outdoor guardian, the one who will "take care of everything."
Provide each child with a flashlight. To prevent any arguments, make sure each child one has their own. Children love to play with the flashlights, and having one also makes them more at ease after dark. Flashlights are also handy when making trips to the restroom, for making shadow puppets on tent walls, and for reading before bed. Remember to bring enough batteries.
Kids quickly relate to outdoor ethics and they will develop a sense of pride that goes with it if handled in the proper way. Bring extra plastic garbage bags and make a game out of picking up litter and building a safe campfire. Children will long remember when they do something right, especially when it is something somebody else has done wrong.
If you want youngsters hooked on the outdoors for life, take a close-up photograph of them holding up fish they have caught, blowing on the campfire or completing other camp tasks. Young children can forget how much fun they had, but they never forget if they have a picture of it.
Teach children to be safe in the outdoors. Teach young children to stay within eyesight, and older children within earshot. Teach all children to stay where they are if they discover they are lost. With young children this may seem vague so instruct them to find a nearby tree and sit down beside it and stay right there without moving until they are found.
Children over the age of four can carry a simple survival kit, or at least a whistle around their neck to call for help when lost. The standard distress signal is three blows to indicate "I'm lost" or "I need help."
Remember that most children get cold faster than adults. The key to comfortable camping with children is to dress them in several layers, which can be peeled off as they get warm and added as they cool off.
Bring along a familiar board game. Playing it outdoors with a lantern or flashlights will add to the fun.
If you just have one child let them to bring along a playmate. A child generally enjoys camping when there is more than one of them as two or more children will entertain themselves for longer periods of time.
The least important word you can ever say to a child is "I." Keep track of how often you are saying "Thank you" and "What do you think? "If you don't say them very often, you'll lose out. Finally, the most important words of all are: "I am proud of you”.
Tags: Camping, camping basics, camping with kids