Family friends often ask me, How old were your kids when you first took them camping? They are really trying to ask me how to know if their child is old enough to begin hiking or camping.
The answer, of course, depends on the child's particular personality, the child's physical condition and if the child is already to go on a camping.
Infant - I would wait until the baby can easily sit up and support his own weight.
Is the baby sleeping through the night? Is the baby easy going or colicky? Even happy babies can go through rough patches like when they are toothing.
Toddler: If you expect them to walk and not be carrying them, checkout the terrain of the campground - make sure it is flat and secure to walk on, as toddlers are still getting used to the idea of balancing on two limbs instead of four.
The best way to find out is to test it out: take walks in a neighborhood park to get an idea of your child's physical aptitude.
Ages 5-9: Young children this age can take longer hikes - at an easy pace.
They are also beginning to develop physical strength and endurance.
Their curiosity drives them to be more adventurous, willing to explore new terrain.
This is a usually a fun age to take camping for the first time.
Ages 10-13: This is a great age to go camping.
They are strong enough to take on the physical challenges of living in the outdoor - once they unhook themselves from their electronic world.
Children this age can contribute to the preparation - menu planning, route finding, cooking, and setting up the tent.
Give them space to experiment, try out recipes, create their own space in the tent.
Ages 14-18: The biggest challenge is to engage them in making the choices right from the start: where to go camping, the camp packing list, where to set up tent, camp cooking, activities.
Any choice must be a group choice or the teenagers will feel 'dragged along'.
There are many ways to introduce your child to the outdoors before you take the big leap.
Hiking, nature walks, tenting in the backyard, fishing, rappelling, biking outside the house, swimming with friends and it sets up anticipation for their first camping trip.
Camping is a good experience for a child because it is a great learning experience for him/her.
The answer, of course, depends on the child's particular personality, the child's physical condition and if the child is already to go on a camping.
Infant - I would wait until the baby can easily sit up and support his own weight.
Is the baby sleeping through the night? Is the baby easy going or colicky? Even happy babies can go through rough patches like when they are toothing.
Toddler: If you expect them to walk and not be carrying them, checkout the terrain of the campground - make sure it is flat and secure to walk on, as toddlers are still getting used to the idea of balancing on two limbs instead of four.
The best way to find out is to test it out: take walks in a neighborhood park to get an idea of your child's physical aptitude.
Ages 5-9: Young children this age can take longer hikes - at an easy pace.
They are also beginning to develop physical strength and endurance.
Their curiosity drives them to be more adventurous, willing to explore new terrain.
This is a usually a fun age to take camping for the first time.
Ages 10-13: This is a great age to go camping.
They are strong enough to take on the physical challenges of living in the outdoor - once they unhook themselves from their electronic world.
Children this age can contribute to the preparation - menu planning, route finding, cooking, and setting up the tent.
Give them space to experiment, try out recipes, create their own space in the tent.
Ages 14-18: The biggest challenge is to engage them in making the choices right from the start: where to go camping, the camp packing list, where to set up tent, camp cooking, activities.
Any choice must be a group choice or the teenagers will feel 'dragged along'.
There are many ways to introduce your child to the outdoors before you take the big leap.
Hiking, nature walks, tenting in the backyard, fishing, rappelling, biking outside the house, swimming with friends and it sets up anticipation for their first camping trip.
Camping is a good experience for a child because it is a great learning experience for him/her.