THE QUINTESSENTIAL GUIDE TO BACKYARD CAMPING 

September 22, 2020 /

Written by Feba Maryann   

With spring season just around the corner, it’s a great time to get your kids outdoors to connect with nature. Nothing can be compared to the limitless fun that kids have when camping outdoors. However, the state border lockdowns and medical risks involved in a road trip discourages most parents from leaving the comforts of their own home. Highly energetic kids bounded by the four walls of your living room with nothing to do could potentially drive you nuts. What if I told you that you could turn your backyard into your own campsite?   

Yes, you heard it right. Here’s a great way to experience the outdoors without having to stress about Coronavirus or losing your sanity. However, proper planning is needed to keep your kids engaged and happy. Here’s all the steps you need to take to ensure you make this “camping trip” a memorable one.   

  1. Pitch A Play Tent  

Grab your camping tent from the garage and decorate it with garlands, fairy lights and blankets or get artsy and build one with your little ones. Building a fantasy fort from your child’s imagination teach them about engineering and sustainability. Stock it up with books, stuffed animals, board games and a deck of cards.   

  1. Engage Your Kids With Outdoor Games.  

Your children are innate scientists. A scavenger hunt is a great idea to help them discover nature. You can ask them to hunt for leaves, insects or flowers of different colours or shapes and then help them name it. Paste these specimens in a scrapbook and make a Nature Collage. This activity inculcates STEM learning and fosters their problem solving and creative skills. A magnifying glass and flashlights are sure to add an element of fun to their adventures.   

You could also plan a treasure hunt with clues that lead them around your backyard and finally lead them to a reward. You could design a treasure map to help with the process. Give out clues that are geared to family activities or a recent incident. Design a flag for two teams and compete with each other. Make sure each person in the team is involved and engaged.  

You could teach them arts and crafts or play board games. Team sports like volleyball and football also helps to burn off energy. They teach the family to work together and inculcates team spirit.  Water balloons and guns are always a winner with kids of all ages.   

  1. Cook Outside  

Personally, nothing reminds me of camp like the smoky taste of bacon. Make your camping experience authentic by cooking campfire dampers, sticky sausages, chicken kebabs, baked eggs or any other family favourite. Finally, have s’mores for dessert. You could go for the classic Graham, chocolate and marshmallow combo or try new variations.   

  1. Campfire Songs And Stories  

Bring out your acoustic guitar and put your karaoke skills to test around the campfire. Make a list of your children’s favourite songs or take this opportunity to teach them new tunes. Bring out pots and spoons to keep up with the beat. You could also try to come up with short family jingles and catchy tunes, I’m sure you will be surprised with the creativity they have to offer. If your kids are old enough to listen to spooky tales, huddle around the fire and narrate a ghost story. If not, narrate witty incidents from your childhood. You could also encourage them to create and narrate a few stories of their own.     

  1. Turn Your Backyard Into A Mini Movie Theatre  

Screen your kids favourite animated movies with an outdoor projector and a white screen. You could also play home videos to personalise the experience. Spread out blankets and pillows hang a few fairy lights and don’t forget your popcorn!  

  1. Go Stargazing  

If you don’t have a telescope, don’t let that stop you from enjoying the night sky with your kids. While smaller kids can have fun counting the number of stars and drawing the patterns they see, bigger kids can identify those constellations by using reference books or apps. Tall about what they see like the moon, shooting stars or planets in the comfort of your own backyard.   

So, instead of getting all worked up because you have nowhere to go, use these ideas to create a memorable and educational getaway for your children. Embrace the unique experience it offers to your whole family. Get ready to explore your lawn from a new point of view and to make memories that will last a lifetime!