Roughing it up with the Family!!

When I was seven years old, I remember going out on a spring-break camping with Mom, Dad, some of my cousins, uncles, aunts...It was a big group and we had tons of fun.

We all long for the good times to pass by us. But did we ever realize that we can usher in plenty of fun moments anytime we go out on a vacation??

Yes! When we go out on a wilderness campaign with the kids, there are certain things that we have to bear in mind. It's important to introduce them to the joy of nature, but it's very difficulot when the kids are mere toddlers. You might not take a vacation at all, or you might want to call off the vacation midway. It's not easy, especially when they're still crawling.

Let's take a sneak peek at the 'to do' and 'not to do' list.

Gearing up
The destination has to be at a reasonable distance from home — you know how long your child can sit in the car. Consider things like drive time, arriving at your destination long before dark. You gotta pack carefully, and even excessively. We don't know whether there are grocery stores near the campsite.

Lodging
I bet, campgrounds with amenities like flush toilets and potable running water, or rent a room or cabin should be the first choice. There are many national parks, which have kid-friendly resorts. There are others that rent small cabins, while there are motels sprawling around many of them.

Don't forget the Weather Gods
Rain can be fun, but it can be a spoil sport too. We don't want to sing the song in the last moment. It's always good to bring the rain gear. Plus, in mountains, the temperatures vary wildly. What to do?? Dressing up the children in layers is very protective. My parents did the same when we went out.

Observing the Kids' Behavior
We know our child more than anyone else. A change of routines can either be amusing or upsetting for them. So, we plan accordingly. We might want to mimic the normal schedule while camping. Don't forget their special toys.

I think this can be a good primer for family vacationers, no? A rough guide, indeed!