Are you thinking about your first camping trip with children? My husband and I both grew up camping so why we waited until now to take the kids on a camping trip is beyond me. It is probably because we always have so many plans when the kids are out of school or Curtis is off work that camping has been replaced with room service and amusement parks.
We finally decided that the best way to get our kids to appreciate nature was to go on a family camping trip in the wilderness. I knew they would love it but my husband was skeptical. He assumed that since technology is such a big part of our lives and our children’s lives, they would not do well in the outdoors for too long. I am happy to say that as usual, I was right!
Since our first camping trip was such a success, I thought I would put together a list of the things that worked as well as the things that I will do differently next time when it comes to camping with young children.
When preparing for a camping trip, it is important to do some research on the location. We chose a spot that is fairly close to our home just incase it was a total disaster and needed to leave early. We also decided to book a yurt since we would be arriving late and did not want to deal with pitching a tent on the first trip. Now that I know what we are capable of as a family, I am more confident that we can handle other locations.
Things to Look Into:
- Are there showers nearby?
- How many campsites are in one area?
- What kind of wildlife is in the area?
- Is there a body of water nearby?
- Are there any hiking trails and if so, how challenging are they?
- Are you tent camping or staying in a yurt or R.V.?
All of these factors determine what you should pack for the trip.
Packing List (Must-Haves)
- Tent (if tent camping) and air mattress of comfort
- Towels and extra blankets
- Food and drink
- Camp stove and propane
- Pots and pans
- Dinnerware, etc
- Cooler (make sure it fits in the bear box)
- Trash bags, paper towels, dish soap and sponge
- Water shoes and bathing suits for river play
- A few beach towels
- Sleeping bags and pillows
- Clothing – layers
- Sturdy shoes for hiking
- Bikes/helmets for all (adults and kids)
- Bike lock
- Sunscreen and bug spray
- Backpack/daypack
- Camp chairs
- Flashlights
- Lantern
- Books, games, etc
- Fishing gear (if you are near water)
Packing List (Luxury Items)
- Broom
- Electric kettle
- Christmas lights
- Inflatables (for water spots)
- Small portable cooler
- Fitted sheets (if staying in a yurt)
- Binoculars
- Bug apper
- Power strip (if there is electricity)
A very important suggestion that I have for anyone camping with children is to bring friends or make friends with fellow campers. This seriously made our trip when we connected with two other families who were camping near us. Not only did it give Kolton and Shayne other children to play with, but Curtis and I were able to hang with like minded parents who also enjoy the outdoors.
We all exchanged information in order to connect for future camping trips. They were also able to give us tips and show us some items that we didn’t think to pack for our next trip. One of the families reached out to invite us to an upcoming trip to Yosemite! They had a friend cancel, so a campsite opened up at a site which has been fully booked for months!
Next stop… Yosemite! I hope you can follow our journey!
Check our our last Yosemite trip :: Yosemite National Park – A Family Camping Trip
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I hope I am able to keep camping once I have kids! My fiancé and I are both so outdoorsy, it would be really hard to just give that up! But I can see where camping with kids can be stressful too.
It is definitely different when you bring little ones. It is fun, but different!
This is a very useful guide on going campng with the children for the first time. I think that it is great to go camping with young children, to teach them about nature and the joy of sleeping in a the middle of it.
I completely agree. Especially this day in age with so many electronic distractions keeping kids from exploring.
What a fantastic list of tips! Even those who have been camping could benefit from this as well.
Thank you! I’m sure I will be adding more after our next camping trip.
I’ve been wanting to take my son on his first camping trip, he’s 4. These are some really helpful tips.
My daughter is 4 and she did great! Having other kids to play with really makes a huge difference though.
Thanks for the tips. We haven’t been brave enough to take our daughter yet but this gives me hope.
Good luck! I think you will be surprised. It was a lot more fun than I thought it would be.
Thank you for sharing these tips, I missed my camping days when I was on my secondary education
I’m too wussy to do proper camping and have gone into glamping. But all your tips are valid for that too.
These bring back great memories as I loved camping as a kid. I hope I make the time to go camping again
It’s been a while since I last went camping, but this is really useful advice for first-time campers or for those returning to this hobby after a long break
Amazingly written and really nice concept. Thanks.
Got me thinking of my childhood camping adventures again.
I’ve been gone camping in a while but I’m hoping to do it again next summer! It is on the bucket to drag my future kids to go camping too! Thank you very much for these awesome tips!!
I always find it interesting to do a camping trip with family. It makes family bond stronger.
I havent camped much but I really want to more!
I have been camping in a Winnebago! It is a great way to travel and get into touch with nature. Thank you for the tips, I will add them to my own!
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