Help me make a camping/travel fun kit for my kids.
May 21, 2017 2:25 PM Subscribe
My family spends a lot of the summer traveling and at times camping for business reasons, and my kids (ages seven and ten) kind of hate it - or at least they think they do. I want to make a kit of fun, non-electronic, highly portable stuff to try to distract them from their misery. Besides computers, their interests include nature stuff, games, answering questions, reading (especially comics), arts and crafts and not camping. But seriously, stuff to feel more at home or comfortable on the road would be good, too.
Do you have a a really good tent and also a really good screen tent, to put over the picnic table? A dry place to sleep and a dry, bug-free place to read and eat can make a huge dent in misery. Also good camp chairs.
posted by rockindata at 2:48 PM on May 21, 2017
posted by rockindata at 2:48 PM on May 21, 2017
Get a Would You Rather book for kids (make sure it's for kids, because the adult ones can be rather, um, adult).
Try doing Sun Prints--fun thing to do to incorporate nature when camping--going out and looking for interesting shaped plants to make prints of.
I also liked Road Trip Bingo in the car when I was that age.
posted by greta simone at 3:01 PM on May 21, 2017
Try doing Sun Prints--fun thing to do to incorporate nature when camping--going out and looking for interesting shaped plants to make prints of.
I also liked Road Trip Bingo in the car when I was that age.
posted by greta simone at 3:01 PM on May 21, 2017
You mentioned that your children's interest include "not camping", that your kids "kind of hate it - or at least they think they do", and that you camp for "business reasons". Why force your kids to be miserable and camp when they don't want to camp? And if you take your kids camping, maybe take them camping for fun instead of "business reasons"?
posted by Rob Rockets at 3:41 PM on May 21, 2017 [9 favorites]
posted by Rob Rockets at 3:41 PM on May 21, 2017 [9 favorites]
What do they not like about camping? Hiking with stuff on their backs? Not having TV or other electronics? Hot? Bugs? Different food? Freedom? Bathrooms being far away? Knowing their problem would help solve it!
posted by raccoon409 at 3:44 PM on May 21, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by raccoon409 at 3:44 PM on May 21, 2017 [3 favorites]
That's around the age I got really into maps. Maybe get a Rand McNally road atlas and have them follow along your route, and look ahead to where you're going.
I'm kind of a nerd, but I have a bunch of Audubon field guides to things like trees and wildflowers, and I think it's fun to identify the flora and fauna surrounding you.
Presumably you have everything you need to make camping comfortable? Things like air mattresses, comfy sheets and pillows, stuffed animals if they're still into that. From a purist POV, "glamping" is pretty terrible, but for a small child, it's not the worst idea.
Ultimately, though, I'm not sure how much you can do. It's a pretty unnatural lifestyle for a 21st century American child. It's not the most comfortable lifestyle for anyone. I love road trips and I love camping, but spending 8-10 hours in a cramped car and then sleeping on hard ground at night, for months at a time... I'd be miserable too.
Is the camping a mandatory part of the job? Like, could you spend the night at a hotel every once in a while instead? Eat at real restaurants instead of cold cuts and juice boxes from the cooler? Just being in civilization might be helpful.
posted by kevinbelt at 4:17 PM on May 21, 2017 [1 favorite]
I'm kind of a nerd, but I have a bunch of Audubon field guides to things like trees and wildflowers, and I think it's fun to identify the flora and fauna surrounding you.
Presumably you have everything you need to make camping comfortable? Things like air mattresses, comfy sheets and pillows, stuffed animals if they're still into that. From a purist POV, "glamping" is pretty terrible, but for a small child, it's not the worst idea.
Ultimately, though, I'm not sure how much you can do. It's a pretty unnatural lifestyle for a 21st century American child. It's not the most comfortable lifestyle for anyone. I love road trips and I love camping, but spending 8-10 hours in a cramped car and then sleeping on hard ground at night, for months at a time... I'd be miserable too.
