Camping with the family is one of the best things in life. It allows you to spend quality time with your partner and kids. Spending time outdoors in nature can be relaxing and rejuvenating. However, your entire trip can become frustrating the moment you realize that you forgot to bring toilet paper, your kid’s favorite meal, bug spray, a fire igniter, or extra batteries for the flashlight. Camping whether solo or with family can be fun and adventurous. However, camping involves a lot of planning to ensure that you have a pleasant stay outdoor. Not everyone, especially kids, is accustomed to sleeping in a tent and surviving on the basics. But that doesn’t mean camping is uncomfortable and tiresome. With proper planning, your kids will love camping as much as you do.
Watching the sunrise and sitting around a campfire together is the best way to take a break from the dull, routine life. Fresh air and greenery can relax your mind and your kids will get an opportunity to get close to nature. Maybe, you’re a seasoned camper but camping solo is different from family camping. Going out alone or with your friends, means you can survive a rough trip. However, when you’ve got a family, you need to plan differently. Ideally, you should begin by pitching a tent in your backyard to get an idea of how your children react to spending time outdoor. Once you’re confident about planning a camping trip with family, it’s important to follow some tips. Read further to know some useful tips and avoid those “Oops!” camping moments.
Find the Right Campsite
Your planning begins with choosing a suitable campsite. For family camping, you should choose a local campground with amenities. You should always consider your family’s needs. Backpacking and trekking are not the right choices for family camping. So, look for national parks or campgrounds that have water supply, picnic tables, toilets, and preferably some recreational options like swimming pools, playgrounds, or rivers.
Research Activities
Kids enjoy playing and to keep them engaged, you should think about activities that you can do at the campsite. The last thing you want is kids saying: “I’m bored.” So, plan activities like a bike ride, fishing, swimming, kayaking, and more. You can also keep board games and your little one’s favorite toys.
Organize Camping Gear
A comfortable camping trip is all about packing the right camping gear. Gears are almost the same for all camping trips: backpacking or car camping. You will need a spacious tent depending on the family size, sleeping bags, pillows, as well as cookware, cups, saucepan, headlamp, lantern, compass, bug spray, first-aid box, toilet paper, and toiletries, and more.
Pack Food
Kids can get cranky if they don’t get proper meals. Meals are an important part of every trip- whether you’re going alone or with the family. Make chopped veggies, ready-to-cook food items like soup and noodles, energy bars, and more. Remember to keep some snacks and try to engage kids in planning the menu and cooking during camping.
