This summer, hear the call of the wild and be ready! Make the most of your camping adventures with these fun and creative ideas!

1.  No pizza delivery in your neck of the woods? Repurpose your pie iron to create on-the-go pizzas while camping. To avoid mess, wrap the pie iron with foil, allowing toast, pizza and apple pie to taste exactly as they’re meant to.

2.  No space for a tackle box? Use a Tic Tac box instead.

3.  To be both one with nature and keep the mosquitoes away, add sage to the campfire. It will keep you safe and smelling nice.

4.  Nothing beats a warm s’more, right? Wrong! To truly see the stare, add a roasted marshmallow and melted chocolate to an Oreo. You don’t have to be a kid to love this messy goodness.

5.  Make your own stovetop popcorn out of aluminum foil and kernels. Get the direction here. If you’re not so adventurous, you can still have fun by watching the prepackaged stovetop popcorn dance and expand over the fire.

6.  Use paper bags to make delicious breakfasts. Eggs and bacon, anyone? Get the directions here: http://realfamilycamping.blogspot.com/2011/08/paper-bag-eggs-classic-camping-recipe.html

7.  If you’re ever lost in the woods, put them to good use—use an acorn cap to whistle for help. Get the helpful instructions here: http://www.wikihow.com/Whistle-Using-an-Acorn-Cap

8.  Toasted marshmallows are good, but marshmallows dipped in Bailey’s? Great! This food of the gods will keep you wanting its roasted goodness even when you aren’t camping.

9.  Jell-O shots might be a chapter of your life you’d like to forget, but flaming Jell-O marshmallow shots are something you will never forget! Simply fill a marshmallow with Jell-O mixture and dip it in rum. Get the recipe here: http://www.tablespoon.com/recipes/flaming-marshmallow-jelly-shots/26422420-8e87-4b46-9641-5b85f22cf8e2

10.  Bring all the seasonings you’d like without taking up space by filling straws with the mixture and then burning the ends with a lighter. The great thing is that you can reseal them to use later.

11.  Use stackable pill containers to both carry your condiments and seasonings and keep them organized. You can use a marker to label them.

12.  Looking for a savory s’more? Try this on for size! Stuff a mushroom with blue cheese and wrap it in bacon. That’s right—blue cheese filled bacon-wrapped mushroom s’mores. You have to try it to believe it. Get the recipe here: http://www.laurenslatest.com/blue-cheese-filled-bacon-wrapped-mushrooms/

13.  Have any old mint tins lying around? Use them as emergency supply containers for toilet paper, a lighter or pocket knife. If you’re ever lost in the woods or away from the bathroom, you’ll be glad you did.

14.  Need your egg fix while camping? A 16-ounce plastic water bottle can effectively carry 8-9 large eggs. By scrambling them beforehand, you can transport them easily and avoid an unwanted mess.

15.  Forget what you learned about making fires while in the Scouts? No problem! Corn chips, such as Fritos, can make for a wonderful kindling substitute when building a fire.

16.  Need a little light? Make a lantern with a tuna can and a small candle. The foil will help to illuminate the light.

17.  Tired of lugging around tubes of toothpaste? Well now you don’t have to. Squeeze toothpaste into small dots on a paper plate. Let it sit for 2-3 days, then sprinkle with baking soda. Place the toothpaste dots into a re-sealable bag and you now have portable toothpaste without the fuss of a messy tube.

18.  Use a mason jar to make an amazing sangria concentrate worthy of your camping trip. It’s so good, however, you might want to make it anytime. Get the recipe here: http://www.mightymrs.com/recipe-items/camping-sangria/

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Spring is here and summer is just around the corner!  Kids are tired of being pent up indoors due to cold weather.  Getting outdoors and breathing in the fresh air is healthy for you and your kids.  There are a myriad of things to do outdoors, whether you are in the city or in the country.  If you’re looking for some new ideas to get your family moving outdoors, try these simple, yet fun ideas:

• Kids are fascinated about how things grow.  Create a fresh herb garden in a window box.  Allow them to help decorate the planter box, fill it with dirt and plant the seeds.  Teach them about watering and sunlight to help the plants flourish.  Let them be in charge of watching for the spouts to push through the dirt.  Incorporate the fresh herbs in your cooking.  The kids will be proud to have been a part of the fresh ingredients they helped cultivate.