Is the camping a mandatory part of the job? Like, could you spend the night at a hotel every once in a while instead? Eat at real restaurants instead of cold cuts and juice boxes from the cooler? Just being in civilization might be helpful.
posted by kevinbelt at 4:17 PM on May 21, 2017 [1 favorite]
- A book of intro magic/sleight of hand skills and techniques, the kind that need a few thousand hours of practice -- coin knuckle flips, pen twirling, card tricks, juggling. if either of them are the type to be captivated by that kind of nonsense they are at the perfect age for it and you can practice that stuff for any number of hours on end, on car rides and even in the dark. but be careful just in case they get really deeply into it, make sure a peaceful and pleasant vacation now is worth the heartache of having a child who juggles all the way into their teen years.
- check out the Klutz Press books. they are a lot more gender-color-coded than they were when I was a kid, which is infuriating, but they don't actually say "for boys" on the smash bot battle robot papercrafting one or "for girls" on the nail style studio one. that I noticed. these might be too bulky or prop-heavy for what you have in mind but some of them seem good for when you want something to think about for a couple hours while pretending you're not in a tent. some of them come with all project supplies included.
posted by queenofbithynia at 4:21 PM on May 21, 2017 [2 favorites]
- check out the Klutz Press books. they are a lot more gender-color-coded than they were when I was a kid, which is infuriating, but they don't actually say "for boys" on the smash bot battle robot papercrafting one or "for girls" on the nail style studio one. that I noticed. these might be too bulky or prop-heavy for what you have in mind but some of them seem good for when you want something to think about for a couple hours while pretending you're not in a tent. some of them come with all project supplies included.
posted by queenofbithynia at 4:21 PM on May 21, 2017 [2 favorites]
We've had good luck with Mad Libs, but at the same time, we have one kid who's like "singing around the campfire? 💯💯" and another one who's like "YOU WILL FIND ME IN THE CAR WITH MY IPAD (no wifi)" and I don't think I can make kid B more like kid A. Having the dog with us helps but not that much. Haters gonna hate, especially when it comes to camping.
posted by chesty_a_arthur at 4:47 PM on May 21, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by chesty_a_arthur at 4:47 PM on May 21, 2017 [2 favorites]
Seven and ten are great ages for camping!
Have them build the fire.
Play A card game with them (Hearts)
Give them each a square foot of ground and have them catalog every living thing in it.
Camp by a creek or river with swimming and floating options. Bring floats.
Find rocks and trees for them to climb on.
Hang a hammock.
Put them in charge if dinner one night. Parents in charge of clean up, of course.
Stay at interesting campgrounds. Take advantage of junior ranger programs.
Give them their own tent to sleep in. And to be in charge of.
Maps. Plan out how far to the next rest stop, how far to the campground. Have him/her set the route with you in the morning.
Have someone keep the trip log. Miles driven, mileage, gas used, cost of gas, average speed, cost of groceries, cost of meal per person v. restaurant meal the next night.
posted by SLC Mom at 4:51 PM on May 21, 2017 [3 favorites]
Have them build the fire.
Play A card game with them (Hearts)
Give them each a square foot of ground and have them catalog every living thing in it.
Camp by a creek or river with swimming and floating options. Bring floats.
Find rocks and trees for them to climb on.
Hang a hammock.
Put them in charge if dinner one night. Parents in charge of clean up, of course.
Stay at interesting campgrounds. Take advantage of junior ranger programs.
Give them their own tent to sleep in. And to be in charge of.
Maps. Plan out how far to the next rest stop, how far to the campground. Have him/her set the route with you in the morning.
Have someone keep the trip log. Miles driven, mileage, gas used, cost of gas, average speed, cost of groceries, cost of meal per person v. restaurant meal the next night.
posted by SLC Mom at 4:51 PM on May 21, 2017 [3 favorites]
It might be helpful to understand what kind of amenities are available during these camping trips. Like is it rough camping, no plumbing; are you evaluating a certain kind of campsite or a certain geographical area, or are you RV camping maybe? Answers may depend on how easy it is to pack / carry gear in.
