Camping

Bubbles! You can't go wrong with bubbles! There are so many different contraptions for them now! My son is two and he loves them. A.

One thing we did was put a rope around the fire pit a couple of feet out and told them they were not allowed to go inside the rope. If they did they would have to go to bed and miss out on roasting marshmellows. This worked great to keep them safe from falling in the fire!

Have a great time camping. It's wonderful family time.

Shovels to dig in the dirt, small containers to hold their "collections" of rocks/sticks/leaves etc. Magnifying glass to examine treasures. I spread out a blanket and bring coloring books. Fill a plastic tote with toys that can be played with outside and its like an outside toybox! You could set up a treasure hunt for the 3yr old - draw a simple map of the area, hide a small treat or new toy, mark it with an X, tie bandannas on their heads and go on a hunt! The younger boy could help dig it up. Scavenger hunts are fun too. Look for different kinds of bark on trees - you could even do bark rubbings. If you have a collapsable playpen, that helps too. The fire is the biggest problem at that age. We've taken our kids camping since my son was about 4mos old. Don't worry, it gets easier! Let me know if you have anymore camping ques.

Depends on where you go camping.
A lot of campgrounds have a lot of activities for kids.

Last summer we took our kids (who were 3.5 and 19 mos at the time) camping for a week at Niagara Falls. Their very favorite activity was walking around our campsite and then collecting pinecones. At the end of the day they sat next to their pile and threw all the pinecones in the firepit and watched while we lit them-- they spark up and pop b/c of the moisture. It was so funny and they had a blast and it was FREE! They both still talk about it.

We started taking our 5 children camping as babies one was only 5 weeks old and we camped in a tent. They all slept so good at night from all the fresh air. Take lots of beach toys. I also took a small inflatable swimming pool for them to play in close by. A big umbrella worked to keep them in the shade and we had a blast. WE now take our
Grandchildren and have since they were 10 months old, Just relax and have fun, A wagon or stroller was a great help too.

My best suggestion is to check out campsites when you make reservations (you can usually choose the site if you do it online at state campgrounds or by phone at private ones) - try to choose sites that are not as close to all the traffic and are close to playgrounds. Everyone else's suggestions have pretty much covered the entertainment. Although for your youngest, I also suggest a ride-on toy that can make it on rough terrain...this was a life-saver for us last summer.

I do suggest several totes/beach bags for carrying all sorts of stuff to beach, playground, etc. and TONS of wipes for quick clean ups before snacks.

A lot of campgrounds have fun activities every day for little kids, and they love it. Make sure to take lots of sun screen, and bug repellent (avon skin so soft is great, my sister sells avon if you don't know anyone)
Get something like the big lawn croquet or golf sets that they have for the little ones, and make sure its only used in the trailer. When we first started without kids, we made sure they had "trailer" toys, these were special toys that they only played with then, like the golf, the big ball catch games, things like that.
Water stuff, and beach toys are nice to have on hand also. As for the fire, I saw one family who bought one of those little doggy pens and put it around the fire, so they didn't have to worry about the kids getting at the fire.

Have fun, if you don't already have reservations you will want to make them, most Michigan parks fill up fast.
Mary

small inflatable pool,
kids like to make rock and dirt soup in your pans,,,yummmm!

Hello, I myself have an 8 year old, a 3 year old and also a 17 month old. When we have went camping in the past, we have allways brought a portacrib! That way the little one has his own space and they can play on their own. After being held, and told what he can and can't do all day, he can have his own time. We allways bring some sidewalk chalk along with us. If the campground you choose to stay at has any pavement, it is a must! I make sure that I pack a ton of bubbles. It is a very good outdoor activity for all ages. We also bring our bikes. For the little ones who can't keep up and peddle along with us we have a cart that hooks onto my bike and they sit in it while you do the work. Great workout tool!!

We have been camping since my kids were a few months old. Take all of the outdoor safety stuff, sunscreen, insect repellent, light colored long pants, shoes, etc. Check for ticks at night and don't bother washing the kids up until it is time for bed. A ton of diaper wipes can be used for faces and hands at meal time. Don't camp too close to danger (water, sink holes, cliff/hills) and then just let the kids entertain themselves. You don't really need a lot of toys. Get a butterfly net and insect box at the dollar store(it might get lost or broken) and some shovels/pails. You can get them started on a bug hunt, or they can help you gather wood. Unlike when they are stuck in the hosue with the same toys, they will entertain themselves. I would recommend a baby backpack (second hand store for 10 bucks) to carry the little one on long walks. We have done this in Virginia, Michigan, Utah, Colorado, and Arizona. It is so much easier than you might think. One more thing, we took a bassinet mattress with us and put it in the bathtub for a make shift crib. Worked great, just make sure the shower curtain is out of reach.

I think Donna is on to something! It's been years since I have gone and I miss it~

Make sure you have your first-aid kit, plenty of water and insect repellent that is safe for kids. Lush has the Fresh Farmacy that works great for insect bites and it is nearly 100% organic. (I love this store!)

Have fun!

