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in Blog on September 22, 2021 by Jennifer Carroll

Yes, You Can Take Your Kids Car Camping

By Jennifer Carroll | @twinningtheweekend

Even for the most seasoned camper, the thought of camping with young kids can be daunting. 

When you start thinking about packing, how you’ll get your kids to sleep in a tent and what you’ll feed everyone, it’s easy to be overwhelmed.

My husband and I both have decades of experience camping and backpacking in remote areas of Colorado, Montana, and Wyoming. But, even as veteran campers, it was intimidating to take our toddler twins on their first camping trip.

Fortunately, some family friends invited us for a weekend of camping not long after our twins turned two. Armed with their encouragement and moral support, we headed out. It wasn’t perfect. It never is. But, we had a great time. And, best of all, we wanted to go again.

Camping is a great way to spend time together as a family. New experiences help your child develop confidence and gain independence. Plus, it’s fun!

So now it’s my turn to encourage you…Roll up your sleeping bag and head for the great outdoors.

Start Small

If it’s your first camping trip, start small. Choose a state park or other campsite as close to home as possible – an hour away from home is more than plenty. Make your reservation for 1-2 nights. Car camping (where you drive up to your campsite) will keep things simple. This doesn’t need to be an episode of Survivor: Family Camping.  

Choose Your Campsite Strategically 

Almost every camping area has a playground. Choose a site as close to the play area as possible. Your kids can play and meet new friends while you set up your tent, cook or simply relax. A play area provides hours of entertainment and also creates a physical boundary for kiddos who tend to wander.  

Bring A Scooter Or Bike 

Bathroom facilities may be a short walk from your campsite. Make it fun with a bike or scooter. Campgrounds are great spaces to practice new skills or explore a paved trail. Older kids will love to make a loop around the camping area. They feel like it’s a big adventure but you can still keep an eye on them.

Visit The Visitor Center And Meet Park Rangers 

Visitor centers offer a wealth of resources. You’ll find information about your area, trail maps and a schedule for family-friendly activities. Most state parks give out books with Junior Ranger programs and activity ideas. Camp hosts and park rangers are friendly people who are there to help and offer ideas. 

Pack A Camp Toy Box

The next time you go to donate or give away a few toys, stash a few in a tub or bag. These are your “camping toys.” Balls, digging tools or other open-ended items are perfect for a camping trip. The novelty of “new” toys will hold their interest and you won’t have to worry about a prized possession getting dirty or lost. 

Keep Meals Simple

Worried about toddlers around the campfire? Don’t want to drag all of your cooking utensils to the campsite? Just don’t cook. It’s really okay. A Lunchable is a gourmet meal when enjoyed under the trees. Turkey roll-ups, peanut butter sandwiches, and cheese and crackers are perfectly fine for any meal. Don’t put pressure on yourself to cook unless you want to.

Borrow What You Can Or Buy Used

You don’t need a lot of expensive gear. Kids grow quickly and your family’s needs will change too. Borrow a tent from a friend or shop secondhand. Facebook Marketplace is a great way to score all kinds of camping gear like hiking carriers for toddlers. Yoga mats make great camping mattresses. A large bucket with a lid can double as a camping stool for a kiddo. Get creative and build your gear up over time. 

Lower Your Expectations

Toddlers are going to have meltdowns whether they are at home or out having fun. If we can go into the weekend with that mindset, it’s easier to “parent” when we need to.

You WILL forget something. Laugh about it and make it memorable. Kids will think it’s silly to eat without silverware or sleep without pajamas.

Doing anything with young kiddos can be a challenge. Embrace the chaos.

Remember, when you’re out camping you can’t mow the lawn, you can’t organize the playroom closet and (best of all) you can’t do laundry! Enjoy your time together trying something new.  

Good campers aren’t born, they’re made. Start small and slowly work your way up to bigger adventures. It’s okay to use the plastic, to stay in a cabin or to head home early in a rainstorm. There is no right way to camp.   

Bonus Tip: Kids tend to wake up with the sun. Send them to the playground in their pjs and embrace your early start with your favorite homemade coffee.

Jennifer Carroll | @twinningtheweekend

Jennifer is a mom to four-year-old twins and a very large Weimaraner. Before kids, she worked in television and advertising. She paused her career to be a stay-at-home mom only to discover she loved freelance writing. You’ll find her family camping, chasing cows or at the lake on weekends. Follow their adventures at @twinningtheweekend

Feature Image by Mattias Helge on Unsplash

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Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: preschoolers

About Jennifer Carroll

Jennifer is a mom to four-year-old twins and a very large Weimaraner. Before kids, she worked in television and advertising. She paused her career to be a stay-at-home mom only to discover she loved freelance writing. You’ll find her family camping, chasing cows or at the lake on weekends. Follow their adventures at @twinningtheweekend.

