Take a kid camping!!!

[Beerlifter]

This might not mean that much to some of you but it sure made my heart swell up.... I had the oppurtunity to take my grandson camping with us last week.His name is Kalan,and by the way next month he will be big because he will be 6 and in the first grade, so that's what he tells me anyways. We made a trip to our favorite campsite and I took him fishing with me. It was his first time fishing and he had a blast as did I. He caught a few little sunfish(or perch whatever you want to call them) and to him it was *AWESOME*. I think I may have created a monster but I know I have a lifelong fishing buddy. Anyhows if there is anybody out there that has the chance to take a kid out to enjoy the outdoors please do it. I know spending that few short days with my little grandson will be stuck in my mind the rest of my life. If it doesn't change how you feel about spending time with your family and friends outdoors I don't know what will!! I can't wait to take my little fishing buddy out again. Take time to enjoy what you have and enjoy every moment of it. I'm sure someone else has experienced the same feeling I did last week and I hope everyone has the chance to feel what I did and hope to again with all my grandchildred

[tlhdoc]

I know how you feel.  We have taken many kids camping over the years.

[genre]

I am with you.
Too many people I know have never been camping. I thank the stars every time I go camping that I was introduced to it at a young age.
I have yet to meet a kid who didn't enjoy the weekend.
The only downside to all this is the fact that I am now thinking of upgrading from an 8.5 foot box pop-up to a 12 footer. There is always someone wanting to return on a weekend.
Again, great advice....

[dthurk]

What a great post.  Camping is a family activity, pure and simple.  Parents, grandparents, children, grandchildren.  It's great.  In a couple weeks, we're making a trip that will include my mother for the first time, then we're planning on doing it again in August.  3 generations in the same camper.  I'm looking forward to it.

[fdtd]

great advice...I have taken my daughter out camping for the last year and every time she sees the pu she wants to go again....however we are not going to be able to go until late sept/early oct due to a long honey do list and the dw is due to have our #2 in early/mid august :eyecrazy:  (I really don't want to start ds out THAT early...if you all get the drift)

[Gone-Camping]

I know how that works. I started taking my nephew camping about 8 years ago, and he's always enjoyed it. About 4 years ago I also included his sister (once I felt she was old enough). Now that he is 15 he's got girls on his mind, but he'll put her on hold for a weekend and still go camping with me!! And the Niece constantly asks me when the next camping trip is. I think I've created a couple of future Campers!!

[dthurston]

So, what great tips (or site for them) does one have for dealing with a 2 year old and still having fun?

During our first outing this past weekend, we left him in the van watching TV so we could actually get setup. Having to watch him constantly means that only one of the parents (us) can do anything (cook, walk the 5yo to the bathroom, get water, etc).  Very tiring and it does detract a bit from the experience.

Yet we still want to involve him rather than just leaving with the GPs, but wow!

From my own family camping experiences, I don't remember any camping trips before I was 9 or 10 or so.  Very different. The 5yo girl did very well, all in all, so we are considering that we may leave the little guy with his GPs anyway, as it'll still be fun for him, but for a whole weekend (including Sundays) that would be a great deal of work for them, so we'd like to avoid that if we can.

TIA!

Doug

[ptbrauch]

Does anyone have any experiences with camping with a 2 year old?

[danwors]

Does anyone have any experiences with camping with a 2 year old?

We took our kids(2 and 4) camping a couple of weeks ago.  It was the first time for both of them and they loved it!  I have to be honest, though, and tell you that we were prepared to go home after 1 night if things did not go well.  She(the 2 year old) was asking if she could go home the first night, but after that she was fine.  We were in a tent for 3 nights, so no TV for either of them, but they were entertained as much by digging in the dirt, roasting marshmallows, taking limited hikes, playing on the playground, etc.   Since she won't go to sleep anywhere but in her bed or pack n' play, we took the pack n' play along....she slept just fine it.  The hikes were a little slow, but you have to expect that with a 2 year old.  We had to be careful around the fire and keep a close eye on both of them...didn't want any burns!  All in all, it was a great weekend and all 4 of us are ready to go again.

[AustinBoston]

My oldest (now 22, married, and expecting my first grandchild), went camping before us just a few months before she was born, and less than a year after she was born.  Although we've put 25,000 miles on our pop-up (enough to drive around the world), most of our camping was done before we got it.

Now, all three of our kids are die-hard campers.  And PJay and I are already looking at what type/size camper would be best to take our grandchildren in.

Spending time with children is the best thing for them, not only for you.  This past weekend, I spent a ferw days with my youngest nephew (about and we lit off fireworks.  It's the same feeling.  It seemed by the time we were done, that he would Love his uncle for life.  That's a cool feeling.

Austin (practicing on nieces and nephews for when he has grandchildren)

[Beerlifter]

Some of you I think might be missing the whole point. We (meaning most of us!) camp to spend time with our family and get away from the hustle and bustle of city life and to get away from our jobs be it at home or where ever. If camping with your children is a job I don't see why you even leave the house.Austin Boston hit the nail on the head as to what I was trying to explain. My grandson and I now have that common bond established between us, whether it is fishing or camping, that I hope will keep us together for many more trips. I wasn't furtunate to have parents that camped,hunted, or fished. I really don't remember how I got into these hobbies but I enjoy them very much. I don't want to force my grandchildren into anything but as long as Kalan enjoys doing it I will enjoy doing it with him. I realize a two year old is a handful and probably does tend to slow you down and keep you from doing what you want to do but would you really feel good about leaving her or him out of this particular part of your lifes. Try to think of it like the stories you could tell his or her boyfriend or girlfriends in the near future of what happened when you went camping back in 2006!!! Or try the same thing you tell them ....Take a time out or count to 10....but don't let the child miss out on something that apparently you enjoy and maybe just maybe he will thank on down the line.....And of course this is just my humble opion which doesn't amount to a hill of beans but thanks for listening.