• Get out and walk through your neighborhood.  Point out the different types of plants in your neighbors’ yards.  Talk about the types of plants that grow well in your region due to rain, temperature and growing season.  If you have bunnies or other wildlife that come through, talk about the types of plants that attract them into populated areas.

• Do outdoor activities as a family.  Go for a hike in the mountains or local trails, go fishing in a lake or stream, play games at the park.  Staying active and getting fresh air is good for kids and adults alike.  If you live near state parks, go on a picture safari.  Capture photos of local wildlife and flora and fauna.  Make it educational and see how many plants and animals the kids can spot.

• Go geocaching.  Get a compass and draw a map.  Send the kids on a small scavenger hunt that requires reading a map and a compass.  Leave small trinkets for the kids to find along the way.  Split the family into two teams headed by Mom and Dad and see who can find all of the items on the treasure hunt list first.

• If you live near lakes or the ocean, go to the beach and build sand castles.  See who can build the tallest towers and turrets.  Be creative and try to make animal themed sand castles.  Kids love to use their hands and get dirty.  What could be more fun than getting Mom and Dad dirty too!

Kids enjoy being outdoors and they love having Mom and Dad outdoors playing with them.  Being outside provides opportunities for bonding, exercising and education.  Choose an event each week that you can share with your kids.  You may be surprised at how much you enjoy getting back to the basics.

 
About Shira Stein and PishPoshBaby:
Shira Stein is the lead Mom Rep at online baby and parenting gear company, PishPoshBaby.com.  She drives many of the company’s product selections based on experience, testing and customer feedback. In addition, she provides moms and dads with real world advice about the ups and downs of parenting and helps them navigate this special journey. The dream of PishPoshBaby was born out of a desire to find the more reliable baby products and advice available to real moms just like you.  Their high-quality online store supplies facts and advice to parents who are completely lost in the whirlwind of baby gear.  Visit their site at www.pishposhbaby.com for more information and follow their blog.  You can also “LIKE” them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter @pishposhbaby, Pinterest, and Instagram.

The post Teaching Your Kids To Appreciate the Outdoors appeared first on AKAMom Magazine.

Spring has sprung and everyone is itching to get outside and have some fun. If you have toddlers at home sometimes you have to be a little bit creative to ensure your children enjoy playing outside and exploring the outdoors. I’ve compiled a list of fun, toddler-friendly activities you can enjoy with your child this spring, summer and beyond!

Create a Sand Pit: Kids love to play in the sand, but not all of us are fortunate to live near a beach, so sometimes you have to get creative by bringing the sand to your backyard. I suggest buying a sand pit that you can fill up and keep in your backyard. I recommend a sandpit that comes with a cover, so you can keep rainwater and other such things out of the pit while your child isn’t playing in it. In addition to just the pit you’ll need tools and toys that are sandpit friendly! Shovels and buckets are just the beginning. If you get creative your child will surely enjoy hours of fun and play in their new backyard sand pit.

Head Out and Explore: There’s surely a lot to explore right in your own backyard! A simple walk around the neighborhood boasts lots of fun activities like collecting rocks, counting the number of cats and dogs you see, etc. Hiking, biking and playing in a nearby park are all fun and easy options that I highly recommend, too. My kids and I often walk to the park together looking for bugs and counting cats along the way. Once we make it to the park we play on the swings and have a snack before heading back home. It’s a fun outing my toddlers always look forward to.

Get Artsy: Invest in some sidewalk chalk or washable paint and let your little one’s decorate your driveway however they see fit. Chalk allows children to be creative with colors and designs, and you can even make it educational by talking to your children about colors, shapes and numbers while they draw. Drawing with sidewalk chalk can be a great bonding activity for siblings, too, as they’re working together to create a masterpiece of sorts!

Splish Splash: It’s all about the kiddie pool, right? Of course heading to the local aquatic center is always a fun outing, but having a kiddie pool right in your own backyard is a must! Toddlers will enjoy learning about water, discovering what types of things sink versus float and splashing around on a warm day. Please supervise your child whenever they’re in or nearby to the kiddie pool.

There’s plenty to do outside, so what are you waiting for? Enjoy spring outdoors with your toddler!

Happy parenting!

Sincerely,

Daddy Nickell

Robert Nickell, aka Daddy Nickell, father of 7, offers his “5 cents” worth of advice to expectant and new parents.  Daddy Nickell is the founder of Daddy & Co., delivery room duds and daddy gifts and apparel, and the Daily Daddy Blog which covers topics about parenting all from a Dad’s perspective.

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