Camping. It sounds so peaceful, so away from the business of life. And then you add kids. Camping with children doesn’t have to be hard. In fact, it can be a really fun experience for everyone and a chance to build memories that will last a lifetime.
I can’t remember a single family camping trip without small children in tow. I am the oldest of 8 and while my family didn’t really camp, us kids did in the backyard and once I got married my husband and I were both so busy that we didn’t camp till having children slowed us down. And so, I know camping as a very noisy, very snuggled up, extra-joyful family time.
Camping as a Family is Fun!
Bring along the nerf guns, beach pails, soccer ball or bug jars and identification books. Whatever it is your kids are into, plan on doing a lot of it. Together. Our family camping trips always include nerf-wars and multiple games of Frisbee. In the summer we camp near the lake and go for swims. We play till we all collapse around the campfire, and after a simple dinner and some homemade jerky the kids are ready for bed.
Safety Tips for Camping with Kids
Set Boundaries
When you get to your campsite, be sure to walk the perimeter of the ‘safe to play’ zone with your little ones. Help them understand that this is the area they can roam and play in and that crossing the line could be dangerous and will come with consequences like having to sit still by the fire or go to bed early. While your most adventurous will probably explore and cross that line, many children will be content to remain in the safe zone and having those boundaries laid out from the moment you arrive will help you enforce the ‘stay close’ instructions.
Identify Dangers Together
If there is poison ivy or oak near the campsite, show it to your kids. Ant mounds, deep holes in the ground and water areas are other things you’ll want to address.
When Camping with Kids, Set the Tent Close to the Fire
Not like dangerously close or anything, but close enough for comfort. Unless you plan to let the kids stay up half the night you’re going to want that tent close enough that you can hear their little voices from where you’re relaxing by the fire. Have the tent door face the campfire if possible so they can see you if they get up to check. You never want them to feel alone. Being able to hear your voices will comfort them.
Bring Comforts of Home to the Campsite
If this is your child’s first camping trip, roughing it is ok – but not to the point of leaving teddy and the familiar blanket or pillow at home. You may be ok with a slick sleeping bag and an old t-shirt and pair of sweats, but your little one is used to a routine, certain pajamas and a safety net of those special things she sleeps with. Bring them along. Trust me, everyone will be happier that way!
Handling Bedtime for Kids while Camping
I’m not even going to pretend this is a one-size-fits-all. I’m just going to tell you what works for us. Our boys have always slept in their own beds and have a routine that we follow every night. We bring the same things and do the same routine at camp. The first two times with our oldest I did go to bed with him at his bed time and laid with him till he fell asleep, then quietly left the tent to sit by the fire. After that we were able to say ‘It’s bed time’ and go through the routine, tuck him in and then he’d just stay, only calling out a time or two to make sure we were still just six feet away.
Any tips for diapers while camping? That’s always been what has steered me away from trying to camp with little ones.
Funny you should ask that – I actually went camping last summer with a three week old newborn and we cloth diapered! The first photo here is of the baby with a cloth diaper on: http://dinkerandgiggles.com/ready-to-cast-the-next-reel/
It was really easy. I made sure to have ample cloth wipes and did take disposable wipes as well. I had a duffle bag for clean diapers and two zippered wet bags. Everything was done just as we did at home. Now he was a newborn so I did not have to worry much about the solid waste. When we go camping this summer I will probably take and solid waste to the restroom on the campsite to flush.
The wet bags seem like they’d be a really good option! We didn’t cloth diaper with either of ours, but we did have to make sure those soiled diapers got put into a bag, tied up and either put in the car or hung in a tree. Coons are notorious for getting into the trash around here!
Wet bags were also great for all the sweaty, muddy clothes too. They are designed to contain smells and wetness so being outdoors we didn’t have any ‘funk’ from the clothing.
Any advice on how to keep a rowdy toddler, 2.5, near you in camp? What games can you play with a toddler camping?
How do you handle primitive camping with small kids? I spent all of my camping (except one time) experiences doing primitive camping. To me, no condemnation, that is really camping. If you have bathrooms, running water, or electricity, that is not really hardcore camping. We had to put our food in the tree, away from bears, potty in a hole in the woods, go to the creek to wash your dishes…that kind of camping.
All of my camping experiences were when I was dating, single, in my early 20’s. So, I have no idea how to make it kid fun and friendly. I am content to just sit and stare at God’s beauty all around me for extended periods of time. Lol. But I know my 10 year old daughter and 2 year old son, do not have the temperament for that yet.
Nicole,
So much of that starts at home. If your kid does well playing in the backyard, or at the park, most of the same methods you use to keep him near you there will work at camp. You may have to watch him a tad closer just because being in a new place he may decide the temptation of adventure is just too much. I try to keep my tiny ones busy with a small bucket of sand toys or by letting them ‘help’ me gather sticks for the fire, clean up litter, etc. As long as he doesn’t get bored he should do fine!
We haven’t been too hard code camping with the kids… the campsites we’ve been to had running water a couple yards away and bathrooms within a decent walking distance from the campsite. So, if we needed those things we had them.
I went tent camping every summer as a teen, but when I hit early 20s I was done. Now I prefer condos. LOL I’ve never gone with little children, but these tips make so much sense.
You should try it sometime – great fun for the whole family!
Jendi, your kids would love camping! You’ll have to give it another try. The great thing about camping as a family is you can talk about what makes each of you comfortable and take as much or as little as you need. We have camped straight on the ground with sleeping bags, but we both prefer those thin inflatable mats, or a yoga mat, under our sleeping bags, especially in cold weather. They seem thin, but they’re a huge help when the ground isn’t exactly smooth and in colder weather they provide a layer of insulation between you and the ground.
Great post! We’re going camping next week for the first with our littles. My husband grew up camping and we’ve camped some since we were married (mostly overseas) and it’s been on our bucket list to camp lots as a family. Having small children (3 and 1.5) has made it seem more overwhelming then I think it will be. The super practical tips were great!
Breanne, you will have to let us know how it goes! You might want to try just one night and a less primitive campsite for your first time if you’re worried about how the kids will take it. We haven’t roughed it too much with ours… we have one that likes having a bathroom nearby if he needs to do the #2. haha Pee in the grass, sure! That other thing? He needs the bathroom stall.