7 Tips for Smoother Camping With Kids

Camping is a beautiful experience that allows you to connect with nature and recharge your batteries. Still, while it can be very easy to have a successful camping trip by yourself, things become much more complicated when you’re camping with kids. 

In order to make your camping trip a success and ensure your children will want to go on other adventures as well, here are some tips to keep in mind.

1. Do a Test Run

Is this your first time going camping with your kids? In this case, you might want to do a test run first. If you have a house with a backyard, try setting up a tent along with the rest of your camping equipment there. 

With this, you should be able to take note of what they need in order to be comfortable. It will also help get them used to the idea of sleeping under the stars. 

2. Get a Wood Burning Stove

When you go camping, you need some source of warmth, as well as a place where you may cook the food. Most campers create a campfire in the traditional way – but now that you are a parent, you need to think fast and practical. 

In this regard, you might want to consider bringing a wood camping stove with you, as it is easier to set up and you’ll be able to create better meals. Plus, since you will be burning wood, you’ll create a warm space near the tent for your kids to feel cozy in.

3. Plan Some Easy Meals and Snacks

Camping, particularly when mixed with hiking and outdoor activities, can lead to very ravenous children. This is why you may want to prepare some quick meals and snacks beforehand. 

Make sure that your kids have some quick snacks to chew on, as it makes the difference between a happy camper and a meltdown. Kids often tend to eat more while camping as well, likely because they burn more energy.  Camping with kids = s’mores!

4. Set Camp during the Day

You might feel tempted to set the tent and do everything later on after you got some rest. However, if you want things to go smoothly, you may want to unpack and set things up while you still have the light. 

This way, you should be able to get the kids involved as well. Moreover, if you plan on making a fire, do so right away – perhaps right after you set up the tent. It does not matter if you aren’t cooking yet, the fire will warm up the area.

5. Plan for Every Type of Weather

The weather may seem very promising during the day, but at nighttime, things can get very chilly. Plus, even if it feels scorching hot at noon, it can get very cold in the second part of the day, towards the evening. At some point, the fire might also die down, which is why you may want to bring out an extra set of thicker fleece clothing.

6. Bring an Extra Tent

When you are camping with the kids, they are bound to make a mess in the tent – particularly since they will want to play there. To make sure the sleeping tent does not look like the result of a hurricane by the time you want to go to sleep, consider getting a play tent as well. It’s especially handy if it gets rainy and the kids need a sheltered place to play in.

7. Invest in Good Camping Gear

Depending on the camping gear that you get, the experience can be either a delight or a complete disaster for your kid. This is why you may want to invest in some quality gear to make things more comfortable and fun.

For example, if you expect there to be plenty of sunshine, then you might want to get a blackout tent. These tents have a “fresh” technology that will help keep the heat under control, whereas the “black” technology will keep the area nice and dark.

Don’t skimp on the sleeping bags either. As mentioned, evenings can get rather cold, particularly once the campfire runs out. Get a sleeping bag that has good heat retention, and perhaps some hot pads to keep your children warm.

The Bottom Line When Camping With Kids

Having a fun and smooth experience while camping with kids should not be that difficult. You just need to make sure that you invest in the right gear. Other than that, it’s all about engaging in enjoyable and interactive activities that you like to do together. Once everything has been properly planned, things should run their course smoothly.

Author: Evelin Weiss