Weekend Forecast: Camping With A Big Chance Of Fun

When you close your eyes and think about camping, you probably picture campfires, guitars, sing-songs, smores, delicious one-pot meals and the sun waking you up as it burst through the thin walls of your tent like they are nothing more than glorious stained-glass windows. Oh, how idyllic. What a perfect alternative to the hustle and bustle of normal life.

Unfortunately, this reality is somewhat quashed when it comes to going camping as a family with small children for the simple fact it is stressful, especially if this is your first time pitching a tent since having kids.

Luckily for you, we have come up with the essential guide to make sure that you survive your first camping experience enough to make it a regular thing. If nothing else, it will get easier each time.

Try Before You Fly
We cannot stress enough how important it is for you to pitch a tent in your back garden first. Don’t just take the leap and drive to some woods a couple of hours away. By trying it out at home, your kids will get used to sleeping in a tent and you’ll be able to figure out how you can make life more comfortable and enjoyable. These are crucial when it comes to easing the stress. As is knowing how to set up your tent, which is just another reason to have a trial run.

Always Check The Weather
This is especially important if you are keen to make camping a favorite family pastime because nothing can ruin a first-timer’s camping experience quite like a monsoon (or even just a lot of rain). So if the weather is looking decidedly dodgy, maybe reschedule. The other reason to check the weather is to make sure you have the right kit with you. We’re talking appropriate clothing, the right thickness sleeping bag, correct footwear and, yes, what meals you are going to cook too.

Have Activities Planned
You’re a parent, which means you know how easily kids can get bored. If you’re thinking that this won’t happen while camping, you’re wrong because it is worse. They don’t have a TV they can just turn on. That’s why it’s important to plan some activities. It could be fishing, or learning how to make a shelter, both of which will require you to visit http://tentsandcampgear.com/pocket-knives/ and get a penknife. It could be skimming stones, or geocaching, or even a scavenger hunt. The great outdoors is there to be explored, although it is still worth bringing a couple of their favorite toys, just in case.

Know Your Meals
Even at home, where you have cupboards full of bits and bobs, meal times can be stressful, which is why you like to plan ahead. Well, in the wild, it is a thousand times tougher, and we know what kids are like when they are hungry. That is why you will want to plan out your meals, which this article can help with http://www.countryliving.com/food-drinks/. Not only will this let you know what ingredients you’ll need, but it will also help you pack the right utensils so that you aren’t carrying any unnecessary weight. Snacks and water are also absolutely essential when it comes to taming the beasts too.