We all live such hectic lives these days, and one of the best ways to clear the mind and unwind is to step outside and get back to nature. Camping is perfect for this, but the idea of doing it with young children can seem daunting to say the least.
Travelling around Australia when our first son was 6 months old definitely taught me a trick or two. Probably the hardest, most important thing to do is to simply let go. Don’t be precious. They will get dirty. They will pick things up and, if they are anything like my boys, they will probably try and eat it too. I’ll never forget being busy setting up camp, only to look over at our son and see him hoeing in to a piece of kangaroo poo!! Yes, at the time both my husband and I were horrified. But he survived and it has now become just another funny camping moment.
One of my biggest concerns was- How is my son going to sleep? He was in a new bed, with new surroundings, in the same room as us and we had limited control over room temperatures. We were travelling in a caravan but often had no power and, when going off the beaten track, would leave the caravan behind and simply tent it.
I wont lie. There were hard times. We had some nights it was still 40 plus degrees (hotter in the caravan) at 11pm with not a breath of air. Long stretches driving, and having to run around in the rain to setup camp. But the memories we made together as a family far out way any negative experiences, all of which we all look back and just laugh at.
Here are some of my tips I have learned along the way.
They’re going to get dirty, so rather than spending the whole trip trying to keep them out of the mud- Let them go! Take extra towels, plenty of wipes and even a spare pair of shoes can be handy, and don’t change them until you really have to. Overalls are great for this, or if you’re feeling creative, you can make some plastic pull over pants like me. I picked up some clear table cloth plastic from spotlight for a couple of dollars, traced around a pair of my sons pants, cut out the pattern and sewed them up with elastic in the top. This way he could crawl through puddles and his underclothes stayed dry.
Have a chill out day. You may have a lot you want to see and do, but the key to making your camping experience a relaxing one is to just go with the flow. Anyone with young children will know just how different each day can be, so take your time and smell the roses. Make a day where you do nothing but chill out by the camp. Let the kids do a bit of exploring and get them to collect sticks for the campfire. The kids will love helping out and I guarantee you’ll love the down time too.
Bathtime. After a day playing in nature a bath is essential, but water can be scarce, and so can showers for that matter. Buckets are fantastic for this, they use little water and have many other uses around the camp too. We used a blow up paddle boat for our son and he loved it! We used it for bathing, floating down rivers, even to eat his lunch in at the beach to stop it getting sandy.
Cook dinner early. Cooking with torches can be a little difficult, try and use the natural sunlight as best you can. You might even find after being outdoors all day the kids even go to bed early, leaving you to sit back by the fire and watch the stars.
Still not sure if camping is for you? If you or your family really aren’t the camping type and you don’t want to go out and spend hundreds of dollars on camp gear for that one off trip. Why not try Glamping with Soul Camping. Based in the picturesque south Western Australia, Soul Camping is a luxury camping hire company and they do all the hard work for you. Simply choose a location between Busselton and Margaret River (be it caravan park, campground or even your backyard) and let Soul Camping do the rest. They will pitch the tent, make up the beds and hang the lights. All you need to do is throw your suit case in the tent, sit back and enjoy. Then at the end of your stay, simply jump in your car and go, as Soul Camping pack it all back up for you too.
And remember, just like anything, the more you do it the easier it will become.
So what are you waiting for….Time to get outside and start making those memories!!
We would love to hear about your camping experiences. Feel free to add any of your own tips, tricks and funny moments in the comments below.
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