Getting back to basics

I did start planning a holiday in a resort.  The weather was forecast pretty terrible and although I enjoyed the idea of a resort pool, day spa and room service, I did secretly like the idea of a holiday that was ‘about the kids’.  In a tent, behind sand dunes allowing them to run and play and be freeeeeeeeee.

always an early start when camping with children- surf's  up!

It is always an early start when camping with children – surf’s up!

So the recent school holidays we packed up ALOT of ‘stuff’ and went camping.  I grew up doing a lot of camping with my family.  I thought camping was what all families did on holidays!  We hadn’t been on a camping trip for a while though.  Things have been pretty busy and getting away was a luxury we just couldn’t seem to fit in.

let's go fly a kite...la..la...la...

let’s go fly a kite…la..la…la…

It’s amazing how much children learn when they are taken into a new environment. Not just bike riding and scootering, but how to tie knots, heading to night markets because there is no agenda to worry about tiredness the next day, dancing in the pub at the Sunday session (oops that was me but my daughter did learn how to create a beat with a black sock and a box!), how to cook toast without a toaster, how to play board games (remember those?!!) and the list goes on and on.

KerPlunk! My 3 year old wanted the marbles my 5 year old understood the game and didn't, so in this game "everyone's a winner"!!!

KerPlunk! My 3-year-old wanted the marbles my 5-year-old understood the game and didn’t, so in this game “everyone’s a winner”!!!

bike riding - yes I am on my bike! ;)

bike riding – yes I am on my bike! 😉

I will admit I found it a bit difficult to completely disconnect from the online world.  Our neighbour campers with teenage children had their i-devices all charging at the bbq area and there were 8 getting re-booted!  But my 5-year-old didn’t miss TV or movies on the iPad.  She was happy teaching her little brother how to play snap in the tent – or at least telling him when to snap to give him a win (love her to bits!)

Enjoying the outdoors and playing with no reason to have to stop!

Enjoying the outdoors and playing with no reason to have to stop!

BUT – next holiday perhaps I will consider a comfy bed in a resort! My sleep was disrupted because I was up checking the kids were covered NUMEROUS times throughout the night, so this was pretty tiresome.

The perfect picnic spot.  Tweed Coast.

The perfect picnic spot watching the surfers. Tweed Coast.

On the upside, I got to sleep with the sound of rain on the tent with my little family close by, and that was pretty damn cosy and fun!!

our tent in the morning sunshine

our tent in the morning sunshine

Have you got a great family holiday idea you could share with the sorella-hood? We would love for you to leave a comment here below or post on our Facebook page. alisha x