More often than not, adults fear nature more than children do. Therefore, it may come as a surprise when your child takes to nature quite easily. If camping in the woods does not sit well with you, then why not pitch a tent in the backyard. You will find all the activities and crafts that usually come along with camping right in your own backyard, except the campfire.

Here are some ways to ease any fears that your child may have with the thought of camping:

• Let you’re kids participate in the planning of the camping trip
• Think about camping in the backyard as a way to introduce camping to you’re children
• Go camping with other adults that have children, so that they have someone to play with and are not doing it on their own. Sometimes other children act as a good role model for them and show them there is nothing to be afraid of, plus it doesn’t hurt to have other adults around to watch the kids too.
• Let each child have their own flashlight that they can use as much as they want. Therefore, you may want to bring along some extra batteries.
• With younger children that are having difficulty sleeping, you could take them for a slow drive around the campground. When they fall asleep you could easily move them from your car to their sleeping bag,
• Masks sounds of the forest that they are not used to with soothing music or discs that play lullaby’s
• Make sure to bring any comforting item they like. This may be a pillow, stuffed animal, or favorite blanket,

Buy them a disposable camera or let the kids make a memory jar for them to remember the camping trip. You could have them take photographs of the camping trip, then let them make a book for them to write all their memories in with the photos after you have the film developed.

Family board games and cards are a great thing to play with the family when there is nothing else to do. Even in the case that you camp in the backyard, make it so that there is no electronic games, phones, or TV. Doing things like this is a great way to spend some quality time with out distractions with the family.