Camping with an almost 3 year old - Page 1

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Camping with an almost 3 year old

Posted: 4/29/2017 5:00:24 PM EDT

should be interesting.

Story is that my only grandchild is almost 3 and has never been camping. So I have decided to change that by taking him for an overnighter in a 3-4 man tent. We will use pads and sleeping bags. I'm trying to go easy on him since he is so young. Since his mom is expecting another boy in 3 months, I have been looking for something that he and I can do together, as his spotlight is fading fast with the new and improved little guy showing up soon.

Just one day/night, maybe 24 hours total. This place is just up the road and should provide some fun. I have not been camping in several years myself. I have a cooler, fishing poles, folding chairs, flashlights, camera phone, snacks, sunscreen and hats on my list to bring.

Any other ideas or experience based information is appreciated. I picked this place because it should be a civilized experience that will let him have an enjoyable first camping trip with grampa. I hope to make this the first of many.

Posted: 4/29/2017 5:20:05 PM EDT

[#1]

Take him shopping to get him some of his own gear.
New shoes, mess kit, glow sticks.

Posted: 4/29/2017 5:35:42 PM EDT

[#2]

Keep him entertained the whole day in the campground, walks, nature, etc. Will sleep like a baby after a great day. Good on ya, OP.

Posted: 4/29/2017 5:51:16 PM EDT

[#3]

Quote History

Quoted:
Take him shopping to get him some of his own gear.
New shoes, mess kit, glow sticks.

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Good idea - will do, as I need to get a bit of frozen shrimp anyway. The plan is to catch, clean and cook up whatever we catch for dinner.

Posted: 4/29/2017 5:52:23 PM EDT

[#4]

Quote History

Quoted:
Keep him entertained the whole day in the campground, walks, nature, etc. Will sleep like a baby after a great day. Good on ya, OP.

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Should be plenty to do with the ocean, inlet, campground and walking trails all at this camp site.

Posted: 4/29/2017 6:07:27 PM EDT

[#5]

Quote History

Quoted:

Good idea - will do, as I need to get a bit of frozen shrimp anyway. The plan is to catch, clean and cook up whatever we catch for dinner.

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Hit up the bookstore or get a copy of
Just Me and My Dad (Little Critter) https://www.amazon.com/dp/0307118398?tag=vglnk-c102-20

Just Me and My Dad (Little Critter)

Great product!

Posted: 4/29/2017 8:52:44 PM EDT

[#6]

Sound great! Lots of fun for both of you!
Hope your going to have a camp fire! Especial at night!!!
My Sister took my nice's around 18 months or less!
My one Grand-son was camping at about the same age!
You two are going to have a ball! Is your grand-son talking
real good?
Mines 5 years now and I still have trouble understanding him!!!
But an only child!!!
I know the hive and I, would love to see pictures of your great adventure!!!
Please keep us posted!!!

PITA45

Posted: 4/30/2017 11:52:18 AM EDT

[#7]

Sounds like a great time op. I'm personally waiting until my son is about 3 and a half to do camping as we already spend a lot of time on our farm and it's easy for us to just get in a bed at the end of the day.

At 3 they are still absorbing everything they see so any kind of learning would be great for him like teaching him about bugs, trees, etc.

Congrats on the new grandson!

Posted: 4/30/2017 12:20:40 PM EDT

[#8]

Quote History

Quoted:
Good idea - will do, as I need to get a bit of frozen shrimp anyway. The plan is to catch, clean and cook up whatever we catch for dinner.

View Quote View All Quotes

View All Quotes

Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:
Take him shopping to get him some of his own gear.
New shoes, mess kit, glow sticks.

Good idea - will do, as I need to get a bit of frozen shrimp anyway. The plan is to catch, clean and cook up whatever we catch for dinner.

Good plan on the catch and eat, but if he has never eaten that way before, make sure you have an extra pb&j packed, or some frozen chicken nuggets you can cook over the fire.

Only other main suggestion is some good child friendly bug spray, a citronella candle, and check him every 8 hours or so for ticks if you have them in your AO. We take my kids (2 and 4.5) camping regularly, and in some spots we've found a half dozen ticks over 2 days just on one kid. We check them when waking up, after lunch, and bedtime.

Posted: 4/30/2017 12:24:14 PM EDT

[#9]

Backyard camping is all you need to do for a kid that age.

Posted: 4/30/2017 2:34:30 PM EDT

[#10]

Just remember, at that age, the trip is all about the kid...

Posted: 5/1/2017 9:56:18 AM EDT

[#11]

We survived and had a great time.

No ticks or bugs to worry about.

I'll have to get to civilization to upload the photos, especially of the huge fish (singular) i caught. lol

He supervised the assembly of this el-cheapo tent - I did get some laughs from my camper neighbors when I opened my card board box - o - tent kit...lol

The monster catch!

A couple of Manatee

One of the many sea turtles

S'mores

Fire

More fishing
Being old and slow - my nature photos are sorry - but sometimes the animals don't co-operate...

Overall - the little guy loved the whole deal - sleeping in the tent, on a sleeping bag, fishing for hours, checking out the animals - no tv, no video, no electricity used, hanging out with an old crusty guy like me....We did go to the tackle shop for some shrimp and things and I let him make choices on what/where/when we fished and walked around.

1000% successful trip.

Posted: 5/2/2017 8:21:29 AM EDT

[#12]

Good on ya Gramps..
Looks like you two had a ball!
Thanks for the pics.

Posted: 5/2/2017 1:17:59 PM EDT

[#13]

Sure looks like fun!!! Now the wait! See when he says,
"Gramdpa when can we go camping again"!! Shows he like it!!!
But don't wait to long! Just go again!!!
Yes,more picture is all ways the way to go!!!

PITA45

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Camping with an almost 3 year old

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