With summer approaching, your kids will have to enjoy the great outdoors. Summer camps are something that requires a decent deal of planning to work out the right way. Staying away from the cities for a few weeks takes a decent amount of supplies and preparations. Here are some tips on what you can do to get started.
Clothing
Preparations should begin weeks in advance so you’ll be able to keep track of everything they need. You can avoid the shopping trips done in the last minutes of the day to buy them new things. Make sure you pack plenty of t-shirts, tank tops, shorts and so on. But also, don’t forget to prepare some warm clothes along since the nights can get pretty cold. Prepare some pajamas, sneakers, flip-flops and, definitely, a hat. No matter where they go for the summer camp, your kids may need a bathing suit. Even if there is no swimming pool, an ocean or a lake nearby, they may decide to sunbathe. Help your kids decide on how many clothing items they should bring along, depending on the length of the camp.
Gear
Once you are done with the clothes part of the preparations, you should focus on preparing for camping. Begin with the following items:
- A sleeping bag
- A comfortable pillow
- Sunglasses with UV protection
- A LED flashlight with reserve batteries
- Sunscreen (very useful regardless of location)
- Insect repellent
- First aid kit (just in case, you never know when it might come in handy)
- Hygiene products such as toothpaste, toothbrush, shampoo and soap
Entertainment
A summer camp can last a relatively long time, so your kids might experience homesickness if they are attached to you and are used to being around you a lot. You can help them deal with this emotion by suggesting they pick some things that they are likely to take along anyway, but it won’t be a bad idea to remind them which things in particular they ought to bring along.
- A physical photo of your family to remind them of home – Don’t underestimate the power of an image like that. Many people keep photos of their loved ones in their wallets and personal belongings for a good reason.
- Remind them to take their cellphones and/or laptops – Regardless of how long a stay that might be, they will need other entertainment and a way to contact you. Maybe they’ll have wireless internet and, even if they don’t, they will need some other sort of contact with friends and family.
- A camera – Taking photos of all the things they may find interesting will help them keep a log of sorts. They can then upload all the great photos they have taken onto their preferred social network profile for sharing.
- Suggest they take other forms of entertainment – Comic books, board games or even books can be a great way to relax if they have the time for it. Pack some sweets or something else to keep them busy if you think they will enjoy it.
