How To Prepare for Camping With Kids?
Whether you want to spend time in the serenity of nature, participate in adventure sports, or spend some quality time with your family, a camping trip is the way to go.
There is no doubt that your children, whether they’re little or teenagers, will love to spend some time in a beautiful environment doing exciting outdoor sports. But as a parent, you can already expect how much planning it takes for a trip like this. But there’s no need for you to fret. Keep reading to find out some of the most useful tips and products to prepare for an exciting and hassle-free camping trip with your kids.
How To Prepare for The Camping Trip?
For an unforgettable camping experience with your family, you need to keep comfort, safety, and adventure in mind. This might seem like a lot to take care of, but there are only a few things that you need to do to plan the best camping trip ever:
1. Pick The Right Camping Spot
The first thing you need to do when planning a camping trip is pick the right spot.
While camping with kids, you will need to consider factors that you might not have thought of before. We suggest that you make this decision with your kids. What do they enjoy more – bonfires, hikes and forests, or the beach and water sports?
Some possible campsites that you can consider include riversides, forests, hills, beaches, fields, etc. You can either choose a secluded area where you can enjoy nature in its full glory or go to a popular campsite. This is a good option if you have younger kids who need facilities like toilets, showers, playing and picnic areas, kitchens, and more.
2. Find What Your Campsite Offers
After choosing a camping destination that everyone agrees with, we suggest looking into what that campsite has to offer. Even if you are planning a rejuvenating camping trip without many extreme sports, this might not be the case for your kids.
So, if you are planning to camp by the beach, look up if there are any water sports that you and your kids can participate in. If you are camping in a forest or near the hills, check if there are any treks or hikes organized nearby. Or you could get a map of your camping location and set out for an impromptu adventure with your family!
3. Eliminate Any Mess Before It Happens
Perhaps the biggest concern about camping with kids is the chaos you’ll have to deal with. The easiest way to avoid any mess is to organize everything you’ll need.
There are two main things that you might be worried about – finding necessary items and time, along with keeping your kids clean (which can be a hassle in outdoor settings).
We recommend purchasing clear containers and ziplock bags to keep all your necessary items, camping tools as well as waste organized. Items like phones and other electronics, keys, wallets, etc can be stored together so that you can find them easily.
Moreover, this will keep important items from being ruined by dirt, spilled food, water, etc. When you return home after your camping trip, you will also have all your waste packed in containers and ziplock bags that you can discard easily.
We also recommend carrying some basic kitchen supplies, antibacterial or baby wipes, hand sanitizer, non-toxic cleaning agents, insect pray, first aid kits, towels, and napkins. These tools will ensure that you are prepared for any emergencies or messes.
4. Prepare For Any Possible Challenges
Most people love camping trips because they can take any turn, but as a parent, you might have to look out for unexpected changes.
One such possible challenge is that your child might have some trouble sleeping in tents. Make sure to carry extra blankets and pillows to ensure that your kids get a good night’s sleep. Additionally, make sure to carry extra clothes according to the weather conditions.
It is also a good idea to keep a change of clothes in case you or your child need them. If you have younger children, they might need to use the toilet in the middle of the night. We suggest buying a portable potty for your kid during the camping trip.
Lastly, essential camping tools like night lights, sound machines, chargers, speakers, headlamps, etc will ensure that your child has a comfortable experience while navigating the natural environment. Read on to find out some of the best products that will make your camping experience much easier and more exciting.
5. Teach Your Kids Camping Skills
The whole idea of a camping experience is to get in touch with nature.
This includes taking a break from screens, rejuvenating, and participating in exciting adventures that you wouldn’t otherwise get to experience. But you might have to take extra steps to make sure your kids get the best out of this experience.
Apart from activities like hiking and setting up bonfires, many other things go into camping. We suggest involving your children in activities like cooking, setting up the tents and bonfire, laying out sleeping bags, filling up water bottles, packing, etc.
Not only will your children feel closer to nature after these activities, but they will also have a sense of independence and accomplishment. This is also a great way to make your kids more excited about being closer to nature and learning new skills.
6. Practice The Camping Experience First
There is no better way to know if a camping experience is a right fit than actually experiencing it. Instead of any trouble coming up while you’re on the trip, you should try out the experience at home first. You don’t need to do anything fancy; you can just set up a tent in your backyard or local park for a few hours. This recommendation is especially useful if your kids are younger. Make sure your kids get oriented with how it feels to live and sleep inside the tent.
Essential Tools To Have For Camping With Kids
Now that you know everything about planning a camping trip, you need to create a checklist for all the essential tools that you will need.
Here are some of the most efficient camping essentials for kids that we suggest:
1. First Aid Kit
Safety comes before everything else. We suggest packing a fully equipped first aid kid like the Be Smart Get Prepared First Aid Kit.
