Camping with Children
Camping with children can be one of the best ways to enjoy time together as a family. It gives everyone a break from everyday routines, encourages children to spend more time outdoors and can turn even a simple weekend away into an adventure.
It can also require a little more organisation than camping without children.
Comfortable sleeping arrangements, suitable clothing, easy meals and a few activities for bad-weather days can make family camping considerably easier.
The key is to keep things simple and remember that children don’t need every minute of the holiday planned for them.
Choose the Right Campsite
The right campsite can make a big difference when camping with children.
Think about the age of your children and the facilities your family is likely to use.
Useful campsite features might include:
- Clean toilets and showers
- Family washing facilities
- Children’s play areas
- Safe areas for outdoor games
- On-site shops
- Drinking water
- Electric hook-ups
- Nearby family attractions
Older children may be perfectly happy on a simple countryside campsite, while families with younger children might appreciate having more facilities close to the tent.
Also consider the size and layout of the campsite. Knowing where children can safely play and how far you’ll be from toilets and washing facilities can help when choosing your pitch.
Get Children Involved
Camping can be more enjoyable when children feel involved rather than simply being taken along.
Depending on their age, they can help with:
- Unpacking equipment
- Passing pegs while pitching
- Organising their bedroom
- Inflating beds
- Setting out chairs
- Preparing simple meals
- Keeping the tent tidy
Even relatively small jobs can give children a sense that setting up camp is something the whole family does together.
It can also keep them occupied while the adults tackle the more complicated parts of pitching the tent.
Give Everyone Enough Sleeping Space
A comfortable night’s sleep makes family camping considerably more enjoyable.
Think carefully about how the bedrooms in your family tent will be arranged.
Younger children may prefer sleeping close to their parents, while older children might appreciate having a separate bedroom.
Depending on your tent, removable dividers can provide useful flexibility.
Make sure everyone has:
- A suitable bed or sleeping mat
- An appropriate sleeping bag
- A pillow
- Warm nightwear
- An additional layer if temperatures drop
Keep a torch somewhere easy to reach if anyone needs to leave the tent during the night.
Keep Children Warm and Dry
Children can quickly become uncomfortable if their clothing gets wet or they become cold.
British camping weather can change rapidly, so pack for more than the forecast suggests.
Useful clothing includes:
- Waterproof jackets
- Warm jumpers or fleeces
- Suitable footwear
- Spare socks
- Spare trousers
- Extra everyday clothing
- Sun hats
- Warm hats when appropriate
Keep at least one complete change of clothing dry inside the tent.
A designated area near the entrance for wet shoes and waterproofs can also prevent mud and moisture spreading throughout the living and sleeping areas.
Keep Meals Simple
Camping food doesn’t need to be complicated, particularly when children are hungry after spending the day outdoors.
Simple meals are often the easiest option.
Depending on your cooking setup, these might include:
- Pasta
- Sausages
- Burgers
- Sandwiches
- Breakfast rolls
- Simple one-pot meals
- Fruit and snacks
Take a few familiar foods you know your children will eat.
Having easy snacks available can also prevent everyone becoming hungry while you’re pitching the tent, travelling or waiting for a meal to cook.
Always store food safely and follow campsite rules regarding cooking and barbecues.
Let Children Enjoy the Outdoors
One of the biggest advantages of camping is that the campsite itself can provide much of the entertainment.
Depending on where you’re staying, children might enjoy:
- Exploring the campsite
- Playing football
- Riding bikes
- Walking
- Visiting the beach
- Wildlife spotting
- Playing outdoor games
- Making new campsite friends
You don’t need to organise an expensive attraction every day.
Leaving some free time can be part of the experience and gives children an opportunity to enjoy simply being outdoors.
Pack Something for Rainy Days
Even the best-planned summer camping holiday can include a wet afternoon.
A few simple activities can make time inside the tent considerably easier.
Pack things such as:
- Books
- Colouring materials
- Cards
- Compact board games
- Puzzles
- Small toys
Choose things that don’t require lots of space or create hundreds of pieces that can disappear around the tent.
If the weather is likely to remain poor, having a few nearby indoor attractions in mind can also be useful.
Keep the Tent Organised
Children and camping equipment can turn a tidy family tent into chaos remarkably quickly.
Give everyday items a regular place.
Storage boxes, bags and internal tent pockets can help organise:
- Clothing
- Shoes
- Toys
- Toiletries
- Torches
- Chargers
- Snacks
Encourage children to keep their own sleeping areas reasonably tidy.
You don’t need military organisation, but being able to find everyone’s shoes when you want to leave the campsite certainly helps.
Think About Campsite Safety
Children should be able to enjoy the freedom of camping, but they also need to understand some basic campsite rules.
Depending on their age, make sure they know:
- Where your tent is
- Where they’re allowed to play
- Which roads or vehicle areas to avoid
- That guy lines and tent pegs can be trip hazards
- Not to approach cooking equipment
- Where to find you if they need help
Campsites can become busy when vehicles are arriving and leaving, so take particular care around roads and parking areas.
Supervision should always be appropriate to the child’s age and the campsite environment.
Maintain Some Familiar Routine
Camping is a holiday, so routines will inevitably become more relaxed.
However, younger children may still benefit from some familiar parts of home life.
Keeping roughly familiar meal and bedtime routines can make settling into the tent easier, particularly on the first night.
A favourite pillow, blanket or small toy can also help younger children feel comfortable in unfamiliar surroundings.
Don’t Expect Everything to Go Perfectly
Children may get muddy. Someone will probably lose a sock. It might rain while you’re cooking and bedtime may take considerably longer than expected.
That’s family camping.
Trying to create a perfectly organised holiday can make the experience more stressful than it needs to be.
Prepare properly, keep everyone comfortable and allow the holiday to develop at its own pace.
Some of the unplanned moments often become the stories everyone remembers afterwards.
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Final Thoughts
Camping with children requires a little preparation, but it doesn’t need to be complicated.
Choose a suitable campsite, make sure everyone has somewhere comfortable to sleep and bring appropriate clothing, simple food and a few activities for quieter moments.
Most importantly, give children the opportunity to enjoy being outdoors.
Family camping isn’t about creating a perfect holiday. It’s about spending time together, exploring somewhere different and building the kind of memories that can make everyone look forward to the next trip.