How To Camp With Children

Spring has arrived, more or less, so it is time to get outdoors and teach our kids about the amazing gift of the natural world! Camping is a great activity to do with children, and even if you’ve never done it yourself, you can start the journey together! Camping and backpacking teaches us, just for starters about nature, about the ability to cope without running water and electricity, and about self reliance and independence. Camping is also a great bonding activity for the whole family, and teaches kids valuable lessons about survival and working together. With all these amazing benefits, you may wonder, when is the right time to start taking camping trips with the kids? And how do you do it? Do you have to prepare them? In this article, we will give you some valuable tips for camping with children.

One great way to commit is to start by investing in your idea and buying a tent, which is exciting indeed. If the kids are on the young side you certainly need a tent that fits both you and the kids, and do invest in the best family tent in the UK, to get started on the right foot. Okay, ready?

What To Know About Going Camping With Your Kids

Practice Camping With The Kids At Home 

If you’re worried about your children having trouble with camping and sleeping in a tent, one great suggestion is to practice at home first. If you have a safe backyard, pitch your tent in the backyard. Otherwise, it is even fine to pitch your tent, or even a fun play teepee, in the living room! The most important aspect is for kids to get a chance to sleep in a tent and experience being in a tent. 

Get Them To Help Pack For The Trip 

To get your children excited about camping, it is great to get them involved in the process of preparing for the trip. So, get them to help pack for the trip, and depending on your child’s age, you can ask them to pack their own gear. If they’re older, you can even leave it all up to them. But, do remember to check and ensure that they have included all the necessities. If the kids are younger, you can give them a list to follow, or pack together. Don’t forget about one of the most important aspects: packing food for the trip. Ask the kids what they would enjoy eating and make food choices with this in mind. Think about including some fun treats like s’mores and marshmallows, as this certainly contributes to getting them excited to go camping.

Pick a Family-friendly Campsite 

For your first camping trip, forget about something remote and away from it all, and pick a family-friendly campsite! If this is your child’s first time camping, you don’t want to end up with them hating the idea of camping. Instead, try to pick a campsite that has appealing amenities, like campsites with bathrooms, hot showers, playgrounds, swimming areas, and picnic tables. Again, it would be great to involve your children in this part of the planning and even let them work with you to choose a campsite.

Organize All Your Gear

Camping with little ones also means making sure the little ones stay out of trouble! To avoid spending time looking for your supplies, (and taking your eyes off the kids) organize your gear and label everything, so things like flashlights and band-aides can be found in a second or two. Also, a messy tent isn’t a cozy tent so keep everything neat and packed away for the best experience.

Pack And Dress Your Kids in Layers 

Children are a lot more susceptible to the weather. Therefore, it is really important to pack and dress your children in layers. This will ensure that you can add and remove layers as needed. When it gets colder, your child can put on more layers. And when it’s warmer, they can remove a layer. Overall, however, you will always want to additionally pack a layer for keeping dry, such as a light rain jacket or rain ponchos. If you are bringing a baby, do remember to pack extras as well, as they can get cold easily. 

Set Ground Rules 

Children can have lots of energy and the need to run around, especially after a long car trip. They might not be aware of the dangers around them and might be tempted to run off. When camping, the unpredictable can happen and it is always important to think about safety. It is imperative that you set ground rules with the kids so that they know what not to do. And always make sure they have a note in their pocket, or pinned to them, with their name and your phone number. Don’t be afraid to set strict rules, their safety and your peace of mind are what will make the trip a success!

Keep A Routine 

Children thrive on routine. When things are too different, they might get anxious and worried about what’s happening next. Camping is one experience where everything is very different from home. Therefore, try to keep some routine even as you’re out camping. Do keep their normal bedtime routine. Let them brush their teeth, change into their pajamas and read stories to them. This will help them feel more comfortable and safe in a new environment. If you are bringing a baby with you, this would be doubly important. Be sure to stick to the baby’s sleeping schedule to ensure that you aren’t faced with a baby that cries all night. Exhaustion is not part of the camping success story!

Be Flexible 

Lastly, be flexible when camping with children. If it’s your child’s first time camping, don’t be too hard on them for not enjoying it as much as you’d like. If they are having trouble adapting, be flexible enough to cut the trip short. Forcing your child to camp will only lead to a negative experience and even a lifetime dislike, yikes. If your child wants to bring an extra and unnecessary item, let them. It might allow them to feel more at ease during the trip. Whatever it is, be flexible when camping with children. Don’t be too rigid or stressed as that will only negatively affect the experience. This also applies to further camping trips! Learn from previous camping trips and adjust to make the next one even better! 

In conclusion, camping is a wonderful experience to have with children, and with this article, we hope that you now have a better idea of how to prepare and operate when camping with your children, especially for the first few times. Happy camping!