5 Must Have Tips When Camping with Children
Picture this, it’s a nice hot summer day and the kids are off school, you just sat down for a nice cup of tea when you hear the infamous words ‘Muuum im bored’.
Camping is the perfect answer to beat the holiday boredom, it’s fun, adventurous and gets the kids out of their comfort zone.
Here is your go to guide to help you plan and prepare for a camping trip with children.
- Safety first!
Safety is paramount for everyone when going camping, but it is even more important when camping with children. Sleeping rough may work when adults go camping, however with children it is always best to sleep in a safe and secure environment. When camping with children, the first step is to ensure the campsite is suitable for children of all ages to stay at and if it is equipped for children, some campsites offer onsite playgrounds too!
In addition to this, if you are planning on staying for a long weekend, it can be useful to locate a campsite that is close to local amenities such as supermarkets and any off-site entertainment such as museums.
A good thing to check before letting your kids loose is having a quick walk around the camping and playing area for your children. Just to check there are no ditches or rough terrain which may cause your kids potential injuries when they’re off being kids!
Additionally, pitching a tent can be a struggle, especially when camping with children. Using a roof tent can be one of the best ways to ensure a great night’s sleep and the peace of mind that you’re off the wet ground and away from creepy crawlies..
Roof tents are a new way to explore the outdoors and take out the fuss of pitching a tent. Roof Tents are exactly what they say on the tin and fit on almost any make or model of the vehicle. An added advantage to the roof tents is that they are catered for all weather, come rain or shine.
- Stay Organised
Staying organised pays when it comes to camping, especially with children. It helps to ensure all your camping supplies such as food and clothing are labelled in clear plastic bags or stackable plastic tubs. It can be very beneficial when packing for the camping trip as you will know where your supplies are if you need them quickly. You can also bring a dirty laundry bag to ensure no dirty clothes get mixed up with the clean ones.
Items that are handy to take are:
- Warm clothing
- Dry snacks
- Bottled water
- Toiletries and baby wipes
- Camping kitchen utensils
- Toys and entertainment
- First Aid Kit
Food can be packed up in individual freezer style bags if you want to take ingredients to cook on a campfire, however dry snacks and pre-made food can be an alternative.
- Set up an onsite bathing station.
We can all agree that sometimes children can get dirty, especially when exploring the outdoors. There are muddy puddles to jump in, trees to climb and not forgetting the endless hours of fun making mud cakes! Which Is why it is a good idea to set up a bathing station.
If you’re in a campsite where showers are unavailable, you can set up your own using a plastic baby bath or buying a solar camping shower. Plastic baby tubs can be filled with water heated up on the camp stove and can be used as a quick top to toe wash.
If you are wanting to shower in a more familiar fashion, solar camping showers can be purchased online and use the heat from the sun to heat the water.
If all else fails, then baby wipes may just do the trick!
- Take Extra Activities
You’ve checked the weather forecast and it’s sunny all week, you get to your campsite and it’s raining!
If you don’t mind the gentle shower of the rain, then a short rainy-day hike can be a fun experience for both adults and children.
If you’re caught out in an unexpected heavy rain episode whilst on your camping adventure, bringing some rainy-day activities can be an excellent way of keeping children entertained. Activities such as board games, a portable DVD player with DVD’s and colouring books, can be very useful to brighten up a dull day.
If you’re camping with a toddler or a baby, then a good story book and a snuggle in the sleeping bag can be a remedy for a rainy day.
- Stick to your usual routines as much as possible.
Children can get excited at the idea of camping in a new place, away from home and this can lead to routines being disrupted.
Sticking to your normal day and night routine as much as possible can aid in children getting a good night’s sleep and wake up well rested for the day ahead.
It might be useful to carry a planner or a diary to help you plan bedtime routines and daytime activities as organisation is key to a smooth trip.
