Backyard Campout
Maybe you’re not up to a full-blown, pack-up-everything-you-own campout where you actually drive to a campsite near or far from your home. Let’s face it, camping’s a ton of work, whether you think it’s worth it or not. But here’s something you can do if you have a tent and some sleeping bags, or even a tarp and some blankets if you live where there are no mosquitos.
Sometimes the simplest things are the most fun. “Like sleeping in a tent with Daddy,” my almost-six-year old says. Or roasting marshmallows over the barbecue or backyard firepit. Or, just sleeping in the back yard. It’s perfect if you need to go potty in the night, or if you’re uncomfortable in any way. You can just go in the house to your own bed.
We did this on Friday night. We’d just watched a kind of scary Star Trek episode and the kids were a bit freaked out to sleep outside. So I slept in the family room witih one kid, while Darren had the two younger ones slept outside in a tent. Our oldest was on a church youth overnighter. My back hurt a bit from sleeping on the couch, but everyone who was outside had a great sleep once we got rid of the spider that was dangling over Leah’s head. She was all cozy in her sleeping bags, stuffed animals and about five assorted blankets. She came in about nine the next morning declaring that she was quite grown up for sleeping in the tent all night. I agreed.
Here are some other fun things to try during a backyard campout:
* Try to find the Big Dipper and Milky Way.
* Play cards on the picnic table.
* Tell funny stories, not scary ones, or you will have put up the tent for nothing.
For more fun things to do check out The Great American Campout. Your kids will always remember that you camped out in the back yard.
Leave a Reply