Science is always great. Talk about astronomy. Apply some physics lessons to the trip or the gear. Apply history lessons by talking about how native populations pioneered tents, hunting, and cooking techniques in the particular area that you're in (a place where we go is a treasure trove in terms of finding arrowheads, for example). Talk about native plants and habitats. Teach then to use a bb gun or a bow and arrow. I haven't known a kid yet who doesn't like a treasure or scavenger hunt. Let the kids add their voice to the professional reviews of the place, if appropriate. Or let them start a kids blog or hardcopy book about traveling.
posted by vignettist at 4:51 PM on May 21, 2017 [1 favorite]
Science is always great. Talk about astronomy. Apply some physics lessons to the trip or the gear. Apply history lessons by talking about how native populations pioneered tents, hunting, and cooking techniques in the particular area that you're in (a place where we go is a treasure trove in terms of finding arrowheads, for example). Talk about native plants and habitats. Teach then to use a bb gun or a bow and arrow. I haven't known a kid yet who doesn't like a treasure or scavenger hunt. Let the kids add their voice to the professional reviews of the place, if appropriate. Or let them start a kids blog or hardcopy book about traveling.
posted by vignettist at 4:51 PM on May 21, 2017 [1 favorite]
S'mores, s'mores, s'mores. Or other excuses to cook things on sticks?
posted by yarntheory at 5:18 PM on May 21, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by yarntheory at 5:18 PM on May 21, 2017 [1 favorite]
We listen to audio books as a family in the car (and sometimes at the campsite), everything from history like Benedict Arnold and "Lincoln's Graverobbers" to science and fiction (we did the whole Lloyd Alexander "Prydain" series over a couple trips).
Giving kids some responsibility, particularly for planning can help. They can research places to visit along the way, look for youtube videos of other people visiting the same area, plan meals, etc.
posted by 445supermag at 5:57 PM on May 21, 2017 [1 favorite]
Giving kids some responsibility, particularly for planning can help. They can research places to visit along the way, look for youtube videos of other people visiting the same area, plan meals, etc.
posted by 445supermag at 5:57 PM on May 21, 2017 [1 favorite]
Get them each a pocket knife if they don't already have one. I think most kids want knives. Make sure you have a fire every night and let them start it. Let them start fires and cook over them all day long too, if they want. If you camp near water, get them fishing poles. Oh, and how about a couple of those tennis racket style bug zappers?
posted by Redstart at 6:07 PM on May 21, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Redstart at 6:07 PM on May 21, 2017 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: To the folks who think this is weird, what I mean by "business reasons" is that the family business that pays for us to live involves traveling around to different places during the summer, and while we stay in different types of accommodations at times, financial and other practical factors mean that sometimes that's camping. It's not reasonably feasible to not go, to stay in hotels all the time, or to expect that they can or should stay with someone else for a large portion of the summer.
In general, we're very accommodating to their interests and they have a lot of say in how our life works during the rest of the year...but we all have to make compromises at times. Also, what I mean is "they think they hate it" is that often when they end up doing activities that they complain about and think they're going to hate, they end up having at least some fun...but I'd like to try to stack the deck in their favor.
Thanks to everybody for the good ideas!
posted by lgyre at 6:16 PM on May 21, 2017 [2 favorites]
In general, we're very accommodating to their interests and they have a lot of say in how our life works during the rest of the year...but we all have to make compromises at times. Also, what I mean is "they think they hate it" is that often when they end up doing activities that they complain about and think they're going to hate, they end up having at least some fun...but I'd like to try to stack the deck in their favor.
Thanks to everybody for the good ideas!
posted by lgyre at 6:16 PM on May 21, 2017 [2 favorites]
Deep Sea Adventure is a great game in a very small box that fits on a typical camp table and doesn't take up much gear space.
