Our 4 year old daughter is going hunting with us for the first time this weekend. She's been hog hunting with us, but nothing where she has to be still & quiet for hours on end. What do some of you do to keep your little ones occupied? I thought about taking her little handheld learning game & headphones, but I'm stumped as to what else. Need ideas here...
Thanks in advance!

I load my backpack up with cookies, crayons, coloring books, and other treats. I get them settled in, and right about the time they are getting fidgety, I open the backpack and let them have whatever they want. I also put my phone on mute and let them play video games. We also play games like who can spot a cardinal first, or the most squirrels, or whatever to keep them occupied.

The most important thing is to remember that you are spending time with them first and hunting second. If you can't put the hunt as second then YOU may not be ready to take them with you.

x2 and well said

I took my five year old dove hunting this year. She had a chair, some small snacks and a BB gun. She collected leaves, picked flowers and shot cow pies. She had to carry her gun and ammo in a backpack. She did really well and lasted about four hours.

I am assuming you are in the deer blind this weekend. I would take plenty of warm clothes in layers. The forecast is warm for the day, but kids get colder than adults. I would also take the iphone/ipad loaded with kid movies/videos. Headphones are a must. Plenty of snacks would be good as well. I would also bring my patience. Be sure to leave while it is still fun if you ever want to return.

When I was a kid, I took my toy guns to the deer blind and pretended to hunt too. I watched the adults and learned to hunt. Of course, kids don't have toy guns much anymore. Society's attitudes have changed about that.

Thanks. I thought about the coloring books. @kaycee, she has toy guns & real guns. I'm hoping this will teach her & her daddy some patience.

All great advice above, but be sure to have a pair of small binoculars for her to use so she's not always wanting to grab yours. When my son was that age, he spent more time looking with his than playing with games.

This is what I did with my 3 yo last year...kept her mama occupied while we hunted

Mine loved looking through the binoculars too. Enjoy and take pictures

My oldest daughter was about 7 when she first wanted to go with me. I just took a sleeping bag, sather in my lap, wrapped us both in the bag and woke her when something showed up, priceless times! Now she's a 25 year old married Nurse...

Duct tape.......





JK.

The more you take them the more they learn. Enjoy it while you can!!!

Great idea. Both my boys like to play with the binoculars, they are 18 and 3.

I am glad to know that other parents still have the same attitude about guns. They are tools that should be treated like all tools - with respect and care.

4 is still young enough to deploy "the quiet game" for a bit too...

My 6 year old (turns 7 in Dec), has been going with me since she was 3. She has her own backpack, with art supplies, her leappad and headphones. She also is on the binoculars, once deer are in sight she doesn't need anything to keep her occupied.

Oh and her pink daisy red rider for cow control. Hillarious.

No, not with my daughter. LOL. She's too smart to fall for that.

Thanks for reminding me about the binoculars, ya'll. I'll have to grab my husband's old cheapo pair. After we trek in, I'm hoping she'll snooze for a bit.
Much thanks & happy hunting!

crayons , colouring books and lots of snacks w my 5 yr old daughter

If you have an iPad, down load movies, cartoons and take head phones. Snacks and drinks are critical.

Hats off! For everyone that takes a child!

We have a little saying that my uncle made up a few yrs ago that my son still says. "Dad take some snacks and some paper for your crack". Cracks me up everytime he says it.