The joys of camping as a family

With the start of the summer holidays edging closer and closer, many parents will be looking for activities to help them spend quality time with their children.

Swimming, picnics in the park, educational trips...the list goes on; but one great activity for everyone to enjoy is camping.

Whether you camp for the night or make a mini-break of it, it's a chance for you all to step away from the hustle and bustle of your everyday lives and experience some adventure together.

For the skeptics amongst you, we have looked at just some of the many benefits of sleeping under the stars with your family:

Getting back to basics and away from external distractions
You leave behind the stresses of your everyday life and the anxieties which may be weighing you down and instead spend some quality time with nature. No distractions from telephones, emails and laptops means you really can clear your mind and focus on enjoying the here and now.

An abundance of fresh air
When you're camping, you can't help but take deep breaths of the pure, crisp air. Away from the smog and close quarters of the city, you're filling your lungs with a cleaner dose of the oxygen you need.

It's social
Camping is a bonding experience. It requires everyone to muck in together and work as a team. This will include helping with the camp chores, like pitching the tent, cooking, fire building, etc., or simply keeping moral high on a long bike ride. And come the end of the day when everyone is sitting around the camp fire, singing or roasting marshmallows, it's a chance to relax and enjoy being in the company of those you love.

It gives you time to focus on your hobbies
Whether you like hiking, canoeing or any other outdoor activity, camping gives you the chance to focus completely on these hobbies for a few days, and to spend time doing them as a family. Perhaps your children have never tried canoeing before, so it's an excellent chance to teach them a new skill and share one of your pass-times with them.

It will lift your mood and create memories
Most importantly, camping is fun and this in itself will make you all happier. It is full of eureka moments, like when you get the first catch of the day, or get the first spark on the campfire. And whether you take photos or simply mentally store away images from your trip, you'll be stocked with happy memories for years to come.

So if you want to reconnect with nature and at the same time give your children an experience to remember, camping is the activity for you!