Camping with young kids is a wonderful bonding experience for a family and one that often creates meaningful childhood memories. According to the travel industry, camping is also one of the most economical family vacations but sometimes parents are not sure how their kids will fare with 24 hours of outside living. To help keep the kids busy and entertained while roughing it, give these ideas a try.
Daytime Camping Activities for Preschoolers
Here are some fun things to do with preschoolers in the daytime.
Make a Scavenger Hunt
Make a list of 10 things that the kids can find in and around the campsite such as:
- leaves
- sticks
- stones
- pinecones
- bottle caps
- pieces of string
- bark
- moss
- pine needles
- flowers
Since most preschoolers are not able to read, draw pictures of each item on the list so they know what to look for.
Set-up Water Play
Pack sponge brushes, plastic water sprayers and a small inflatable pool so the kids will be able to enjoy playing in the water even if the beach is not kid-friendly.
Create with Play Dough
Camping is the perfect opportunity to get creative with play dough, as the kids can use sticks, stones and other materials to enhance their creations. Use the play dough on a plastic table cloth covering the picnic table and bring homemade play dough in a plastic container. When the camping trip is over, the play dough can be composted and the mess stays at the campsite.
Visit an Attraction
Plan to take the kids to a nearby attraction or museum as a special outing. Collect brochures from rest stops along the way to plan an excursion or to have some ideas on hand for a spontaneous rainy day trip.
Participate in Campground Programs
Many private and government managed campgrounds offer special programs for children on a daily basis. Ask about these when booking the campsite and also look for campgrounds with features such as playgrounds and outside theatres.
Teach a New Skill
Camping is a great time to teach kids how to ride a bike, throw a Frisbee and to play card games like Snap and Go Fish.
Nighttime Camping Activities for Preschoolers
Below are some great "after dark" activities to keep preschoolers busy.
Make S’mores
Teach young kids how to make this favourite campfire recipe using graham crackers, toasted marshmallows and chocolate chips.
Watch Animals
Dusk is one of the best times to see nature in action such as moose wandering and raccoons scavenging. Go for a quiet drive with the windows down to hear the sounds of nature.
Play with Flashlights
Kids love using flashlights in the dark and playing games at night.
- Go on a flashlight walk.
- Play flashlight tag.
- Make hand shadows inside the tent.
- Play ‘eye spy’ in the dark.
- Look for bugs and worms that come out at night.
Look at the Stars
Teach young kids how to look for constellations in the night sky. Let them look through binoculars to find planets and satellites.
Read a Book
Read a book to the kids by flashlight around the campfire. Some camping favourites are Amelia Bedelia Goes Camping by Peggy Parish [Harper Collins Publishers, 1985] and Quiet Night by Marilyn Singer [Clarion Books, 2002].
If a real camping experience is not feasible for the family, set up a tent in the backyard and choose a few of these activities to explore. In the eyes of a preschooler, the camping will be a real as it gets!
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