Camping with kids three to five years of age can be a delight. There's no better time for kids to begin truly enjoying outdoor adventuring. At this age, kids are able to be a little more self-sufficient during camping trip but are still new enough to the world to view camping as an exotic, strange new adventure. However, nothing will ruin a camping trip as fast as an injury or illness, so it's important for parents to take precautions that will protect a preschooler's safety.
If you're going camping with your preschooler, here are ten important tips for keeping your child safe and healthy.
1. Give plenty of fluids. Kids in this age group are prone to dehydration. On a hot, summer day, they need constant access to fluids to prevent dehydration. Bring juice pouches and sports drinks for variety and nutritional benefit.
2. Keep a close eye on your kid. If you have your back turned to your preschooler for even a few moments, he might begin wandering down the trail-- a problem that is unnerving at best and deadly at worst. Watch your child constantly while you're on a camping trip.
3. Bring toilet paper. Keep toilet paper on hand for girls. You're likely to be two miles into a hike when she suddenly announces that she needs to pee. Proper bathroom hygeine, even in the absence of a bathroom, is necessary to prevent urinary tract infections, especially in children.
4. Wash or sanitize hands frequently. I'm no germaphobe, but, during a camping trip, I make sure to keep my daughter's hands reasonably clean. A few days without hand-washing can get a kid's hands very dirty, and that presents a hazard to her health. Bring a bottle of hand sanitizer to minimize this risk.
5. Watch out for dangerous plants. Know how to identify poison oak, poison ivy, poison sumac, stinging nettle, and wild parsnip, and teach your child to use caution around plants with thorns. Be sure to remind your child not to eat any wild plants unless a knowledgeable adult has confirmed them to be safe.
6. Hold hands while hiking. Your preschooler is probably too big to be comfortably carried on a hike, but be sure to maintain some physical contact to prevent her from getting lost or injured on the trail. This is particularly important on hiking trails near cliffs and bodies of water.
7. Stay safe around wildlife. Know whether or not bears or other predators are present in your area, and remind your child to never approach them under any circumstances. Also remind your child to maintain a safe fear and respect for snakes. Even those confirmed nonvenomous should be avoided on principle.
8. Stay safe around camp fires. Order your preschooler to stay at least three feet from a camp fire (longer if there is any wind whatsoever). Supervise her closely to avoid accidents and use long-reaching sticks to toast marshmallows and hot dogs. Camp fires are fun, but should not be ignored as a safety hazard.
9. Use sunscreen. Don't let tree-cover fool you; a few days outside will significantly expose your child's skin to potentially harmful UV rays. Remember sunscreen even if your children are not prone to sunburn. Sun damage is often microscopic.
10. Prevent hypothermia. This is a point that many parents forget, especially in the summer time. If your child is wet due to rain or swimming, she can develop hypothermia quickly even in mild weather. Keep your child snuggled up in thermal pajamas, blankets, and sleeping bags at night to prevent a drop in her body temperature.
Camping with your preschooler can be either a delight or a disaster, depending on how safe you and your children stay while on your trip. By taking steps to keep your child safe throughout your trip, you help to preserve her health while keeping the trip fun for everyone.
No comments:
Post a Comment