First time camping with YOUNG kids ( 5 )???

[Papa Deuce]

Any recommendations on what to consider when taking kids camping for the first time? I'm thinking one night, and maybe close to home. What do I need to think about. My kids are 5 and I want to take them camping soon.

This weekend we are "camping" in our back yard. Soon, though, I want to take them away for a night or 2. I have a 5 person tent so far, and that is it.

I'm concerned about how they will handle it.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

It's been awhile since we've camped, but I don't think that there's anything too difficult about camping with 5yo's. When I saw the title of the thread I thought it would be about camping with babies or toddlers. Actually, 5yo is an idea age--they are old enough not to run off at a campsite, but young enough not to complain about everything (the 2 reasons we stopped camping--our youngest would have escaped and our oldest kids complained--it was either get rid of the kids or stop camping).

 

[WatchinCaptKangaroo]

Bring a familiar stuffed animal and some things to keep them busy (toys). As long as you are fine they will be fine. It's the perfect age to start them camping.

 

[Spinning]

Look at French creek. It is a state park. I think you are near Valley forge. Could be wrong but I thought I saw that before.
It is a nice state park off of Rt 100 But they have a bath house, a pool great hiking....etc...We have been camping with our kids since they were babes. Never even gave itmuch of a thought! Just make it fun. Let them bring their favorite stuffed animals, give them each a flash light. Make a camp fire, do smore's...you will have a blast!

 

[MagicalMom]

Jellystone camp grounds are great for little kids if you have one in your area. Oh I just noticed you're in Philly. I think there are 2 nearby in PA & a couple in NJ. They are kind of like the Disney World of campgrounds. I would give each child a flash light & get a small battery operated lantern to use inside the tent. We started going when our youngest was 3 & he loved it.

 

[Papa Deuce]

Jellystone camp grounds are great for little kids if you have one in your area. Oh I just noticed you're in Philly. I think there are 2 nearby in PA & a couple in NJ. They are kind of like the Disney World of campgrounds. I would give each child a flash light & get a small battery operated lantern to use inside the tent. We started going when our youngest was 3 & he loved it.

Are they clean? The only campgrounds that I have ever stayed in were not exactly the a poster child for cleanliness....

 

[Jenn Lynn]

We are taking our almost 5 year old and 10 month old camping in a couple of weeks. DH and DD slept in the tent last night and she did great. She has one of those blowup beds/sleepingbags (Dora) and slept on that.

We are going to a local state park for a couple of night on a non-holiday weekend. I want to be close to home the first couple of times we try this. We plan on swimming, fishing, hiking, and just hanging out. Plus here, if you buy a sate park pass ($25) you can get into any state park for fishing and camping w/o the additional entrance fee.

It's kind of a big investment at first, but once you have your supplies it should be fine. We are keeping the cooking simple:Hamburgers, hotdogs, eggs, sausage, sandwichs.

Good luck!

ETA: I'm not worried about the 5 year old. More the 10 month old. LOL!

 

[MagicalMom]

Are they clean? The only campgrounds that I have ever stayed in were not exactly the a poster child for cleanliness....

Everyone I've been to has been spotless. We went to one in Haggerstown, Md that had really nice bathrooms. Instead of bathhouses they had rows of single bathrooms. Nice heated pools, pictures with Yogi Bear, lots of kids activities. We love it.

 

[MagicalMom]

We like to used this site to review campgrounds.

http://www.rvparkreviews.com/

 

[sha_lyn]

I really like our Swiss (as in Swiss army knife) brand lantern that has a small built in night light. Helps with the kiddos (and helps locate the lantern for those late night bathroom runs.

With first time kids I like car camping (as in you can park right at the site) and staying very close to the bath house.

Once they are use to camping we actually like small hike in (under 3 miles in and out) primitive camping.

Personally I can't sleep on the big air maresses, too much like a waterbed. However I've found I love the self inflating camping matresses that are foam filled. They cost more, but are really a one time investment.

The one luxury I bought that I can't do without is my coleman stove with the grill/griddle.

Oh and one of my favorite tips

buy a cheap colapsable water jug, cut a hole in the top and handles on 2 sides. Use it as a portable sink for dish washing or sponge bathing.