[dthurston]

Some of you I think might be missing the whole point. We (meaning most of us!) camp to spend time with our family and get away from the hustle and bustle of city life and to get away from our jobs be it at home or where ever. If camping with your children is a job I don't see why you even leave the house. -snip- I realize a two year old is a handful and probably does tend to slow you down and keep you from doing what you want to do but would you really feel good about leaving her or him out of this particular part of your lifes.-snip-

(forgive the editing, just going to save screen space)

I don't disagree at all. As for me, I'm hoping to hear from others on how they manage or manged with a 2yo.  Getting out in a different environment and doing different things is one of our reasons for embarking on this adventure.

I really DO want to spend time with them (both the 2yo and the 5yo), just feeling a little frustrated (which I, at least, think is normal).

In the back of my mind, however, is the thought that if we drop the 2yo off with Grandma and Grandpa for an overnight instead of bringing him, is it really that much of a loss for him at this age? I mean, he will get the love attention of two GPs (on their farm, no less) and have a great time.

We realize from experience that next year will be far better when he's had another year to grow and slow down, so it's mostly a matter of how to get through it and still keep it fun for all involved.

This has sure turned into a lively thread, eh?

Doug

[griffsmom]

Our son was 14 months when we bought our camper. We would take out the dinette table and put his pac-n-play there to sleep. He loved camping so much--even as a baby--that when he would see Daddy bring the camper home to get ready for a trip, he wouldn't be able to sleep at night! By the time he was 3 years old, he could identify every type of camper (class A, class C, 5-er, etc.)
 
When children are little like that, camping really is quite a bit more work, but I can't encourage you enough to keep going. We would go for a lot of walks, with Griffin in his stroller or on a push car thingie or even just walking and let him explore bugs and sticks and dirt; you know, "camping things." As he got older, he rode his tricycle or bike or scooter.  We brought a lot of toys with us and would let him play with them in the camper or we'd haul his playpen outside and let him play with them out there. We used to put his playpen on its side on the bunkend and cover it with a blanket and let him play "fort." That was a favorite. DH finally talked me into getting a tv for the camper, and as much as I resisted it, popping in a Pooh Bear video and getting 30 glorious, uninterrupted minutes to make a meal, do up the dishes, or best of all, sit down, was worth it. If we needed him to take a nap, we didn't think twice about putting him in his car seat and going for a drive. But the thing that was really a lifesaver was meeting all our camping friends here at PUT. They all had kids and kids love to play with other kids and it gives you 5 minutes to sit down and catch your breath! Plus, you have a village to help you watch your kid.
 
It does get better as they get older. Griffin is 5 1/2 now, and camping is so much easier--he goes and finds his camping friends and they all hang together and have a blast. BTW, he hardly ever watches the tv now except to sometimes watch a wind-down video before going to sleep at night. Hang in there. During those moments when you think the top of your head is going to literally explode, take a deep breath and remind yourself of the memories you are creating for your children--memories of time spent having fun with their family that they will treasure and carry with them long after we are all gone.

[ilovecamping]

We took our DGD last year for the first time, she was 2.  We had a waterfront site and she was great for staying away from the water.  When DH and I started setting up the screen room she watched and then came over and handed us the poles.  She wanted to play on the playground most of the time but we tried to keep her busy with other things as well.  We did have a tv and dvd player and she watched her movies at ngt.  We did a family trip to Branson and she did great there also.  
When we went to visit our other 2 DGC in GA we took the pu and took them camping for 3 days.  They had never been camping and they were 3 1/2 and 6.  They also did real well considering it rained everyday and the grass on the playground was knee high.
This year the DGD here loves to camp and is a lot better than last year.  DH got a tub and a bucket of sand and he sets it up for her to play with her dinosaurs in.  This works great.  We also added a second tv with a vcr and put it on the wardrobe by the back bunk and she will watch her Elmo movies and go to sleep.
We are really asking for it this year as we are taking the 3 yr old DGD and going to visit the now 7 yr old DGD and 4 1/2 yr old DGS in GA and taking the HTT.  Our oldest DD is going with us so that will give us some back up for entertaining.  Oh, and we're taking the dog also.
I agree strongly about the memories of taking the young camping.  DH took DGD fishing for the first time this year and she loves it.  It was a great moment and he will remember it the rest of his life, as I hope she does.

[Kay in NC]

We started camping with our kids at the age of 3 and 6.  The 6yr old kept the 3 yr old busy while we set up.  Or I would get the 3yr old busy playing with his cars or what ever he liked to play with on the picnic table. Another thing we did was take a little bucket and have the kids pick up little sticks and pinecones to help start the fire.  Bubbles blowing was always a good thing to keep them busy to while your trying to get some things done.  They had little backpacks that I would fill with things from the dollar store for them to play with, books, bubbles, flashlight, glow sticks, new cars, coloring books, things like that.  They knew to get these out to find new things to play with.  We always brought their bikes...they enjoyed riding them to the bath house, always made it a fun trip for all when taking one of them potty.

After a few trips you will find out that the kids will start to keep themselves busy...playing with sticks, throwing things into the water, collecting rocks and such.  Just have fun!

Camping is one of our favorite family times we have...no tv, phone, computers...just US!