Kids and camping

G

GEC

Joined
May 8, 2007
Messages
950
Hi all,

I was wondering when is a good time to introduce camping to a child? :confused: I want to try to take my son who is only 2 yrs old. nothing to crazy, just car camping. I personally think it might be to soon yet to break him in for it, but I could be wrong. I just don't want it to be a diaster if I bring him along and the trip a bust . How soon should I try? How did you go about introducing to your kids?
Either way I'm still going with my father to relax and the wife said she would be okay. I really want to start camping with my son and still enjoy it though.
Thanks,
signed, New Dad (GEC):p
 
Gec,
I was camping before I could remember. My parents lived in Northern Mn and would go up to the BWCA often.
My wife and I took our son camping / hunting in the hoosier nat'l forest at 3 1/2 months in october. (temps in the 40's at night) and each year since. (he's 4). Last year it rained the entire time and he still loved it.

I use the "illusion" of excitement. I say illusion because I'm generally excited, but I hipe it up with him for a couple days in advance.

Don't know where you're going, but consider the things that could be a challenge for him IE too hot, too cold too many bugs etc... Consider where you're going and do your best to prepare for the worst.

Kids especially boys can find fun in the simplest things rocks stick mud so make use of them. If you're going to a state park or campground (RV-ville) There are generally playgrounds so that can help, but keep him busy with new things and make up games. (build a bridge over a mud puddle).

If you are really concerned, pitch a tent in the back yard and play with him in/around it. maybe spend the night.
Hope it helps!
 
If you want to relax I would suggest you leave your son at home with your wife.Two isn't too young to go but you have to know the trip will be planned around the child and his needs.A young child will require constant attention and care.You have to know ahead of time that the trip will be all about the child and his needs and not about what you would like to do.

All kinds of safety issues change when you carry a young child.When I carry mine I am careful to put away knives or anything they can get hurt with.I build a high ring of rocks around my fire so they can't fall in it.There are all kinds of issues that change depending on where you camp.

I don't mean to put you off taking your son.It can be a great trip for you and a memory for him.It will just be a lot different when you take the young children along.Good luck and have a great safe trip.
 
Trust me you are not putting me off I like to see what other people opinions on this subject just to make sure I really want to try now or when he gets a little older.
Me and the wife walk the woods trails next to a lake with my son. He seems to be at home there just as much as he at ....well home.:)
I know he chases the ducks and geese, but of course I watch and follow closely just to make sure he doesn't go into the lake or get bit from the geese.
 
Soon as the wife healed enough from childbirth and the baby showed signs of consistant health we camped. About 4 months of age.

The Indians had no problem with it (full time) why should we?

Great way to get her and you out of the baby jail box (home).

I suggest a quality kid backpack carrier, worth its weight in gold.

Skam
 
skammer said:
Soon as the wife healed enough from childbirth and the baby showed signs of consistant health we camped. About 4 months of age.

The Indians had no problem with it (full time) why should we?

Great way to get her and you out of the baby jail box (home).

I suggest a quality kid backpack carrier, worth its weight in gold.

Skam
Click to expand...

Skam-

You and I agree on this completely (twice in two weeks);):D Going camping, the fair, and/or any kind of activity that requires a lot of walking the kid backpack is by far the best way to go. Imagine going to your county fair with a stroller about the size of the love seat in your living room:confused: Does not work well. REI has a very nice one at a reasonable price.

http://www.rei.com/product/705789
 
tarmix101 said:
Skam-

You and I agree on this completely (twice in two weeks);):D
Click to expand...

Shhh, I have a rep to uphold.:D

Great piece of kit. I downhill ski with the kid carrier loaded with a snoring little human often. I am an expert skier though not to be tried unless you are.

Skam
 
+1 on the backpack. THe kid on the sholders is ok for an hour or 2. I agree that when you bring a kid camping, your time is mostly spent on him / her, but to me that's the fun of it. Bringing your children up with a love / respect for the out doors is something they will value the rest of their lives even if they don't follow in your passions, they'll appreciate the experience. (maybe not until they're 30 and have kids of their own) Here's a couple pix of last year's trip to hoosier nat'l forest.

Wet, dirty, but lovin' it!


Not Hoosier, but a good time anyway.


Harvest from last year.
 
START ASAP!

The first time I went camping and fishing, I was still in the womb, and I have a picture to prove it. I have usually gone camping at least once, sometimes 3-4 times, a year ever since I was born.Mostly to the same place in the Sierra Nevada.