Do you geocache at your camp locations? Check the site, grab the app and see if any caches pop up. Yeah, there's an electronic component, but just barely.
posted by obiwanwasabi at 6:44 PM on May 21, 2017 [2 favorites]
Do you geocache at your camp locations? Check the site, grab the app and see if any caches pop up. Yeah, there's an electronic component, but just barely.
posted by obiwanwasabi at 6:44 PM on May 21, 2017 [2 favorites]
Board games are fun for the family, and if the camping is a mandatory part of life, allowing some tech isn't a bad thing. A portable DVD player, or tablet device doesn't ruin nature, and if it means sitting in a camp chair is more palatable, it's okay.
Getting the kids involved in cooking in general is good fun, and camping can be...ummm...less mess sensitive than indoor cooking. Consider some fun cooking items like an ice cream maker ball, anything on a stick, cake in a pot, etc. There are lots of fun books on this.
Photography is another great activity for kids. They don't need a fancy camera, but a simple digital camera, and then helping them make travel books about their adventures can be a great hobby to take into adulthood. Cameras can be upgraded as age appropriate and money allows. Ideally each kid can have their own simple one at least, rather than share.
posted by Northbysomewhatcrazy at 6:45 PM on May 21, 2017 [1 favorite]
Getting the kids involved in cooking in general is good fun, and camping can be...ummm...less mess sensitive than indoor cooking. Consider some fun cooking items like an ice cream maker ball, anything on a stick, cake in a pot, etc. There are lots of fun books on this.
Photography is another great activity for kids. They don't need a fancy camera, but a simple digital camera, and then helping them make travel books about their adventures can be a great hobby to take into adulthood. Cameras can be upgraded as age appropriate and money allows. Ideally each kid can have their own simple one at least, rather than share.
posted by Northbysomewhatcrazy at 6:45 PM on May 21, 2017 [1 favorite]
One of my friends created a backyard ring toss game out of those glow in the dark necklaces that are sold at concerts (like these). You could do the same thing at your campground.
posted by OrangeDisk at 7:29 PM on May 21, 2017
posted by OrangeDisk at 7:29 PM on May 21, 2017
A bunch of my friends grew up like this, including a bunch who grew up on boats, and we spent summers with various relatives often and now my brother takes one of his kids on the road a lot (the other one hates it and stays home). The Number One thing that makes it more kid friendly is other kids, number two is being paid to help with the family work. So whatever you can do to let them interact with other kids and do unstructured kid stuff and feel like they have friends, even for a day or a week, is going to help. Then being penpals with the kids they met will help. Also bragging rights about all the cool kids they know and the cool stuff they did when them make it home for school. For older kids some kind of job that provides cold hard cash always makes everything better. My brothers oldest kid is basically a fully qualified tech at the age of 12, that kid is going places in life without a doubt.
posted by fshgrl at 7:46 PM on May 21, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by fshgrl at 7:46 PM on May 21, 2017 [4 favorites]
Google Sky Maps app is fun to understand stars and planets at night.
posted by miyabo at 8:28 PM on May 21, 2017
posted by miyabo at 8:28 PM on May 21, 2017
Pick campgrounds that have something neat for kids to explore, like a stream, beach, dunes, or cool rock formations. Buy them a cheap pair of binoculars (these are only $23) and encourage them to watch birds and other wildlife.
posted by scrubjay at 8:32 PM on May 21, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by scrubjay at 8:32 PM on May 21, 2017 [1 favorite]
Here are a few activity ideas:
- Roasting marshmallows
- Photography, e.g., making time lapse videos of clouds, figuring out long exposure to get good pictures of stars
- Bouldering / climbing on rocks? (would depend on your campground)
- Water: swimming, walking up creeks, tidepooling (ditto)
- Star / constellation charts
- Making jewelry etc. from rocks or shells? (you could make a small kit with some other beads, clasps, string, if not also a dremel)
- A hammock that they can kind of hide away in
- A journal? (Do kids do that these days?)
