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Topic ClosedThe Campinng Fun Box

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OurRPod View Drop Down
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Joined: 10 Jun 2016
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Direct Link To This Post Topic: The Campinng Fun Box
    Posted: 27 Jun 2016 at 7:10pm
We're new to "OurRPod"  and my daughter is now almost 30 so no actual kids of my own camping anymore :(     However my Fiancee's friends all have little one's with the oldest one just 6 years old.   Somehow over time and when we all go camping as a group some of the mom's also think it's a bit of time off for them and "Auntie" here get's conned into watching the kids.    I've put together The Aunt & Uncle Fun box with at least 30 different indoor and outdoor activities and it works GREAT for me!  I just set up some of the activities and watch them go.

The fun box does very clear rules:

1.  Share - Respect - Fun!   We are all to have fun and enjoy each other and treat each other well.    

Since some are brothers and sisters and this is important for my sanity

2.  No Fighting, Hitting, Yelling,  running   - Screams of delight are always encouraged.

3.  Clean up after yourself and your friends.   "Leave it cleaner than you found it"

If any breaks rule #2 or won't share the box gets put away.  The kids actually "police" themselves this way.

I've found this work extremely well.  It only take one or two times to take the box away and they learn really quick.  I apply this rule too for Mom and Dad discipline during the trip.  Meaning if Mom or Dad put you in time out the box get's taken away too - Not just for you for EVERYBODY.


Here are just a few of the items in our fun box.

1. Color Books from the dollar store/Walmart  - Works wonders on a rainy day
    Water colors
    Crayons
    washable markers
2. A variety of kites - about $1.39 each from Walmart
    We could make them but just too much work
3.  Squirt guns   _ if anyone has a problem with Squirt guns omit - None of the parents I'm with have any issues.
     1. String fishing line through a solo cup and the kids can try to shoot the cup across the string
           batting it with paper plate works really good for the little ones.
     2.  Stack up solo cups like and shoot them off - Also see #15
4. Paper Plates  - I buy the largest pack Walmart has - with a lot of kids in one weekend we can go through a lot.
     Suncatchers
    Make a maracas (Crayons & Paint) using found pebbles and tape them closed with Popsicle sticks. 
5.  Yarn for finger knitting  - other projects too
6. A pack of glow stick bracelets $9.98 @ Walmart for 50
      Use for Ring Toss 
      See Balloons
7.  A pack of Balloons
     Tie a glow stick bracelet for a punch ball
8.  Create a paddle with paper plate and kids can bat balloons around
9.  Empty paper towel and/or toilet paper tubes
     Wow what can't you create - we made kaleidoscopes
10.  Very cheap handle bags - Buckets work too
       Scavenger hunt - I just pasted pictures to the bags (Plastic type ones work best on rainy days)
11. Bucket & Pails
      I cut paper fish attached to magnets, we made fishing rods with line, string and paperclips
12.  Stickers, glue, feathers, beads, decorative paper etc
       See Suncatchers
            12A     We made walking sticks and decorated them with the string & feathers etc.
13.  play dough - nice for rainy days
14. cheap slinky's - the 3 year old's were enamored - What old is new again I guess
15.  small ball for bowing - see toilet paper and/or paper towel tubs to use as pins
       At night we put the glow stick bracelets around them.
16.   Painted rocks to make a tic-tac-toe game
         One side ladybug and one side bumble bees
17.  Bubbles - Lot's and lots of bubbles.  I buy it by the gallons.
18.  Yo Yo's
19.   Bug cages   (fake bugs too)
20.   Noise makers for a snipe hunt
21.  Playing cards - Go Fish, Old Maid etc..


Glue - Glue - Glue --- the little ones just love to use the Elmer's glue and A lot of it.  It's washable and non-toxic.    Some of the projects need something more so I use my mini hot glue gun and help out.

Diaper wipes - some of the projects get a little messy and I try my best to keep them clean.


And the kids most favorite - I work in the candy industry and always have a a large box of goodies with me.  If the parents say it's okay and the kids have been good for the day they can go into the box and get a treat.

OurRpod
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Oldgeezer View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Jun 2016 at 3:02am
Awesome ideas! Cool  I too always have a tote of goodies when the grands come.  They LOVE asking what we are going to get to do today....as they wait for the "tote" to open.  The joy of crafts when camping....the mess is outside and the outside shower is just a few steps away if it gets messy!
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19 Jul 2016 at 10:32am
Great, great ideas!

We are new to our Pod and to cmaping, although we were boaters for many years.
We are taking our Grandsons (2.6 and 6) camping next week, and your ideas are perfect. I am off to the dollar store!
Thank you
Pamandtom
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19 Jul 2016 at 10:48am
Dollar store has a lot of $1 puzzles too..
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19 Jul 2016 at 6:17pm
Originally posted by OurRPod


3.  Clean up after yourself and your friends.   "Leave it cleaner than you found it"

My sis used to challenge her kids to find and throw away at least ten items from around their campsite that did not belong there; such as items of trash, peelings, etc.  They were busy doing this as the adults set up and took down.
Bill & Nancy
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 Feb 2017 at 11:25am
Great ideas! Love the bowling with paper towel rolls and the tic-tac rocks.
The fishing kit is a great idea as well.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 Feb 2017 at 4:13pm
Binoculars, bird identification book, constellation map...will lead to a lifetime of enjoyment!
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