I was just an infant when it snowed like 2 feet on us one year. My mom couldn't figure out why I was so cold one morning, until she opened the tent and realized that I had been sleeping against the side of the tent that had snow piled up against it.

IT'S NEVER TOO EARLY TO TAKE YOUR KIDS CAMPING!!!!!!

Hurry, go now, go camping!
 
Good advice from previous posters. Even though you'll be focused on ensuring your son's safety you'll still have a good time and be able to relax. Just take enough 'kidstuff' that he's used to having at home. Don't make it a 'survival' camp and just enjoy being out there and seeing the world through his eyes. Oh yes...take extra dry clothes....he's sure to get wet and will need extra changes of clothing. ...and marshmallows....kids love marshmallows....hmm think I need to go camping again!!!!
 
My son was camping at minus 4 months (my wife was about 5 months pregnant):D

My son was camping before he could walk and loves it to this day (he's now 8). As already mentioned, make sure your focus is on him and you have activities planned around him. Hiking/nature walks, pointing out wildlife, reading a book by the campfire, swimming/wading...tons to do that any two year old boy would love. Of course, just like any other activity, you need to keep an eye on the little buggers as they have a habit of disappearing and getting into things they shouldn't. They're never too young, get him out and enjoy the outdoors...you can relax as soon as they crash out.

ROCK6
 
Its never too early to camp. I was camping before I could walk. Here is a picture to prove it:

7may9927croppedlo3.jpg


I'm the handsome young boy on the far left in the walker thingie.

My twin sister is on my older sister's lap. If my parents could take five kids (my oldest sister isn't in the picture), including twins, camping, surely you can introduce your son to the joys of nature and have fun.

Let kids explore, get dirty, get wet, ... so long at they are safe. Stay by their side. Their curiosity will take over.
 
Take your son with you! My family and extended family took us out from birth on. We learned by watching and being a part of. We had jobs to do, even if it was just going and picking up a few twigs while the other kids and mother or auntie helped and kept us out of trouble. As we grew in age and maturity, we were given more important jobs like helping to prepare the fire. I think I was 4 when I built my first fire by myself.
 
take 'em , simple camping trip,little chores to make them feel apart of the trip,take lots of pictures and enjoy your family.my opinion because i did not have that when i was growing up but now that i am a father/husband i know that family time and camping/fishing trips make memories and teaching them little things keeps the outdoors alive for generations to come and building great memories and having pictures to accompany the stories being told(& white lies)can be passed down as well.i love it when my son starts a sentence like:remember dad when "we"...and that is because of camping/fishing with my family, never to young or to old just get out and do it...::)
 
Thanks for starting this thread GEC and thanks to everyone for sharing. I've been wondering about this myself for the last couple of months. My daughter is six months old and I want to start taking her camping but wasn't sure when the right age was. I was thinking next spring was a good time to start and based on everyone's input that would be fine. Probelly could have taken her this summer but between being unsure and the high optempo this summer we never got around to it. My mom talks about packing me into the Grand Canyon when I was three months old so I guess any age is acceptable as long as the proper steps are taken to ensure everyone's safety and comfort.
 
My daughter is a year and a half old and has yet to go camping. However, I take her hiking and walking in the woods with one of those back carriers (the brand name of mine is Deuter). She loves it, and "outside" was one of her earliest words. Next summer will be her first camping trip.
 
My ladies had their first trip out in the summer of 05, ages 4 and 2. The wife and I went with some family friends for 6 days, altogether we had 5 kids from 1 to 6 years of age, it was a great time and they never had a chance to be bored, lots of swimming, fishing, hiking, and games.

This coming summer my wife and I are going to bring the girls on their first canoe camping trip, only three days but can't wait.

I found this kinda sad. My youngest started kindergarten this year and at orientations they ask if any of the kids had been camping. My daughter was the only one out of 16 kids that had been.


Helle
 
We took our kids camping from when they were no older than two months. The thing to remember is that they aren't interested in the grand and grandiose - they are much more entranced by a caterpillar or a mud puddle, then by a gorgeous view of a mountainside.

One word of warning: The biggest danger period is when they can walk, but aren't old enough to understand dangers - take your eye off a two year old for three minutes and they can be in the middle of a river 100 yards away from your campsite!
 
Grampa is absolutely right about not watching a little kid. We got a set of 1 year old twins in our home and one second they're playing with their toys and the next, they're walking out the front door that someone forgot to close. Keep a sharp eye on them at all times.
 
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