Camping with children can offer valuable educational experiences for both the young ones and adults. It’s an absolute blast, full of fun and adventure. But it can also present some challenges, primarily because keeping pace with the boundless energy of kids can be quite the feat. Moreover, if the little ones become bored, it can cast a shadow over the entire camping trip, making it less enjoyable for everyone involved.
The good news is that keeping kids entertained during an RV camping trip need not be overly complex. With some thoughtful planning and preparation, you can set the stage for a fantastic experience. In the great outdoors, nearly everything can be transformed into an engaging activity to captivate the children. Nevertheless, we recognize that, at times, you might find yourself pressed for time or in need of some creative solutions. In such moments, we’ve assembled a handy list to lend you a helping hand!
Let Them Help
Cooking while camping, even in an RV, can be more time consuming than in the kitchen at home, and it can be frustrating when they are not able to keep the kids sufficiently entertained, or the cooking does not go according to plan. Involving the kids in age-appropriate tasks while cooking is a great way to keep them entertained while getting more work done. And if they’re already picky eaters, it might also help encourage them to be more adventurous when it comes to the meal. If you are looking for some quick, easy, and delicious camping recipes, we have some of those right here.
Make It A Game
Children have an inherent love for games, making this a straightforward and enjoyable choice for keeping them engaged. For those who are feeling particularly imaginative and creative, there’s also the option of crafting brand-new games specially designed for the camping experience. Besides that, what many adults might not fully realize is the sheer variety of games at their disposal to entertain the kids, often doubling as educational opportunities. It isn’t just video games, but board games, verbal games (the old “50 states” license plate game is a tried-and-true one for super long road trips).
Spin A Yarn
Storytelling sessions can take on various engaging forms, and one idea that feels tailor made for long camping trips is just simply encouraging the children to participate in the storytelling process. To make it even more interactive, consider initiating a collaborative story game, where each child contributes a sentence or two to progress the narrative. In this game, they can draw inspiration from their natural surroundings, incorporating elements like animals, mountains, rivers, or trees into the unfolding tale.
For a modern twist on the classic storytime, you can also listen to kid-friendly audio stories together and later engage in discussions about them. However you choose to approach it, storytime is a great way to guarantee hours of entertainment and creativity for all involved.
Do-It-Yourself Crafts
The beauty of the great outdoors offers a bounty of materials and boundless inspiration for arts and crafts, making it an enriching and entertaining experience. Inspire your young adventurers to turn materials like leaves, pine cones, acorns, and so on, into imaginative craft pieces. Or teach them the art of preserving the exquisite leaves and petals they discover in nature. Encourage their creativity by letting them paint rocks with vibrant colors. You can even introduce them to the fascinating world of basket weaving, using reeds, vines, and grass to craft unique containers. And for those looking to explore a different realm of artistic expression, suggest creating captivating collages with leaves or experimenting with charcoal for expressive paintings.
Don’t forget to tap into the wellspring of creativity within the young minds themselves. Let them know that if they come up with a fantastic idea for shared fun, to simply just speak up. Remember, this is their camping trip, too. Keep expanding your repertoire of camping boredom-fighters as you explore the great outdoors and make great memories together!
