Camping makes kids come alive

Nature stimulates curiosity and creativity

- Hein Kaiser

There is something about camping that brings out the inner adventurer in everyone. It unwinds, destresses parents. For kids, it's another story altogether. There's something about the great outdoors that calms kids, encourages real play and buries urban fears of bugs and thugs where they belong. Far, far away.

The beauty of camping for kids starts with the anticipation. It's real, just like any other holiday that a youngster might look forward to. Except, they get to participate in the packing, the prepping, deciding menus, watching YouTube to learn how to fish. Because in my case, Dad has no idea which end of a rod goes where.

The excitement of packing the trailer, the prospect of roasting marshmallows on a wood fire that junior lit by himself. My kids start counting down the days well before we head off.

Usually, when striking the tent setup on the last day of a trip, my two boys are already planning the next edition.

But never expect your kids to help set up the tent. When you park at your allocated site, the first items on the ground are the bicycles. Then, they are usually off to explore the entire site and, importantly, to find the pools - the cold and heated - the super tube slides and whether there are takeout pizzas available.

Should they want to help hammer in tent pegs, beware that you'll be there all day waiting. That's because the pegs become warships, the hammers turn into cannons and suddenly there's a battle sans tents, time and delaying the beer that makes the tent-sweat so very much worth it.