As you’ve read, camping with kids is a completely different experience than going as an adult – and there are a lot more things you need to consider. On top of the advice we’ve already given, you can keep reading to find some extra tips that can help you make your family camping trip a success.
Check the weather forecast
One of the biggest pieces of advice we can give you is to check the weather forecast before you head out. Even if it’s not entirely accurate, it should give you some valuable guidance on what to take camping with kids.
For example, in sunny weather you’ll need lighter layers, sun hats, and plenty of suncream. On wetter trips, you’ll need to make sure you pack everyone’s Waterproof Coat to keep them warm and dry.
Top tip: light rain shouldn’t pose a problem – your kids can play games in the tent, and listening to rain on tent walls is surprisingly peaceful. But, if it’s absolutely pouring down, don’t be afraid to pack up and head home early.
Practice before you go
Pitching a tent for the first time when your kids are probably running around with pent-up energy is not a particularly fun experience. To make your arrival onsite smoother, we recommend practising how to put up your tent before you arrive. This could be in your garden, or a local park – whatever you choose, make sure there’s plenty of room for you to work.
First time campers, or recently bought a new tent? Learn How to Pitch a Tent Like a Pro with Winfields.
Top tip: for young children, or first-time campers, sleeping in a tent can feel scary. If you have the space, try to pitch up your tent in your garden to give your kids a chance to get used to sleeping in a tent before the family camping holiday.
Consider a group trip
As the saying goes, many hands make light work. So, if you have friends with children of a similar age to yours, why not go on a group family camping trip? Not only does this give your kids more people to play with, but it also increases the number of available adults to share the workload – and keep an eye on the children while they’re playing.
Top tip: at Winfields, we have a great range of tents for you to choose from. With larger groups, you could take one larger 7+ person tent, or a collection of 3 to 4-man tents – whatever works best for everyone.
Make it educational
Now, when we say you should make camping with kids educational, we don’t mean you should all sit down for lessons.
But, your family camping trip is an excellent opportunity to teach your kids outdoor skills like starting a campfire, or learning to identify various plants and trees around the campsite. For example, you can teach your kids what nettles look like so that they know not to play near them.
You can also take this time to teach your children about fire safety, especially around a campfire or BBQ. This can easily be bundled into lessons about cooking outdoors – and you can reward them for listening with tasty treats like toasted marshmallows!
Want to make better campfire meals? Check out Cooking Like a Pro: A Guide to Outdoor Cooking.
Involve the kids throughout
Camping with kids is meant to be fun for the whole family – so why not involve the kids when you’re planning your trip? Asking them what activities they’d like to do, or where they’d like to go, keeps your children engaged with the trip, and helps to get them excited for their next holiday.
You can also set them small tasks to let your kids feel like they’re contributing to the trip. For example, older kids can look up things to do on the campsite, while younger ones can gather camping supplies from around the house when you’re packing.
Top tip: be flexible. Family camping trips rarely go exactly to plan, so don’t worry if the plan changes as the holiday goes on. The most important thing is that everyone has fun.