| "Rain, Rain Ago Away" is one of the most | | | | do at home, board games can keep your kids |
| beloved children's rhymes of all times. When was | | | | busy for hours, wheeling and dealing property or |
| it written? Though historians are not 100% certain | | | | trying to conquer the world. Just make sure that |
| about its origins, one theory is that it is based on | | | | enough light is provided, and that the games are |
| the Spaniards' invasion of England, during the | | | | appropriate for your children's ages. |
| Elizabethan period. Stormy weather was partially | | | | 4. Dance 'til dawn. You can use your camping |
| responsible for the Spaniards' defeat. Your kids | | | | flashlight to create a disco in the tent. One kid can |
| may also sound defeated when reciting the | | | | dance around while another child quickly moves |
| rhyme during a family camping trip. Dealing with | | | | the flashlight, to create an effect that resembles |
| bored kids at home is one thing. But the problem | | | | a strobe light. |
| seems doubly worse when the family is confined | | | | 5. The camping trip game. This is a simple, yet fun |
| to a camping family tent. What is a parent to do? | | | | game for kids to play. The first player says "I'm |
| When packing up your family camping gear, | | | | going on a camping trip, and I'm going to bring..." |
| including a family camping tent, camping sleeping | | | | Then, the player can list anything that he or she |
| bags, camping stove, and Brass Beaded Neck | | | | would bring, such as a tent, sleeping bag, |
| Chains, make sure to also pack up enough items | | | | backpack, or Elastic Neck Cords. The next player |
| and knowledge that will help your kids to stay | | | | begins with the same phrase, but adds an object |
| busy during those dark nights and rainy days | | | | whose first letter is the same as the last letter of |
| when the rain refuses to go away. Here are | | | | the previously mentioned object. For example, if |
| some ideas to help you: | | | | the first child mentions a tent, then the next |
| 1. Sing a (campfire) song. The great thing about | | | | player could list a toy, turtle, teapot, etc. The |
| campfire songs is that they can be sung anytime | | | | game continues in the same manner. |
| when camping, including when trapped inside tents. | | | | 6. Connect the squares. Create a grid of dots on |
| You can find hundreds on the Internet, but it is | | | | a sheet of paper. The first child connects two |
| always more meaningful to teach your kids some | | | | dots that are next to each other. Then the next |
| of your own. One of my favorites was, "John | | | | child connects another two dots on the paper. |
| Jacob Jingle Heimer Schmidt." What was your | | | | The goal is to draw the last side of a square. |
| favorite jingle? | | | | When a player accomplishes that, the child puts |
| 2. Campfire stories without the fire. Campfire | | | | his initials by the square. The winner is the player |
| stories are an excellent activity that can be | | | | who completes the most squares during the |
| enjoyed within the confines of a tent. They can | | | | game. |
| range from silly to spooky. At nighttime, you can | | | | Nights and rainy days can seem to ruin any |
| also use a Coleman flashlight to create special | | | | camping trip with your child. But by preparing |
| effects. However, if you are camping with | | | | various activities that can be enjoyed from a |
| younger children, make sure that the ending is | | | | family camping tent, you can keep your family |
| never too scary. That could prevent them from | | | | camping as practical as Military Neck Chains. Your |
| falling asleep later. | | | | kids may enjoy the games so much that they |
| 3. Board games prevent boredom. Just as they | | | | sing "Sun, sun, go away. |