As an amazon associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Going camping is my favorite way to get away from the hustle and bustle of life, but to be honest, I haven’t done it since I had kids. But after much debate, we have decided that we should take our kids camping, which prompted me to look for some cool camping ideas for kids.
Getting organized when you’re taking kids camping isn’t an easy feat! But I managed to plan everything and didn’t lose my head thanks to these great camping ideas. I’ve decided to share them with you to help you have a great time camping with your kids.
Ideas To Make Camping With Kids Easier
Camping with kids isn’t a simple walk in the park and it can be hard to keep everything under control while living outdoors. But thanks to these neat kids camping ideas, you can make your next camping trip a lot easier.
1. Soft Floor
Having only the tent floor between you and the ground can make camping rather uncomfortable or make your kid’s feet cold. Luckily, you can use foam floor tiles and set up an insulated floor inside your tent. Make sure to check the size of your tent prior to camping so you can bring enough foam floor tiles to cover the entire tent area.
2. Bin Bathtub
You don’t have to rely solely on baby wipes to keep your toddler clean while on a family camping trip! Pack a storage bin that is big enough for your toddler to sit in comfortably and use it as a toddler bathtub. As a bonus, you can use the bin as a storage place for all your camping equipment.
3. Tackle Box First Aid Kit
Bringing a first aid kit is a must when you are camping with kids! A tackle box can help you keep everything organized and in one place.
4. Shoe Organizer Wardrobe
Hang a big shoe organizer in your tent and use its many compartments to keep your kid’s clothes, toys, and games in order and out of the way.
5. Kid-Friendly Beds
Bring kid sleeping bags and toddler beds so your kids can have a good night’s rest and be energized for outdoor adventures.
Fun Things To Do With Kids While Camping
There are so many things to do with kids while camping, including swimming, hiking, or sitting by the fire. But just in case your kids do get restless, here are some cool camping activities for kids you should try:
1. Map Making
Understanding what a map is and how to read one is essential for campers of all ages, so challenge your kids to make their own map of the camping area. This is a great opportunity for your children to explore the area and develop some compass skills.
2. Water Bottle Bubbles
Image Credit: allfreekidscrafts.com
If your kids are missing making bubbles with their bubble machine, you won’t need much to create some bubble fun while camping. Start by poking a small hole at the bottom of a clean and empty water bottle. This hole is where you’ll be blowing air into the bottle to create bubbles.
To make a bubble solution fill a bowl with water and add a few drops of dishwashing liquid in it. Once everything is set, drip the top of the bottle’s opening into the bubble solution and start blowing the air through the poked hole at the bottom of the bottle.
3. Make A Dig Site
This camping idea is an excellent option if you have toddlers or younger kids who like to use their mini shovels to dig and transport dirt in their dump trucks. All you have to do is find a suitable spot, use a shovel to turn over a patch of earth and make a small hole for your kids to play in and dig around.
4. Sing Around The Campfire
Whether you are a musical family or not, singing around the campfire is a great activity. Besides maintaining the health of your vocal cords, singing also reduces stress and anxiety and can help your kids improve their posture. And if you have a guitar, singing around the campfire can be twice as fun.
5. Teach Your Kids To Fish
If you are camping somewhere near water, you have an excellent opportunity to unpack your kids fishing poles and teach them how to catch dinner! And even if you don’t catch anything, you’ll still have fun trying.
Simple Food Ideas For Camping With Kids
Kid-friendly meals are an important aspect of camping with children, so here are some fun food ideas that you should try!
1. Nutella & Banana S’mores
Image Credit: musely.com
Camping trips wouldn’t be complete without marshmallows which you can use to make a delicious snack. To make four s’mores you’ll need:
Ingredients:
- Eight graham crackers
- ¼ cup Nutella
- ¼ cup of marshmallows
- Two sliced bananas
- Aluminum foil
Directions:
Before you start, make sure that your campfire is still producing moderate heat since you’ll need it to toast the s’mores. Once that is set, spread Nutella on four graham crackers and place marshmallows on the remaining four. Press sliced banana pieces onto the Nutella and sandwich the graham crackers together.
Wrap each s’more into aluminum foil and grill them over moderate heat for 10 minutes. Turn the s’mores once or twice to make them nicely toasted. Once the time is up, remove the foil and serve the s’mores as a delicious snack to your kids.
2. Egg In Toast Basket
Image Credit: realhousemoms.com
This quick breakfast recipe is easy to execute while on camping, and you can rest assured that your kids will get a nutritious and filling meal at the start of the day. Here’s what you’ll need:
Ingredients:
- A loaf of sandwich bread
- Eggs
- Cookie-cutter (a sturdy jar lid can also work)
- Butter
- Frying pan
Directions:
Use the cookie cutter or whatever else you have handy to make the hole in the middle of the bread. Next, grease the frying pan with butter, place it over the fire and when it starts to heat up add the bread in it. Crack the egg in the middle and cook everything to get a nice and filling egg and toast.
3. Corn On The Cob
This camping classic is super easy to make and will help your kids experience the best flavors camping has to offer. You’ll need:
Ingredients:
- Husked cobs of corn
- Unsalted butter
- Salt
- Aluminum foil
Directions:
Place one cob of corn on aluminum foil, add one tablespoon of butter, add salt according to your liking and fold the foil securing it tightly. Repeat the same thing for all the remaining corns until they are tightly secured in aluminum foil.
Once everything is set, place the corns at the edge of your campfire. Do not place them directly on the fire, since the corn will burn but not be entirely cooked. Turn and rotate your corns often and cook them for about 15 minutes.
Once the corn is roasted, remove it from the coals and leave a few minutes to cool before taking the foil off and serving it to your kids.
Top Tips For Camping With Kids
If you are new to the whole camping with kids experience, you’ll need some pointers to get it right the first time. Here are some helpful tips:
- Plan Ahead: If you plan to set your camp in one of the national or state parks, you will have to book ahead. If you don’t plan to look for last-minute reservations, you should book six to nine months in advance to get your spot.
- Carry Out A Test Run: Try sleeping with your children in a tent in your backyard first. This will give you an idea of what to expect in the wild and you’ll get a better sense of everything you’ll need for a real trip.
- Don’t Overpack: You will have to pack a lot of your kid’s stuff, but you don’t have to pack half of your wardrobe – you can always re-wear things.
- Be Prepared For Weather: Even when it’s hot during the day, the evenings are generally a lot cooler outside. Thus, bring an extra layer of clothes for yourself and your kids, and an extra blanket won’t hurt.
- Set Up Camp: You should always unpack and set up camp while there is still light. Get your kids to help with chores like gathering kindling while you are setting up the tent.
- Stick To Routine: Follow the same nap and bedtime schedule as much as you can when camping with kids, especially toddlers. Lack of sleep can make your child cranky and ruin your carefully planned day of fun camping activities for kids.
- Keep It Simple: Don’t make any overly ambitious plans for the first night! You’ll be tired from a long day, so plan a simple meal and tuck your kids into bed.
Conclusion
It’s natural to be apprehensive when taking your children camping for the very first time! But planning a camping trip and packing everything doesn’t have to be hard. You can enjoy the outdoors thanks to these fun camping ideas for kids that cover meals, activities, and make camping with kids a lot easier.
Add Comment