Kaboutjie SA Mommy Blogs by Lynne Huysamen
Camping with the kids for the first time? Well, if that’s the case, then you’re probably trying to figure out exactly how to have a fun camping trip with kids. You definitely don’t want this trip to turn out to be a drag for all of those involved. And when that happens, you’re going to have some not-so-happy kids running around.
Keep reading down below to learn some more about what you should think about in order to have a super fun camping trip with your kiddos.
***Disclosure -The links in this post may contain affiliate links and I may receive a small commission if you make a purchase after clicking on a link.***
-
Plan For The Worst When It Comes To Weather
Depending on the season you head out in, you should always prepare for the worst when it comes to the weather. Nothing ruins the fun of a camping trip more than freezing in the cold or suffering through a lot of rainstorms. It’s best to over pack rather than under pack if you want to ensure you have the right clothes and equipment for every weather eventuality.
-
Don’t Scrimp On Your Tent
One of the most fun things about camping out is the tent your kids get to stay in. This is the place where you’re going to tell them ghost stories, where they’re going to spend the night snuggled in their sleeping bags, and waking up to the smell of the fresh morning air.
That’s why you definitely shouldn’t scrimp on your tent. Don’t just go for the most affordable tent because it’s within your budget. If you invest in a large and high-quality tent, like the exclusive design of this tent, this is going to make the stay a whole lot more comfortable and fun.
-
Bring Plenty Of Lights
You never want your kids to get too scared of the dark when on your camping trip. And it can get pretty dark in the middle of the forest or campsite. That’s why you should definitely not forget your camping lights when you head out. In addition to being a comfort for the kids, you can use torches for some shadow puppet shows or a bit of flashlight tag to up the fun factor a bit.
-
Make Sure They Get Plenty Of Sleep
One of the worst things that can happen during a camping trip that can absolutely ruin the fun is when your kids don’t get enough sleep. Be sure to enforce a strong curfew time so that they get to sleep and can wake up refreshed for all of the activities planned for tomorrow. You don’t want them to be sleep deprived and grumpy on the hike.
-
Plan Plenty Of Games And Activities
And of course, you should do your best to come up with plenty of games to play while you’re camping out and while you’re doing other activities. For example, if you’re going on a hike, have your kids try to find as many different leaves or rocks as they can. When you’re back, you can check and see what everyone found.
Make sure to pack some family board games, playing cards, and other activities to keep busy if the weather is bad. A 100 in 1 board game set will be fantastic as you have loads of games to play in one box.
When it comes to camping with your kids, this can either be a super fun time for everyone or it can be a super frustrating time for parents and kids. Make sure to follow the above tips to make everything more fun for everyone.
It was 2008 that my son and I 1st ever went camping and the last time too. I now just sit at home or go to local shops to buy groceries. no getaway nothing
@nics82 shame man maybe you must try again and might have a different experiance this time around im sure the first time was just a test maybe as it was the first time out od comfort zone….@lynne hope you have used some of your awesome own tips for thw camping weekend we love camping but since our boy was born we havent went yet his old enough but now its to cold so we will be starting to camp again after the winter im also one of those that want to take my whole house camping i want to be prepared for everything LOL
I don’t think I will do it anytime soon again. My daughter is very traumatized and won’t sleep with no lights. It was so bad that we had to go home. O thing bad really happened. That’s when I found out that she is terrified of thr dark and being in a tent.
My kids are also quite nervous of the dark Kamo, and that was an issue with camping. However we hung a torch from the top of the tent to act like a light and my kids knew it was there and both kids got a torch to keep next to their beds. Also we sleep with our kids which helped. Have you though about getting some sort of camping night light? At home we leave the bathroom light on next to my kids’ room so having some source of light while we are camping is also important. I only turn off the torches when they are fast asleep and make sure that they know where the torches are next to them before they fall asleep.
my first camp was with my dad and he always plan for the worse, weather and give us a wonderfully time with all the stories around the fire. Games make it so much fun you don’t feel that cold weather ect thank you for reminding me
Camping always make amazing memories and you like you at home dont xare how you dress abd great to hav family crazy fun times outdoors .love this to enjiy new games with old ones
lynne this makes me want to plan my first camping trip with my daughter, my birthday is coming up and theres a really lovely place i want to visit in pongola, did you visit the africamps website?
I love camping Tanya, no I haven’t visited the Africamps website but I will take a look for sure!
I have loved camping ever since I was a child all the good memories it brings is amazing. I hope that our camping trips with my own family brings on good memories for my child as well
Camping is a wonderful family tradition