Families will read a book on camping and then pretend to go camping.
Learning Area(s): Language and Communication; Reading and Writing
MATERIALS
- Book on camping (see suggestions in Tips)
- Tent or bed sheet/blankets
- Chairs
- Flashlight
- Snacks
LET'S PLAY
Read a book on camping with your child. Then talk to her about camping. Your conversation will depend on her age.
“When people go camping, they go out into the woods and sleep outside. They cook their food over a campfire and walk around in the woods where there are so many trees. Would you like to go camping? We can pretend by building our own tent inside!
Talk with your child about what things you want to bring along on your “camping trip.” You can use this chant to make it more playful and take turns coming up with things you want to bring. (Don’t forget to bring some food!)
We’re going to go camping,
What should we bring?
(Child’s name)’s going to bring a _______!
Allow your child to collect some items she named, like a favorite toy. With your child, arrange blankets over chairs to make a pretend “tent.” When your tent is stable and cozy, turn on a flashlight (or the flashlight on your phone) to help your child imagine that you are camping together in the woods.
Eat a snack in your tent and pretend it is a picnic. While playing, ask your child questions like:
- “Where should we pretend we are right now? Are we in the woods or at the beach?”
- “Let’s pretend. Do you think it is cold or hot outside? Is it raining or sunny?”
- “What camping activities do you want to do?” You could pretend to swim in a lake, hike up a mountain, or fish in a river!
- “I see some animals in the woods, hiding behind those trees. What kind of animals do you see?”
TIPS
- Here are a few child-friendly books on camping:
- Curious George Goes Camping by Margret Rey
- Llama Llama Loves Camping by Anna Dewdney
- Fred and Ted Go Camping by Peter Eastman
- A Camping Spree with Mr. Magee by Chris Van Dusen
- Biscuit Goes Camping by Alyssa Satin Capucilli and Pat Schories
- If you don’t have access to child-friendly books on camping, you can visit your local library or look online for read alouds of children’s camping books.
- If you want to continue imaginative play, you can make binoculars out of toilet paper rolls and make s’mores in the microwave (2 graham crackers, 1 large marshmallow, and 1 piece of chocolate)!
- Younger children might just enjoy working on the construction of the “tent.” That’s okay, too! It’s great to allow them to explore and be creative.