Would you pick camping or hotel with your family?

That I have a love-hate relationship with camping.

Don't get me wrong, I can totally see the benefit of it, like how we totally unplug and immerse ourselves in nature. (And those delicious s'mores of course)

That part is so healing – like this quote…

"There’s no wi-fi in the mountains, but there’s no better connection." - anonymous

Plus, it's a passion of my husband, which is fun to share with him.

But dang, camping requires A LOT OF WORK with kids. There's packing, and unpacking, and cooking, and... yikes I'm getting tired just thinking about it.

That's why I try to get the kids to pack themselves. Sometimes it goes smoothly, sometimes not (that’s life with kids). But we sure do try. They have a checklist with this on it:

• Tops & bottoms, Pajamas, Underwear, Socks Shoes/Hiking shoes, Jacket, Hat, Sunglasses
• Toothbrush/toothpaste, Brush, Shampoo/soap, Sunscreen, Bug spray, First aid kit, Sandals for showering
• Tent, Pillow, Sleeping bag, Camping chair, Lantern/flashlights, Water bottle, Whistle
• Snacks (s'mores stuff), Games/deck of cards, Books/coloring activities, Balls/frisbee, Fishing pole, Bug catchers/shovels, Telescope

In fact, it really does help to make sure we ALL have everything we need. So often, mom and dad forget the little things like toothbrushes and chairs. This has been incredibly useful.

I also try to invest in the best camping gifts and kids gear. Things that make camping easier with large families really do save time and sanity.

Camping Activities With Kids

And I always have a few simple camping activities/supplies ready to go. These make great activities. Things like…

Card Games

Uno and Old Maid are easy to pack and short games that won’t take all night.

Word Games

We love questions like "this or that" or easy to bring word games like Catchphrase.

Sports

Keep the kids entertained with a simple ball. Bring a soccer ball, frisbee, or even a glove and baseball for hours or entertainment.

Rope

Kids can do a surprising number of things with a simple rope. They tie notes, climb things, and LOVE their tug of wars. Obviously, watch the little ones, but as they get older rope can be a fun and super easy to pack thing to bring.

A Bucket

Not very sophisticated, right?! But you know what, kids can spend all day collecting things and be happy as clams. So, bring a bucket with you and let them go to town finding the best rocks and sticks on the campsite.

In Conclusion

So yeah, there are things I adore about camping. Especially when my kids entertain themselves "in the wild" all day. We can connect on a whole different level when we aren’t distracted by the digital world.

But I'm being honest, sometimes I'd rather just be sitting in a hotel where I can't do anything. Because moms like to relax occasionally too.

So, are you team camping or team hotel? Leave a comment and let me know!

"Life’s better when you add fresh air, a warm campfire, bright stars, and s’mores." - anonymous

Jenn writes at her blog healthyhappyimpactful.com. She’s a mom of three looking to learn and grow. Check it out if you love helpful tips on health, family, and personal growth.