We camped with kids this age and honestly it is rough. If you don't watch them, they are playing in the campfire ashes. We love the Pinery in Ontario (About an hour north of Sarnia). They have a kids program daily and several events (hikes etc) through out the day. A great beach too right on Lake Huron. They have an awesome bike path as well as kayak and canoe rentals. We go every year for five days

You can get super cheap photo albums (the old school ones with the sticky stuff and peel back pages). Let them collect "treasures" on a hike (feathers, seeds, flowers, leaves...) and when you get to camp put them in the book. Kids will love looking and showing off their finds at home! Also, take matchbox trucks. They can build a whole off-road track in some dirt (complete with mud pits and stick bridges). Whatever you do, camping is the best, they'll remember it forever!
S.

R.,

I have four children and we are all avid campers. We have taught them survival skills, etc... We went camping once when there were three and I was pregnant with the fourth. My advice...bring a portable crib or playpen. Not so much to keep the children corralled but, when you are preparing a meal out of doors, it can come in handy. Of course, unless the child is a climber. I have had success with toteing along sand toys, coloring books and crayons, small cars and trucks, play balls, blocks, and believe it or not...a small craft type kit with glue, clue sticks, heavy paper, paper cups, poster paints, and embellishments such as buttons and sequins. Then, go on a nature hike and collect rocks, driftwood, pine cones, etc... The possibilities are endless. YOu could even bring peanut butter and bird seed and have the children collect pine cones, spread peanut butter on them and roll them in bird seed and hang them from nearby trees. The birds just love it. There are several great sources on the internet for activities too.

I almost forgot. If it so desire, get a couple of shoe boxes or something similar... and pick up items to store in those boxes without the boys knowing you are and surpirse them with it the day of the trip or when you reach your destination. I have had great sucess with that idea cutting the boredom that sometimes happens.

Good luck and happy camping!!

P.-Michigan

Congrats on the trailer! We had a pop up for a while but had to get rid of it. I'm dying to go camping, it's been 1 year.

Bring a bag of stuff for each one. Little people, barbies, etc. Those are great for short amounts of time. Magna doodle, crayons, paper. My 17 month old loves to play with my 5 yr old's magnadoodle. Wagon or stroller. I definitely say take a lot of walks, those kids will sleep so good at night.

We bring a 6 foot fold up garden fence , and wrap it wound the outside of the fire pit area, to make sure the kids cannot get too close.

Good luck & have fun.
A.

We have gone camping since the kids were born. You have some great suggestions here. I would recommend you take less stuff. Let them explore (watching for poison ivy, etc). No movies, tell campfire stories. No videos, count stars. These are our most memorable camping times. I see too many families go camping with the kids in the camper watching movies, when they could be talking to their parents with their parents full attention. Take a break from technology.

I also bought small aluminum bread pans with pasta and cheese and let them warm mac and cheese over the fire. You cover it all with foil and put it on a stick. It was a great "make your own meal" for the kids.

When we used to camp with our kids, we always brought wooden trucks, sand pails & shoves, and things to go with them, and they were girls. They could dig and play alone or together at our campsite or on the beach and this became a regular thing with them. It's great for kids to use their imaginations more on a trip like this when they may be used to being entertained by TV, video games etc. at home. If they're into dolls or action figures, I'd bring some of that. Board games are nice when it's rainy or in the evening. Card games and other simple things. We always read around the campfire at night. Coloring books, drawing pads, construction paper and markers were greatly enjoyed (crayons melt in the heat!) and useful in the car as well. We had a plastic tackle box for each of the kids, with their names in marker on them, to keep their treasure, art supplies etc. They'd collect pretty rocks etc. and add them to their boxes. These boxes were only used on trips and became very precious to them and helped keep things organized. You can add a pair of child scissors, a glue stick, string, tape etc.

Have fun! G. B.

Good for you in getting a camper! You will have years of fun and adventure ahead! We've had campers for many years and my now 10-year-old was "raised" camping! One idea to keep them occupied is bring things they enjoy and can do at the picnic table--- coloring/playdoh, "little people" etc. We would go on a "rock hunt" and find cool rocks to bring back and paint with finger paint. We have many of them in our garden at home! Divide and conquer always works too--- while your husband is doing part of the set-up, you can take the kids for a nature walk. While you're doing your part, he can take them to the playground.
Hope this helps!! Enjoy!

R.,

I think it is great that you want to take your kids camping. The other moms had wonderful activity suggestions, mine will just be a caution:

Make sure you know about the plant dangers in the areas you will be camping. I used to be an Adventure Ranger for Petoskey State Park and one time I found a family setting up camp while their little baby was eating and playing in Poison Ivy. I immediately told the parents what their baby was doing and they were surprised. They did not recognize the plant and didn't seem to realize that strange plants can be dangerous.

I'm sure you are a great mom and I'm not trying to be condescending, but I saw a lot of families who were unaware of the dangers of foreign plants. I feel it bears repeating. Check out the State Parks website for warning about poisonous plants as well as other possible dangers at specific campgrounds.

We have taken our son camping and loved it. Good luck with your camping experience.