Our family LOVES to be outside. Our kids thrive outdoors. However, our struggles don’t disappear just because we’re doing a preferred activity. Most often, different problems arise that we wouldn’t have at home.

The best thing to do when you’re camping is to be prepared and have back up plans. You want to make this as easy on yourself as possible so that you can enjoy vacation time too. 

We try to pick camping spots that are close to us because we often just go for a short weekend. Our kids are usually pretty stir crazy by the time we get to the campground even if it is close by because there is a lot of waiting, such as:

• When we load the truck
• When we hook up the camper
• Getting to the campground
• Unhooking and stabilizing the camper

Between all of these things it’s about an hour plus of waiting in the car. They do have electronics, toys, books, crafts, etc. but even that only keeps them interested for a while. 

Once we get to the campground we try to keep the little kids in the car for an extra ten minutes while we unhook the camper. Our eldest daughter sometimes feels like helping and sometimes she can’t be bothered.  If we let the littles out of the car they tend to scatter in all directions trying to explore the new campground. If we can get the camper stabilized before they escape then my partner and I can explore the new campground with our kids, which is obviously the preferred option. 

The next battle is getting everyone on the same page for activities and meals. Our oldest is a moody and stubborn  almost eleven year old. Getting her to go with the flow is often mission impossible. Our younger three children are more often on the same wave length.  

We start with a small snack when we get there and then go for a walk or go to the playground, if there is one. It’s good after “all that waiting” to stretch and get the wiggles out. Our kids are perpetually wiggly so running and playing doesn’t actually solve this issue but the dopamine helps regulate their emotions. I’ll take that as a win. 

Our next hurdle is dinner time. Anyone with more than one kid knows this struggle.  Or maybe it’s just my kids...please, tell me it’s not just my kids. I would love to tell you that I just make one meal and they are all thrilled and say, “Thanks Mom! This is great” but I’d be lying. There’s just not enough space in the camper to make more than one meal, let alone 4 different menu options.

I solve this problem by mostly bringing leftovers of their favorite meal options. This makes it easy for me because I can just heat up what they want and then enjoy whatever I want to eat.  We usually have one night where we roast hotdogs on the fire with fruits and veggies on the side. Fortunately that’s one meal that we all enjoy. 

Bedtime is the next obstacle. OMFG! This should be an Olympic sport. It’ tricky at home, in the camper it’s at a whole other level! I’m telling you, getting my kids into pajamas, brushing teeth, etc. might be as hard as Super Mario 2, the Lost Levels. We could have walked five miles, gone to the park, swam at the pool for hours, and they would still be wiggly, overstimulated, hyper gremlins. 

When you’re in a tight and enclosed space this is less than ideal. At least at home our carpet and furniture helps absorb some of the shrieking. 

As parents we just have to breathe and let them get there. The reality of this situation is that we’re on vacation and everything is new and exciting. Breathe, we’re going to get through it and eventually everyone will be in bed.  This is one of those times where my partner and I use our quiet voices.  We’ll tap one kid at a time, wrangle them into pajamas then let them go back to the shenanigans. Rinse and repeat till eventually they’re all snuggled into their sleeping bags.  

This bears repeating because I need you to grasp the importance here. 

1. Breathe
2. Gain one child’s attention
3. Help them complete whatever task you’re on. DO NOT expect them to do it themselves, it will NOT happen.
4. Breathe
5. Repeat steps 2, 3, and 4 until the gremlins are in bed. 

With two parents and 4 children this process takes about an hour from start to finish (I timed it) in the camper, where at home the nighttime routine is closer to thirty minutes. Your time may differ. 

Again the moral is be PREPARED! Have a loose plan and a back-up plan or two in case it rains or something. And then just remember you’re on vacation. Enjoy these precious moments with your kids. Put your phone down and be present. It’s these small moments together that will be core memories for them and you don’t want to miss that. 

This is the perfect opportunity to practice taking it one day, one hour at a time. These are the moments to remember.