Other fav tip...... for pancakes biscuits etc... measure out all dry ingredients (and oil/shortening etc) into a ziplock. Add the dry/powdered milk equivelent for the milk. Write the amount of water/eggs etc needed on the bag. When ready to cook, add the water, eggs etc, zip closed and mix together in the bag.

for a fun breakfast you can do that with bisquick, then roll out very thin snakes of dough. Wrap the snakes around a prebrowned sausage link that has been stuck on hotdog/smore stick. cook over the campfire.

 

[Aidensmom]

My son is about the same age, and wanting to go camping bad. My husband's idea of camping is out in the woods, no campground facilities, talked him into starting out easy with camping at Fort Wilderness at WDW.

I know for my son, he would need at least a good flashlight with LOTS of batteries in case the fear of the dark creeped in. Also make sure to take food you know they will eat, as they can be picky at that age. Other than that, kids are usually pretty easygoing.

 

[Snow Brite]

Our first trip this year we went to a KOA campground and stayed in a Kabin. This worked good as we didnt have to spend a lot of time "setting up" but still got to have a campfire, etc. It had a parking spot right next to it and the campground had a pool. It was pretty luxurious for camping, but it was a good start.

We went tent camping another weekend after that and it was a lot more work, but I think it was a good gradual step up. Again, we picked a spot where we could park right next to the campsite.

Have fun! Its a good, "innocent", fun mini-vacation with kids. I don't allow any ipods, dvd players, cd players, or other electronic devices. Its scrabble or a deck of cards for entertainment at night.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

I took mine camping for the first time when they were 3 & 4. My mom & I took them on a 2 week camping trip to Yosemite. We had a great time, and they cried when we had to come home - they loved it. I took them camping for the next few years, staying usually 10 nights or so.

I would say to take things to keep them occupied - craft-type activities. I also went to the local library and checked out books on tape for children, and we listened to stories at night.

Hope yours have as much fun as mine did

 

[AmazingGrace]

We just got back from camping. We stayed at the KOA near Lake Nasworthy in San Angelo. It was great. We got Grace her own lantern and had her pick out a lovey or two to take with her. We stayed in our pop up and were really comfy.

 

[MagicalMom]

We also like to get glow sticks & glow necklaces from the dollar store.

 

[minkydog]

You will be Daddy of the Year if you take 5yo's camping They will make their own kind of fun. Five year olds don't care if it rains, they don't care if the showers don't work, they love the dirt and bugs, and they get so hungry they'll eat anything! Just be sure you have a flashlight for each and their own "lovey" to sleep with--the rest is just extras. I always bring a board game, paper, and markers in case it rains. Also ponchos, so you can take a rain walk

Have a great time! Campers make great lovers

 

[hlbtimes2]

Take a big tub of baby wipes for cleaning hands, feet and faces.
Prep cook as much as you can-make chili, spag. sauce, cut up/ parboiled potatoes for friend potatoes, etc- it makes meal time quick and easy.
Coleman makes a great kids lantern. I think they are around $10. They have a remote, and shut of after a few minutes. That way they cant accidently be left on all night- Saves batteries!
Plan on sleeping "family bed" style- so you can keep the little ones covered and warm.
Bring extra clothes- camping is mess! I pack clothes in a laundry basket so my suitcases dont smell like camp smoke when we come home. Its also easy to find what you need.

 

[Tinijocaro]

Camping with 5 year olds is a breeze- try camping with babies- now there's a task!

I wouldn't bother going if you aonly stay one night. You take all the time to get set up, only to leave the next day. I'd go minimum 3 nights to get a full camping experience.

Jackie

 

[minkydog]

Camping with 5 year olds is a breeze- try camping with babies- now there's a task!

Spoken with authority I didn't start mine camping until they were at least 3yo, and even then we had a few sleepless nights.

 

[mickeyboat]

We camped with the kids as babies, and I thought it was easier than now when they are 5 and 6 - no midnight trips to the potty, no constant entertainment, no chasing them around with sunscreen and bug spray.

Do your girls ride their bikes, yet? We like to bring ours when we camp. Also try to bring some firewood with you if you have room, it costs an arm and a leg. If you NEED coffee in the morning, invest in a coffee pot that runs with your Coleman stove, or at least find out where the nearest Dunkin Donuts is.

Camping is a lot of work, but it is a lot of fun, too. Have a great time.

Denae