This first aid kit is suitable for all situations like households, offices, traveling, and outdoor settings like sports, hunting, and camping. It has a sturdy, impact-resistant plastic case with interior compartments for easy access and organization.
This first aid kit has a total of 100 pieces of equipment including antiseptic towelettes, alcohol wipes, adhesive bandages, adhesive tape rolls, antibiotic ointment packets, gauze pad, safety guide, and more.
The size of this all-encompassing first aid kit is 7.5in x 2.5in x 6.8in. So, you can easily pack with the rest of your stuff and it won’t be a hassle to bring along. Moreover, the kit has latches that secure and lock all the items inside.
2. Camping Chair
A good camping chair is a must-have if you want a comfortable and relaxed experience, especially for younger kids. We suggest the Summer Pop ‘N Sit Portable Booster Chair.
This portable chair is suitable for children from 6 months to up to 4 years. It has a unique ‘pop and fold’ design which means it can be folded into a compact size and carried in a bag. So, you won’t have to worry about this chair occupying much of your storage space.
Moreover, this booster chair has a sleek and effective design. It has a high back that will ensure your children’s comfort, a detachable tray, and a variety of colors for them to choose from.
And there’s something for you too – the detachable tray is BPA-free and dishwasher safe.
Not only can your child eat from this tray without any worry, but it is also easy for you to clean.
The portable chair also features a rear storage pocket, safety harness, and straps. This product will also be useful long after your camping trip. You can take it to a local park, restaurant, or set it up in your backyard or even indoors!
3. Pod Tent
You might be wondering what the use for a separate pod tent is. Well, we suggest that both young children and teenagers will love a pod tent of their own.
We recommend the GigaTent Pop Up Pod Privacy Tent as your choice for a pod tent. This 6-foot tall tent is easy to install and can be folded to fit inside a small carry back. So, you can add this tent along with your other packed items with ease. Setting up this tent requires no assembly and the total weight of the tent is 6 pounds. This pod tent can also be used for storage, changing clothes, as shelter from the rain, for showers, as a bathroom, and any other way you can think of.
Tips For A Smooth Camping Experience With Kids
Now that you have decided how your camping trip will go and packed everything you require, you’ll need some tips to make the best out of the experience. Needless to say, camping with your kids can pose a unique set of challenges.
Here are some of the best tips to remember for a smooth camping experience:
1. Make Camping A Comfortable Experience
A camping experience is supposed to be packed with thrill and adventure, but that does not mean you or your children shouldn’t be comfortable.
On a camping trip, you should definitely encourage your children to not be afraid of getting dirty and exploring nature. But at the same time, children, especially teenagers, can be conscious about their bodies and appearance.
You might notice your teenager shying away and using their phone and other electronics. So, if your teenager isn’t too eager to go all out, do not force them. If you have younger children, make sure to bring some extra blankets, pillows, clothes, and even a few toys to maintain a level of safety and comfort in the tents.
2. Immerse Yourself In The Natural Beauty
This tip is both for you and your children: while you are on a camping trip, don’t be afraid to make the most out of your time in nature.
You can search for some nature walks, treks, hikes, local historical sites, etc near your campsite. Moreover, you can find directories, guidebooks and even professional guides to know more about the environment and history of the spot.
You can also encourage your children to identify the different plant, bird and animal species that you see around the camp. Teaching your children the importance of stillness and observation is never a bad idea. Moreover, you should encourage them to respect their natural environment and to leave no waste behind from the camping experience.
3. Accommodate Your Kids’ Eating Habits
There are many benefits to including your kid in the packing process for your camping trip. Not only will it ensure that they have a say in how the experience will go, but you will also have an extra hand.
So, while packing food, add more snacks that your kids love to eat. You can’t get meals like at home on a campsite, so it is a good idea to keep a few snacks that they will eat without any hesitation.
4. Do Not Forget About Safety
Of course, one of the most important things about a camping trip with children is ensuring safety at all times. There are a few easy measures that you can take for this.
Create some rules about how far everyone can wander around the campsite. We recommend getting a whistle for each family member in case of any emergencies.
Moreover, set some ground rules about which equipment your kids can and cannot use so that they don’t injure themselves. If you have younger children, decide whether they are allowed to go near water bodies or not.
Additionally, make sure to explain to younger kids whether they can use the bathroom alone or not, and how. We suggest keeping some night lights and first aid kids handy, in case you might end up needing them.
Final Thoughts
We hope that after reading this article, all your fears about planning a family camping trip have vanished. With a little planning and the right tools, you can head on for a trip that both you and your children will cherish forever. So, what are you waiting for?
