As with most parents, you have probably come to the realization that there is something lacking in today’s society that we enjoyed as kids. Previous generations spent more time with their parents and less times connected to friends, some of whom they’ve oddly never met! With so much time being spent on cell phones and the Internet, it’s a wonder we know our kids at all.
This year, why not take the kids on a camping vacation? There is much of what they can learn while being surrounded only by nature and it is up to you, as a parent, to show them another side of life. Find a suitably large tent on websites like My Family Tent where you can get enough information to know you are making the right choice. Then book your campsite so that you can start preparing to finally get to know your children.
How to Enjoy Life in a Non-Digital World
One of the best things kids can learn when camping is that they really can survive in a non-digital world. You don’t need a computer or a cell phone, and you certainly don’t need the latest Xbox or Nintendo game system to get by. What you need is a healthy appreciation for nature and a few ideas on how to keep busy with nothing to distract you but a few birds, the sound of crickets and frogs and perhaps a passing squirrel or fox. Camping is fun and there is much to do if you leave the devices at home.
Survival Techniques & Self-Reliance
Perhaps we have done our children a vast disservice by creating all the apps and hi-tech devices they’ve come to rely on. In fact, fewer children than ever are visiting libraries than in any previous generation. Why do you think that is? If you guess the Internet, you are 100 percent correct. Why go to the library to research your upcoming term paper when you can do a quick online search to find all the reference materials you need.
What do you think would happen if the Internet suddenly went down and never came back online again? Would your kids know how to put together a model plane without a YouTube DIY video? Would they know how to find the phone number for the nearest Pizza Hut? Probably not! Few kids even know what the hardcopy yellow pages even are anymore, so teaching them a few survival skills on a camping trip just might help them learn to think for themselves!
A Respect for Nature
Finally, camping helps your kids learn a healthy respect for nature. From getting in the tent during a sudden rainstorm to watching how bees pollinate wildflowers, they now have time to be aware of their surroundings. Yes, they can watch online videos and television shows like National Geographic, but there’s nothing like the real thing. If you want your kids to leave a better world for their children someday, and their children’s children, teach them a healthy respect for nature.
Make this a year of being together without distractions from the digital realm. It will certainly be a time to remember. That’s for sure.