Camping with kids can be a fun experience. Seeing the world through their eyes and watching them explore the world around them brings another level of enjoyment.
However, when you are camping with small children you might want to consider packing a little extra gear to keep them comfortable and allow them to know where they can sleep and eat and such. Little ones tend to worry when their routines are disrupted. And, they cannot always express to you what their concerns are or what they are feeling. Be sure that you keep them as warm or cool as you can, depending on the temperature.
Family camping trips aren’t the same as when you go hiking with a buddy. You need to remember to pack the patience as the little ones will certainly go at their own pace.
A large tent
When you are camping with kids, being able to dress them and help them get their clothing on properly is important. So, getting a tent that you can stand up in helps a lot. Clearly this is for the smaller kids. For the bigger kids, you can get them their own tent. They love this bit of independence and then you don’t have so many people in one tent. Still bring the larger tent as it is far easier to get dressed in it and well, you already own it.
Portable Play Yards
Portable play yards can be a lifesaver for those camping with a baby. It is a clean space where the baby can sit and enjoy everyone around them. This is a great place for them to sleep as well. It folds up small and can be thrown in the car with ease. They are small enough that they will fit inside a large tent or put the baby down for a nap under a nice tree.
Kids Camping Gear
Kids have their own camping gear from sleeping bags that are their size to chairs that are made just for them as well. These items are perfect for letting them fit in. They will love the miniature version that is all theirs and you will too as it will take up less space as well.
Forgo the disposable water bottles
Bring refillable water bottles. Even better, let them pick which they are going to bring and keep track of. This will save a lot on the piled-up disposable water bottles that get lost and then nobody wants to claim the lost bottle. Leave a large water container at camp, such as a water cooler to refill them with.
Each child has their own bag
When camping kids get super excited. However, there is nothing more frustrating than pilfering through large bags trying to find something for everyone. If they all have their own bags they can easily find what they are looking for and it will, in fact, be theirs as well.
Cook things Prior
Remember less to do is important when camping. So, cook things up prior to leaving to make things simple. Give the kids their own set of dishes that they will be responsible for. These can be color-coded, which will help you even more with dishes. And, take food that can be a grab and go to further assist with dishes and work while away.
I have been camping and going outdoors for over 15 years! My first experience was when I joined the scouts. There I learned a lot. From building a campfire to set up a really big tent. Then I know this is awesome. Around 2005 I also started Geocaching. This is a lot of fun. And every time we go camping we look at the map to see if there are some nice caches around.