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67. The answer is 67. Yes, I’ve checked my work! Maybe someone who passed calculus can explain? 🤪 -M

#mommath #drowningindishes #summerbreakisnotreallyabreak
Happy weekend - and a big thanks to our June spons Happy weekend - and a big thanks to our June sponsors! Every month, we like to take a little time to shoutout our partners who help support the show + remind our listeners of some of the great deals our sponsors are offering. For more info, specific promo codes, and links, just search the brand name on our website, and they'll pop up in our episode show notes. We also collect ALL our active promo codes (even the old ones that are still working!) in our email newsletter - which is full of other great things we want to share with you, too. Tap on this image at the link in our bio to subscribe today. 

Meet our NEW partners this month . . .
🗣️ @connectspeech (early language support!)
💙 @appahealth (1st month of mentorship free!)
💄 @thrivecausemetics (15% off your 1st order)

And welcome back to . . .
⭐️ @paireyewear (15% off your 1st purchase!)
⭐️ @autoapprove ($100 when you refinance!)
⭐️ @outschool ($15 off your child's 1st class!)
⭐️ @mindandchild ($20 off Parenting 101 course!)
⭐️ @flowkey_com (20% off subscription piano app!)
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⭐️ @publicgoods ($15 off, no minimum!)
⭐️ @scholasticinc (books for kids of all ages!)
⭐️ @hiyahealth (50% off 1st order!)
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Find the episode wherever you get your podcasts, or click this image at the link in our bio!

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New on the blog this week from @kiamhammond: Learn New on the blog this week from @kiamhammond: Learning About Juneteenth, As A Family.

"Like many families, mine is still figuring out how to teach our children about Juneteenth, as learning the history wasn't part of my education or my husband's when we were kids. The good news is, books written for children and families are a great way for the whole family to learn (and there are a lot of them!)."

Click this image at the link in our bio to read Kia’s book recommendations and more ways to start the conversation at home with your family.

#juneteenth #history #blackhistory #parenting #juneteenthbooksforkids #summerreading
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As moms, we can be hard on ourselves…and sometimes we just need to hear the simplest, oft-repeated pieces of advice and encouragement to remind us that it is all going to be OK. Join Meagan and Sarah for a reflection on eight pieces of wisdom that have carried us through motherhood struggles at every age and stage. We are offering them to you, to ourselves, and to all of our future selves in Episode 369.

Find the episode wherever you get your podcasts, or click this image at the link in our bio!

#themomhour #motherhood #mompodcast #podcastsformoms #parenting #parentingpodcast #podcastlove #trypod #podcastersofinstagram #shepodcasts #momtruisms #momtruths #parentingadvice #motherhoodstruggles
Just a “hello” from last-week-me, who spent 30 Just a “hello” from last-week-me, who spent 30 minutes moving 25 chickens by hand from their home to the new chicken yard, because they refused to go on their own. And then an hour moving them back, because same.

It reminded me a lot of mothering a toddler, and got me wondering: what’s the most ridiculous thing mom life has brought you in the past week? -M
New episode! Have you ever fantasized about atten New episode!

Have you ever fantasized about attending a camp-like environment for grown-ups? Much about the classic summer camp experience is appealing to us (though not EVERYTHING--we could certainly do without the bugs), and the idea of simply showing up for a perfectly curated experience without any responsibility, or planning, sounds AMAZING. Listen to this fun More Than Mom to hear all of our must-have activities (like food and wine tastings, yoga, personal style consults and more!), things that would be a hard no (like swimming in the gross, murky lake or participating in corny, guided crafts) and our daydreams about creating a Mom Hour Retreat (maybe someday?)!

Find the episode wherever you get your podcasts, or click this image at the link in our bio!

#themomhour #motherhood #mompodcast #podcastsformoms #parenting #parentingpodcast #podcastlove #trypod #podcastersofinstagram #shepodcasts #summercamps #womenretreats #momretreat
New on the blog this week from @jaymesherrod: LGBT New on the blog this week from @jaymesherrod: LGBTQ+ Resources For Parents (And Anyone Who Wants To Learn!). 

"The fact is, none of us will get it right every time. Not with each other, and certainly not with our kids. But it’s important that we keep showing up and having the conversations anyway."

Click this image at the link in our bio to access Jayme's roundup of resources.

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