Taking my 3yo and 6yo camping for the first time this weekend. We're just doing a state park about 45 min away, one night in a cabin. Got the gear ready but I'm nervous about keeping them entertained and dealing with bedtime outside. Any advice from guys who've done this? Should I plan activities or just let them explore?
State parks are perfect for this. Not too far from civilization but feels like real camping. Bring way more snacks than you think you need and keep bedtimes flexible, they'll be exhausted from being outside all day.
Do yourself a favor and bring way more snacks than you think you'll need. Our first camping trip we ran out of stuff and a hungry toddler in the woods is nobody's idea of fun. Also, low expectations on sleep, high expectations on flexibility.
A state park is the right call for a first trip with that age range. Keep it low key, bring easy food, and let them just explore and be outside. The 6yo will probably love it and the 3yo will be entertained by rocks and sticks honestly.
Get a good tent set up and definitely bring a camping chair for yourself because you'll need a place to decompress. Those first camping trips with littles are chaotic but also kind of amazing. Make sure you have activities for the car ride too if it's more than an hour.
That's awesome. State parks are the perfect starter camping spot. Make sure you have a good routine for getting them settled at night - tent time can be weird for little ones. We brought a familiar blanket and some books which helped a ton.
My advice: keep it short and simple for trip one. We did one night only with our 3yo and it was perfect. Easier to have a win and want to do it again than to bite off too much.
My first camping trip with the toddler was a trip let me tell you. Pro tip: bring way more wipes than you think you'll need and don't expect to sleep much. But it's actually really fun once you let go of the idea that it needs to be perfect.
We're doing our first camping trip with a toddler soon too! Are you bringing the pack and play or just going with whatever works? Trying to figure out the sleep situation with a 3yo.
The hardest part is remembering you're not camping anymore, you're just keeping two kids fed and not losing them in the woods. Lower expectations on what a 'good camping trip' looks like and you'll have a better time.
Tent stakes, extra batteries, and a backup plan for if someone gets homesick. Also your 6yo is probably going to have a blast exploring so let that energy loose. The 3yo might surprise you too.
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Your 3yo is going to get dirty and tired and it's going to be great. Just prepare for early mornings because kids wake up at dawn in tents no matter what. But honestly the memories are worth it.