Safety Tips For Camping With Kids

Camping with the family is a great way to spend time together enjoying the great outdoors but, if you aren’t prepared, everything can go horribly wrong. Accidents, injuries and careless blunders can ruin what should be a fun and memorable trip.

These helpful tips can help lessen the risk of unexpected disasters that could hinder the success of your family camping trip.

Teach Them the Basics

Learning about the great outdoors is a great experience for kids and it’s a great way for families to bond, but if they don’t know about the hidden dangers, camping can be a disaster waiting to happen. Teach them about poisonous plants to avoid and how to recognize dangerous insects. Establish basic rules like staying on trails and not wandering away from camp. Most importantly, teach them about the importance of respecting nature.

Plan ahead

Camping is different from their daily lives and while sleeping in a tent and making s’mores can be loads of fun for kids, they don’t always do well with changes to routine. Try some practice runs in the backyard before the big camping trip so they can be prepared and know what to expect.

Camping practice in the backyard. Photo: Wavebreakmedia Ltd | Dreamstime.com

Guard against mosquitoes and other biting insects

Instead of spraying them from head to toe with harmful chemicals, grab some convenient mosquito repellent bracelets. They come in tons of fun colors and fit around ankles and wrists and they can even be used as ponytail holders in a pinch. Most brands are waterproof and made from all-natural mosquito repellent so they are even safe for expecting mothers.

Invest in reflective backpacks

Backpacks are a camping necessity and when you supply your little ones with packs designed with reflective material you know they will be safer in the dark when you can easily spot them. Herschel Supply Company offers the Heritage Collection, a line of day/night reflective backpacks for kids that come in a variety of sizes and colors.

Stock those packs with emergency supplies

Make sure they’ve got a few basics in their backpacks in case they get separated from the group. A bottle of water, some granola bars and a rain poncho to protect them from the elements are some necessities that could go a long way. A whistle tucked away in their bag is a great way to give them a method of communicating they are lost or need help. It’s also important to discuss these items with them ahead of time — preparedness goes a long way in preventing panic when a little one realizes they’re lost.