| Camping is a great idea, and many families enjoy | | | | be even worse for the whole trip and no amount of |
| packing up the car and going back to nature. Who | | | | camping humor will save you. At some point you will |
| wouldn't enjoy, getting away from everything for a | | | | have to mention to your teenager that they will have |
| few days? Having no TV, internet or phone signal | | | | to unplug, and deciding the level of "unplugging" can |
| may seem like bliss to you as a parent but for surly | | | | cause arguments. If you remove all of their daily |
| teenagers this can be their worst nightmare. Finding a | | | | digital crutches, they are very likely to ensure that |
| solution of how to cope with teenagers, that really | | | | they make your camping trip a nightmare. Not only |
| don't want to be in the wilderness, is difficult and | | | | will you be punished for the duration of the trip but |
| camping humor will be tested to the maximum. | | | | most likely for some time afterward. This is where |
| There are some great tips and ideas to make the | | | | the camping humor will really come into effect; you |
| whole camping trip more bearable. Camping humor is | | | | will need to make numerous camping jokes about cell |
| a great way to liven up the trip, telling camping jokes | | | | phones, computers and the fact that there are no |
| and being witty will make it less stressful. It may | | | | plug sockets in the nearby trees. Hopefully this will |
| take a lot of encouragement or even bribery to get | | | | work and after a few days of no cell phone signal |
| your teenager to agree to go camping. But once | | | | your teenager will begin to enjoy the holiday. |
| they are there they will enjoy themselves as long as | | | | Ensure you select activities that are age relevant, |
| you involve them. Remember they aren't a little child | | | | going on bear hunts might have been cute when |
| anymore and will want to do more adult things. | | | | your teenager was younger, but now lighting fires |
| Planning fun activities is always a good way to not | | | | and chopping wood might be more age appropriate. |
| only involve everyone but hopefully will tire out the | | | | Ask them what they would like to be doing, and |
| younger family members. Allow your teenagers to | | | | what jobs they find interesting. Although you want |
| decide what activities they want to do and when. By | | | | your camping holiday to involve everyone. Bear in |
| delegating some of the responsibility to your | | | | mind that typically your teenager spends a great deal |
| teenager, they will not only get a greater | | | | of time out of your watchful eye. A huge amount of |
| understanding of where you are going. But it is then | | | | bonding and family time will fray your teenager's |
| not entirely your fault when they don't enjoy the | | | | nerves. Let your teenager have some alone time, |
| camping holiday. | | | | even if it is just sending them on their own to get |
| Make sure that your teenager has nothing else pre | | | | water or supplies. They will hopefully come back |
| planned for the weekend you want to go camping. If | | | | happier and may even want to contribute to the |
| you force them to change their plans, then they will | | | | family activities in the future. |