Backpacking With Children

By Sarah J Holt

Although backpacking with children may seem like a lot of
effort, the benefits gained from taking them along can far
outweigh the hassles. The benefits include not competing with
technology for your children’s attention, teaching them
self-sufficiency skills, and watching them connect with the
peacefulness of nature. Here are six tips that allow for a more
positive experience when backpacking with children.

1. Involve Them In Packing

Make a list of the items to bring and have your children help
collect them. If they are not old enough to read, you can read
the items to them. This is important because the more the
children are involved in preparations the more they will feel a
part of the trip, and the less likely they are to be resistant
to backpacking.

2. Get Their Help with Choosing the Trail

Choose a couple of trails and sites that are acceptable to you
and then let the children choose from among them. This is
another way of involving the children and letting them have a
say in where you will be going.

3. Give Them Special Items For Backpacking

Give them something special that is to be used only for
backpacking. Children enjoy binoculars, water bottles with fun
designs on them, walking sticks, and small waterproof cameras.
Another special item that is not only fun, but can be very
useful, is their own flashlight.

4. Get Them Excited About Going

Getting children excited can be as simple as talking about
backpacking in terms of how fun it is. Another method of
eliciting excitement is to go to the library and get books on,
and about, backpacking. These may be how-to books, especially
illustrated ones, or fiction books with characters that have
adventures in the woods.

5. Bring Along Games

While there is a lot to entertain children with while
backpacking, it is always a good idea to bring along a game or
two. These are useful when it rains, or at night when the
children are in the tent, but too restless to sleep. Small,
lightweight games specific to backpacking can be found in stores
that specialize in outdoor activities. Other options consist of
purchasing an extra small deck of playing cards (these are about
1/4 of the size of standard decks), using travel versions of
traditional games, or repacking games, such as bring the dice
from a Yahtzee game in a zip lock bag with a couple sheets of
paper and small pencils or pens.

6. Praise Their Hard Work

It can work wonders when children feel that they are impressing
their parents. One easy way to accomplish this is to comment on
how hard they are working, both with the hike and with camp
chores. First, encourage them to do a good job, and then praise
the results.

While backpacking with children can be extra work, the end
result is often more than worth it. There is something about
nature than can calm even an otherwise hyper kid, and time alone
with parents provides the perfect opportunity for long talks and
quiet companionship, that may proof elusive when at home where
computers, televisions, and phones all make distractions a
common occurrence.

So, load up the kids next time, and build a special memory that
only backpacking with children can create.

About the Author: Sarah Holt writes for The Ultralight
Backpacking Site. To get the e-book "Ultralight Backpacking
Secrets (And Wilderness Survival Tips)" for FREE, as well as
photos, gear recommendations, and a new wilderness survival
section, visit: http://www.The-Ultralight-Site.com

Source: http://www.isnare.com

Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=203214&ca=Parenting
By Sarah J Holt

Although backpacking with children may seem like a lot of
effort, the benefits gained from taking them along can far
outweigh the hassles. The benefits include not competing with
technology for your children’s attention, teaching them
self-sufficiency skills, and watching them connect with the
peacefulness of nature. Here are six tips that allow for a more
positive experience when backpacking with children.

1. Involve Them In Packing

Make a list of the items to bring and have your children help
collect them. If they are not old enough to read, you can read
the items to them. This is important because the more the
children are involved in preparations the more they will feel a
part of the trip, and the less likely they are to be resistant
to backpacking.

2. Get Their Help with Choosing the Trail

Choose a couple of trails and sites that are acceptable to you
and then let the children choose from among them. This is
another way of involving the children and letting them have a
say in where you will be going.

3. Give Them Special Items For Backpacking

Give them something special that is to be used only for
backpacking. Children enjoy binoculars, water bottles with fun
designs on them, walking sticks, and small waterproof cameras.
Another special item that is not only fun, but can be very
useful, is their own flashlight.

4. Get Them Excited About Going

Getting children excited can be as simple as talking about
backpacking in terms of how fun it is. Another method of
eliciting excitement is to go to the library and get books on,
and about, backpacking. These may be how-to books, especially
illustrated ones, or fiction books with characters that have
adventures in the woods.

5. Bring Along Games

While there is a lot to entertain children with while
backpacking, it is always a good idea to bring along a game or
two. These are useful when it rains, or at night when the
children are in the tent, but too restless to sleep. Small,
lightweight games specific to backpacking can be found in stores
that specialize in outdoor activities. Other options consist of
purchasing an extra small deck of playing cards (these are about
1/4 of the size of standard decks), using travel versions of
traditional games, or repacking games, such as bring the dice
from a Yahtzee game in a zip lock bag with a couple sheets of
paper and small pencils or pens.

6. Praise Their Hard Work

It can work wonders when children feel that they are impressing
their parents. One easy way to accomplish this is to comment on
how hard they are working, both with the hike and with camp
chores. First, encourage them to do a good job, and then praise
the results.

While backpacking with children can be extra work, the end
result is often more than worth it. There is something about
nature than can calm even an otherwise hyper kid, and time alone
with parents provides the perfect opportunity for long talks and
quiet companionship, that may proof elusive when at home where
computers, televisions, and phones all make distractions a
common occurrence.

So, load up the kids next time, and build a special memory that
only backpacking with children can create.

About the Author: Sarah Holt writes for The Ultralight
Backpacking Site. To get the e-book "Ultralight Backpacking
Secrets (And Wilderness Survival Tips)" for FREE, as well as
photos, gear recommendations, and a new wilderness survival
section, visit: http://www.The-Ultralight-Site.com

Source: http://www.isnare.com

Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=203214&ca=Parenting