If you’re flirting with the idea of taking your family camping this season, but not quite sure yet, let me give you the final notch and explain to you why it would be soooo good for all of you to go camping with your kids. It doesn’t matter how you do it, if you have experience or where you go. What matters is that you are setting your relationship and your children up for success. And who doesn’t want that?

The way I camp now is far from the experience I have from my childhood. In Denmark, there is no such thing as wilderness or back-country exploring. There are 1-5 star ‘RV’ parks with primitive to shiny toilet buildings, playgrounds, pools, beaches, freshly baked bread for breakfast and so on and so on. However, the fact that my parents took me 'glamping’ in (by US standards) a very old and basic RV trailer for weeks taught me important values and skills that makes being away from home and exploring second nature. It bonded us as a family and I became a braver, more independent and less skittish person.

Reason no. 1: Being in the wilderness = Uninterrupted family quality time where you re-connect with your children

I couldn't say it better than @Our Happy.mess did: "The uninterrupted no reception family time is irreplaceable. Childhood is a one time thing...make it count." This is why any type of wilderness exploring is crucial to us as parents and as a couple. Whether it's hiking, overlanding, skiing, camping, walking, biking, fishing etc., it's the importance of being away from other distractions that counts. It is much easier to reconnect with your spouse and your children when there are no errands to run, TV to watch  or Instagram feeds to distract you. 

Our toddler, E, is now at an age where she expresses her excitement about having us both there with her. You can easily tell she loves spending time as a family and often asks to go camping - probably because she's learned that that's when both mommy and daddy are there all the time at the same time. Being at home on the weekends, it's so easy to get caught up in running errands separately or taking turns doing 'your' thing, your 'me' time. Toddlers and babies don't care about that, they just want mommy and daddy and they will quickly learn the difference between you being off work and you being off work and present.

Reason no. 2: Install great values while camping: the importance of patience, responsibility, and community

There's no better place than the wilderness or the car to teach your children the importance of patience. Sometimes you just have to be bored or wait a little longer. And sometimes you need to find entertainment in a bucket, three rocks and a leaf (which children actually do naturally). 

Children also love responsibility and being given a task to do to help out. Camping with kids, especially toddlers, is an opportune moment to get them involved. Teach them early about the importance of their contributions to the situation and that they are as important to the community and family as any other member. Have your toddler be in charge of handing you the pegs, carry in the sleeping bags or fetching the plates. There are lots of little things your toddler and older children can do to make them feel invaluable. If you camp as a group, they will also learn the importance of helping each other and team work to get a fire going, food prepared, cover set up in case of rain etc.

If you camp in designated camp sites, you are likely to run into other families and children. Your children can practice their social skills, independence and how to deal with shyness through playing with strangers.  Many argue that a crucial aspect to succeeding at work as adults is social skills (see the study here). Why not strengthen them as much as you can in a natural way?

Reason no. 3: Learn the importance of simple/minimal living while camping

It is much easier to appreciate what you have when you are away from it. Learning what basic things actually constitute a living space : bed, roof/shelter, fire, pot, water, food, the fully stocked kitchen at home is a luxury. And to be able to cook and live at such a basic level for a period of time sets your little ones up for basic 'survival' later in life. "Yes, you can survive sharing a bathroom with a roommate!". "No, you won't die from living in a 10x14 dorm room with no room for your stuff”, "Yes, you can absolutely cook up a feast on a can of beans, a tomato and some pasta" and so on. I am sure many will disagree with me, but I also believe in the importance of being able to go to the bathroom anywhere. I have friends who at the age of 30+ still can't pee in public restrooms, let alone in nature. It pains me to see how they struggle when out and about. If you have never dangled butt out from your father's arms at the side of a road or endured a port-a-potty in the middle of a hot July, you have never lived! And there are so many new alternatives to just a bucket out there now, so it no longer has to be a traumatic experience. (See out setup for our great toilet alternative).

Reason no. 4: Camping lets you explore the land where you live - and travel cheaply and (relatively) environmentally friendly

Being expats, it’s easy for us to feel as tourists still. We want to make the most of our time here and see as much as we can. But it’s hard not to with so many beautiful and spectacular places to visit right at our door step. I get it, though, I’ve lived in places where I never knew what was 20 minutes away from me. Or where it wasn’t all that spectacular. But again, it’s not about where you go, but the fact that you get out there. And there is always beauty and nature to be found most places. It brings a real sense of accomplishment to our lives knowing the land around us, especially when we have visitors coming to stay with us. We have been able to show everyone our favorite spots or explore new areas together which always impress our visitors.

Not sure where to go camping with kids?

I get it, it takes time figuring out your options and the best spots. Ask your friends or coworkers or neighbors. Ask me! Stay tuned for my post on how to decide where to go along with my list of favorite beginner camping spots for all comfort levels (glamping and primitive).

Reason no. 5: Reconnect with your spouse and keeping your sense of self while exploring

In connection to my first reason for family camping, I often feel that camping and overlanding saves our marriage. Despite the chaos that often rules in the car, we also get a chance to reconnect and catch up. It is especially important to us now that M is travelling more for work and spending so much time building our new trailer. It also helps us feel that we are still us, still doing what we were interested in before our children came along and demanded all our time. It is vital for them to see that even though they are our top priority, we still decide what we do and where to go. And we show them that it’s healthy to have a hobby, to have our own friends and to have something to be passionate about.

What’s to stop you from going camping with your family?

I  understand that with long work weeks and sometimes multiple jobs, it seems overwhelming to leave town for the weekend, especially camping with kids which takes a little extra planning. Not to mention the amount of gear needed. But remember you set your own rules.

• Start slow and small. Borrow gear. (See my post on recommended gear and packing tips if you're going with baby for the first time).

• Camp close to home and start with 1 night.

• Go with friends, so you can help each other.

• Keep it basic and get takeout on the way that you eat outside.

You’ll be amazed at how much can be done in a weekend. I have weekends where we camp two nights in the middle of nowhere, hike a mountain, see new areas and catch up talking while driving for hours in the car. Other weekends have a grocery run and perhaps the playground as the highlights. And we all need those weekends too. But let me tell you, the first weekend is far more energizing and rewarding.

Let me put it this way; which of the two weekends do you think you and your children will remember in a year from now?

Happy camping everyone! 

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