With iPhones, video games, and Instagram aplenty in today’s world of constant connectivity, it can be tough to completely disconnect and detach—and this is true not only for grownups! It may be difficult to develop positive interactions with technology, especially as technology becomes more and more interwoven into schools and as children are more exposed to ads and social media.
And that’s when camping comes in handy! Camping, like so many other outdoor activities, provides a variety of mental and physical health advantages, one of which is the opportunity to disconnect from technological devices. The only tough thing is figuring out what you want to do with your life. Getting tech-addicted children to go camping in the first place! Here are six strategies for achieving your goal.
1. BRING BOARD GAMES WITH YOU
One of the most difficult obstacles to overcoming that technological crutch is the use of video games. The most appealing aspect of video games for many children who have access to cellphones or gaming consoles is their ability to be both entertaining and distracting.
Consider substituting something more interesting and sociable, such as group-friendly board games, for gaming on your camping vacation, rather than simply prohibiting gaming altogether. Given the plethora of alternatives available to accommodate players of various ages, tastes, and skill levels, there is bound to be something for everyone, no matter how devoted they are to video games. This way, you’ll be able to scratch the same tough itch for them while still doing something fun as a family together.
2. ALLOW THEM TO HELP WITH THE PACKAGING
The more their sense of involvement in the process, the more probable it is that they will feel compelled to engage. As a youngster, imagine being herded into a van and taken away for a weekend camping vacation without having any say or influence. You might not be happy with the prospect, to put it mildly. When your parents are allowed to participate in the planning process and select equipment, bring some games and activity items, and even prepare some campfire dinners, they are certain to be much more enthusiastic. Allowing them to choose their own sleeping bag or a pillowcase with a colorful pattern, or depending on their age, even a plush Smokey Bear might be enough to make them feel included.
3. INVITE FRIENDS AND FAMILY TO THE EVENT
For many children, the fear of losing out on connecting with their peers is a significant deterrent to spending quality family time together away from technology. Remember, this is the critical age range during which maintaining continual touch with pals appears to be the most essential thing in the world, and it might be difficult to peel them away from that.
So perhaps you aren’t required to? A few friends or even a relative of similar age may make a big difference in how much fun you have on your trip. Having the assurance that they won’t be alone in their technological sacrifices for the trip will allow your children to relax a little and take comfort in the knowledge that they will be able to keep familiar companionship. It also provides a chance to instill positive early memories linked with healthy outside activities rather than those connected with at-home technology and online gaming, which can be detrimental in later life.
4. COOK TOGETHER AS A PARTNERSHIP
Unsurprisingly, the more exciting and dynamic you make the camping experience for your children, the greater the likelihood that they will participate. After allowing them to assist with packing, another effective strategy to maintain their attention and make them feel important is to cook as a family. However, instead of making S’mores, consider doing something a bit more involved and giving them duties that will give them a feeling of satisfaction and success.
This may be something as easy as stirring pasta sauce or dressing a salad, or it could be something more ambitious like creating pancake batter from scratch and allowing them to choose their syrups and toppings for a morning family breakfast.
5. ACTIVITIES THAT TAKE PLACE AT NIGHT
While you’re out in the fresh air, consider how you may draw attention to the primary distinctions between camping and remaining at home. One simple suggestion is to plan events for the evening, when most families are winding down at home and children are designed to either catch up on homework or furiously monitor their Facebook feeds, respectively.
While camping, though, you can keep the excitement going by stargazing, going on night walks (with flashlights! ), telling ghost stories over the campfire, and keeping an ear out for hooting owls, among other activities. This will demonstrate to them that there are a plethora of enjoyable and unique things to do outside that just cannot be copied at home…
6. Allow them to “rough it out”
Another enjoyable method to distinguish oneself from one’s home life is to totally immerse oneself in the outdoors. And getting a bit dirty is part of the deal. The concept of purposefully and carelessly becoming dirty at home, of course, would be unacceptable, but while camping, it’s enjoyable to let down your collective guard and enjoy the great outdoors in all its natural (and messy) splendor.
Play in the stream, scurry across sand dunes, build mud pies, and climb trees; engage with the environment in every sensory manner conceivable, and demonstrate just how much fun it can be to put the iPhones and iPads aside for a few days.
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