Tips to Make Camping with Kids Go Smoothly + Camping with Kids Checklist
Camping with kids can be one of the most rewarding things you can do as a parent.
Watching their little faces light up when confronted with the wondrous bounty of Mother Nature truly is a sight to behold. “Look mommy a frog!...Look mommy another frog!” That kind of exuberance never gets old!
A weekend in the woods can be both fun-filled and a learning experience. That’s when everything goes to plan at least! When things go wrong during a camping trip, those trees can suddenly start to feel like prison bars for a parent.
While a lot of things are out of your control during a jaunt to the wilderness, the weather for instance, there are a whole host of things we as parents can do to increase the odds of a trip going smoothly. Read on below and I’ll let you in on my top three and check out the camping with kids checklist at the end....
Always be prepared for bad weather
Two things can ruin any camping trip faster than a squirrel stealing a nut, that’s being wet and cold. These two often go very much hand in hand. No matter what the weatherman might have said, it’s your number one duty as the responsible adult to ensure that your brood are adequately prepared for sudden downfalls and colder than anticipated nights.
Bringing decent wet weather gear is a start, the second is ensuring each little camper has at least one spare set of dry clothes wrapped up in a waterproof dry sack, or just a refuse bag, in their rucksack. It is amazing how often someone gets soaked to the skin during a camping trip, if it isn’t rain, or just sweat, someone is guaranteed to slip off a log and fall into a stream. Being wet at night in the woods is no laughing matter. When the sun falls behind the ridge and you only have a few millimetres of tent fabric to separate you from the elements, things can get cold, fast.
Know your gear inside out
Camping gear isn’t too complicated but if you are new to the game it’s better to practice a little bit at home first. Assemble your tent in the garden where it’s nice and dry. It’s much better here than trying to do it for the first time in a rainstorm whilst the kids are getting soaked. Practice opening cans with your swiss army knife. Again, better having a little bit of experience now than slicing a chunk out of thumb in front of the assembled children. Blood before dinner is a recipe for camping nightmares. Test out your air mattress, make sure they are all in good working order. Oh, and prepare yourself with the knowledge to repair them should you hear the familiar cry of, “mommy, mommy my bed is leaking” in the night. If you need a little help on this one, here’s A Handful of Ways to Fix an Air Mattress Leak.
Avoid ghost stories and scary movies
Whoever was the genius who decided campfires and ghost stories mixed deserves a clap around the ear. After the weather, children’s nightmares must be the second most common reason for lost sleep in the woods. Yes, I know ghost stories are an American tradition as common as beloved as apple pie. But it’s a stupid one if you ask me. When one of your little ones wakes up screaming, it’s 100% your own fault if you ask me. Now obviously if your wards are a little bit older and have been through the whole process before then by all means rock out your scariest tale but if they are first time campers, take it steady. Or if you must, like really, really must, maybe save your stories until the last night. That way at least your exhausted kids will be going home that day.
Oh, and while we’re at it – do me a favour, in the weeks before a camping trip don’t let your kids watch any scary movies. The last thing you want is your whippersnappers filling their imaginations with Blair Witches, axe murderers or Freddy Krugers. Here’s a handy guide for some of the films to avoid before a camping trip. Well, there you have it nature fans – my top three tips on how to increase the chances you’re going to have a smooth, fun-packed and nightmare free camping trip with the kids. Good luck. Oh, and watch out for Bigfoot!
Kids Camping Checklist
Do you love camping with kids? Do you already have a handy camping with kids checklist that you've made up? Have we left anything off??
Hi I’m Kate!
Mumma of 2 young 'uns. Adventurer at Heart. Lover of Tropical Queensland and avoider of Housework and Craft projects - give me the Great Outdoors any day! Come join my family and I as we Explore TNQ.
Latest Blog
Popular Posts
Follow us
@adventuremumma
Grab a copy
This is the only guide you need if you’re interested finding the places locals love!
200+ pages of recipes, tips and camp oven cooking over the fire.
Search the blog
Archive
- Cairns 1
- Cairns Attractions 12
- Cairns Dining 10
- Cairns Esplanade 1
- Family Friendly Accommodation 9
- Activities in Cairns 21
- Beaches & Islands 14
- Cairns Events 7
- Clean Up Australia 1
- Cairns Family Tours 26
- Explore TNQ 101
- Things to do in Cairns 43
- Watersports 26
- Free things to do 9
- Hikes & Walking Trails 10
- Great Barrier Reef Tours 13
- Hot Air Ballooning 1
- Camping Adventures 17
- Family Road Trip 17
- Outback Australia 11
- Parks & Playgrounds 5
- Things to do in Port Douglas 18
- Cairns Northern Beaches 7
- Port Douglas Activities 10
- Travelling with Family 27
- Nature Play 24
- Aboriginal Experiences 2
- Gift Ideas 6
- Freshwater Swimming Holes 10
- Health & Wellbeing 12
- Rainforest Adventures 19
- Family Tips 19
- In the Media 19
- Things to do in Mission Beach 3
- Waterfalls 10
- Sea Kayaking 1
- Explore Australia 21
- Gear Reviews 5
- Gold Coast Activities 2
- Insider Guide 11
- Port Douglas Reef Tours 4
- Things to do in Melbourne 2
- Outback Tours 1
- Port Douglas Dining 6
- Follow the Sun 4
- Kuranda Train & Skyrail 5
- Daintree / Cape Trib Rainforst 4
- Daintree Activities 2
- Things to do in the Daintree 1
- Travel Photography 4