- Postcards to send their friends
- Learning a musical instrument? A harmonica?
- Good games for the car and campsite (Set? Yatzhee? Uno? Magnetic travel chess?)
posted by salvia at 9:21 PM on May 21, 2017
- Roasting marshmallows
- Photography, e.g., making time lapse videos of clouds, figuring out long exposure to get good pictures of stars
- Bouldering / climbing on rocks? (would depend on your campground)
- Water: swimming, walking up creeks, tidepooling (ditto)
- Star / constellation charts
- Making jewelry etc. from rocks or shells? (you could make a small kit with some other beads, clasps, string, if not also a dremel)
- A hammock that they can kind of hide away in
- A journal? (Do kids do that these days?)
- Postcards to send their friends
- Learning a musical instrument? A harmonica?
- Good games for the car and campsite (Set? Yatzhee? Uno? Magnetic travel chess?)
posted by salvia at 9:21 PM on May 21, 2017
We had a rule at my summer camp that everyone had to try the activity for at least 5 minutes. Only once they had actually tried something could they then sit out. If the kids know they have the option to bail after x amount of time it might help them get started with it.
posted by raccoon409 at 6:21 AM on May 22, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by raccoon409 at 6:21 AM on May 22, 2017 [1 favorite]
As a kid I loved the Ed Emberly drawing books. They are step-by-step visual instructions on how to draw cool things from basic geometric shapes. The books also encourage experimentation. One or two of those books, large pads of paper, and crayons/colored pencils/markers might be great.
Another idea is some sort of nature book or guide, say plants or birds or animals for the area you'll visit. They may enjoy learning about the flora and fauna they see on the trips.
posted by Cranialtorque at 7:32 AM on May 22, 2017 [1 favorite]
Another idea is some sort of nature book or guide, say plants or birds or animals for the area you'll visit. They may enjoy learning about the flora and fauna they see on the trips.
posted by Cranialtorque at 7:32 AM on May 22, 2017 [1 favorite]
You can often get comics pretty cheap from secondhand bookstores, vintage comic stores, garage sales, etc. The old Archie comics are pretty small, can pack loads of them and use them as fire material when everyone is done with it. Tons of options for superhero comics.
You could also indulge them in their own comic files at a comic store - pick out comics currently coming out and have the store save them for you, pick up whenever you're back in town to get their next batch.
Origami is highly portable - get a good book on it and a packet of paper to go with it.
So many colouring books right now, for all ages.
Small books of easy Word Find, Sudoku, etc.
Michaels has tons of activity and craft kits in the kids section, often on sale. Let them pick a few out.
Watercolour paint sets are super portable and nontoxic. Get a small watercolour sketch pad and a few fine brushes to go with it, just make sure the paints dry out before packing up again. Have them paint scenery or whatever they like.
Also bring tape, school glue, scissors, pencils, pencil crayons, sharpener, pencil case. A pad of construction paper is also a good solid medium for arts and crafts.
posted by lizbunny at 2:47 PM on May 30, 2017
You could also indulge them in their own comic files at a comic store - pick out comics currently coming out and have the store save them for you, pick up whenever you're back in town to get their next batch.
Origami is highly portable - get a good book on it and a packet of paper to go with it.
So many colouring books right now, for all ages.
Small books of easy Word Find, Sudoku, etc.
Michaels has tons of activity and craft kits in the kids section, often on sale. Let them pick a few out.
Watercolour paint sets are super portable and nontoxic. Get a small watercolour sketch pad and a few fine brushes to go with it, just make sure the paints dry out before packing up again. Have them paint scenery or whatever they like.
Also bring tape, school glue, scissors, pencils, pencil crayons, sharpener, pencil case. A pad of construction paper is also a good solid medium for arts and crafts.
posted by lizbunny at 2:47 PM on May 30, 2017
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posted by SemiSalt at 2:39 PM on May 21, 2017 [2 favorites]