Now is a great time of year to have a campfire, without any fire bans or restrictions in place.
We thought we would share our Top 10 Campfire Tips to ensure campfire success:
1. Establish some rules with the kids: never leave a fire unattended, make it clear who is allowed to touch or 'stoke' the fire, no running near the fire, don't throw things into the fire etc.
2. Marshmellows. This is a must-have for any campfire. One great game to play is to see how many times you can roast your marshmellow, peel the little crust off and keep roasting it (apparently the record is 12 times but I'm not sure I believe that!)
3. Campfire songs. Having someone who can play guitar while you sit around the campfire is ideal, but if this is not possible you can still have a bit of a sing-a-long. 'Kumbaya', 'Ten Green Bottles' and 'Kookaburra Sits in the Old Gum Tree' are all great classic sing-a-long favourites.
4. Ghost stories. Yes, we've all sat around a campfire scared silly listening to ghost stories. Here is a link to some great ghost stories, but they are definitely not suitable for younger kids!
5. Torches and/or glow sticks. These are especially good for younger kids - not only will they be easier to see in the dark, they will need a torch for when they need to go to the toilet or get something from their tent.
6. Campfire games. There are some really simple and easy campfire games you can play with the kids around the campfire: "10 Campfire Games You Have to Play" and "Family Fun Campfire Games."
7. Campfire safety. Ensure you check for any fire restrictions before you start. Also don't forget to have a bucket of water or sand nearby the fire in case of flying sparks. It is also good practice to clear a 3 metre area around any campfire. And most importantly, always smother out a fire when you leave it.
8. Campfire cooking. The kids will love cooking something simple such as damper or apples in foil.
9. If you are camping in the summer and there are fire restrictions in place, you can read here about what is and is not permitted in regards to cooking during these times.
10. If the kids are old enough, take the opportunity to teach them a classic outdoor skill - how to build a campfire. I came across this great article which goes through step-by-step how and what to teach them!
And last but not least, have fun! Campfires are such a wonderful way to spend real quality time together, share stories and have some laughs.
