We are camping with our children for the first time next month. They are aged 3 and nearly 2. Although we have camped before I would be interested in any tips specific to camping with children?
We are thinking of staying at Tyddyn Isaf on Anglesey. Our tent doesn't have a sewn-in groundsheet, I'm worried it may be too drafty for them but DH says not to worry. Since we haven't used the tent for 4 years we're checking and proofing it this week.
Stuff the space under both driver's and passenger seats in the car with "bricks" of baby wipes. You can never have too many baby wipes.
A friend with 3 sleeping pods and 4 kids put cat collar bells on the zips of the younger kids sleeping areas so she could tell if it was the younger kids getting out in the night (though her kids are a bit older than yours)
My 4 yr old was enchanted with her poundland camping lantern. I nicked it after she was asleep. She woke up at dawn so I was glad I went to bed at the same time as her instead of my usual midnight.
Save your sanity and don't try to keep to your usual routine, especially at bedtime. nbo self respecting two year old will go to bed at a decent time when they can hear the rest of the campsite kids playing outside. Let them stay up and run themselves ragged, then just slide them into their sleeping bags when the pass out.
That way they might sleep in past dawn the next morning. If not well, you've got the unenviable task of keeping them inside and quiet till 7.30 or 8am, which is not easy! Walkman with earphones and story tapes, juice or milk easy to hand and make sure you take turns with your OH when it comes to early morning.
I agree with Skatty, forget bedtime, and let your children wear themselves out. There are nights when the only thing I insist on is cleaning teeth, the rest can wait until morning. AND the odd night when one of them has just zonked out, before teeth. Just come into the tent, and gone to bed, and been asleep before I've even realised. As they get older, and camp more, it does become possible to get them to go to bed a bit earlier if you are doing something special the next day.
Don't worry about the tent not having a sewn in groundsheet, and being drafty, I don't have a groundsheet and have never had a problem with drafts. Including one horrendous week last year when it was blowing a gale on several days. What's more is that spilt orange juice sinks nicely into grass, and saves poor old mum having to jump up, to clean it up. I find those cheap plastic backed picnic rugs are great thrown on the floor, my two will sit and play on one, and indeed I have joined them. The also have the advantage of being able to be thrown in the washing machine when you get home. I have built up a collection, and now take a couple of spares with me, then if one does get something spilt on it I can just change it.
Take stuff for your kids to do - cheap colouring books etc. Buy now, buy cheap and put them away, labelled, and somewhere where you wont forget them. No good taking that special pen set that Aunty Flo bought, only to find that one of the pens disappeared when there were 10 kids all sitting around colouring. Or that the expensive colouring book got left out overnight. Getting at the local bargain store saves paying out twice the price when the kids spot the same thing in a shop by the site. DSs, MP3 players etc for keeping them amused when they need to be quite, or it is too wet to go out. I always take our portable DVD player, and although it doesn't get used very often, it is a godsend in bad weather.
I would ditto forgetting bedtimes. When we went last year they ran round with all the other children until it started getting dark, brushed teeth, had a story and then crashed out and slept in far later than they have ever done at home! The fresh air does it I think. If you have those all-in-one suits for wet weather, take them, kids aren't normally bothered about weather at that age and then they can splash in the puddles. We found a little light or torch for each of them was essential as ours are afraid of the dark. Good luck and have fun!
When my youngest was small we used to arrive with hungry children - put them on the rug with a small pre prepared pic nic whilst we get the bit of tenet erecting done that needs 2 adults. Then when it was just the moving in stage and stuff 1 adult could do, 1 of us would take th ekiddies to the site park or play a game.
In genereal I always take crayons/feltips various colouring books. Magic painting books (the ones you just need a paintbrush and water for) are fab and only 99p in poundstretcher. We have accumulated quite a collection of outdoor toys from ELC over the years.
I would recommend a groundsheet or rugs for the floor in your living area so if its pants weather they can play on the floor. My 2 girls are now 9 and 7 but teh kind of toys we have taken in the past have included (not all at once) stuff like Barbies, Baby Anabel and a toy unbrella buggy, my little ponys etc I always take the old and tatty barbies and clothes etc so if it gets lost damp etc its not the end of the world!! Also take a few books for them to look at and you to read quietly to them if they wake before say 7.30 8am when campsites are still quiet.
We have taken out laptop before now and run it off the EHU - great for the emerency DVD and thank god last summer we took a few PC games for the kids as we have 3 solid weeks of rain!!!
Also, I know your kids are still very young but start as you mean to go on - talk to them. Explain about campsites and that they must not wander off etc. Explain everyone can hear through tent walls etc and that quiet is expected early in the morning. At age 2 it prolly wont sink in alot but its teh groundwork for the future!! LOL
And finally take loads of baby wipes and wellies and ENJOY!!!!
EEk I'm doing the exact same thing taking my 2yr old little girl for her first camping experience luckily our new tent is a Coleman Cedar Creek that has a sewn in groundsheet in the bedroom and living area so hopefully she won't escape (tumbletots has a lot to answer for!!). So far all the advice sounds really good but is there a blackout screen available or something you can put over the inner tent so that it doesn't let in so much light? Thats the only downside of our tent its light green!
Get them involved in the whole camping experience. Give them little jobs to do, so that they feel part. Things like passing you pegs, or helping hammer them home (even if you have to discretely go round afterwards). We started off, with things like the passing pegs, and putting stuff on the table at meals. Just little jobs so that they realise that they feel part of the whole experience, an helps them realise that even when camping there are jobs to be done. Get them into the idea that it is important that certain jobs are done, before the real fun starts. My two now know that it is get the tent up, bedrooms set up, and then we can take a break for fun, or a trip to the shop for some sweets or a drink. After a break I will then sort the rest of the stuff out. Last summer we were right next to the play area so they went off and played while I set up. Alice always helps get the water (supervised), and Pip helps with the bins - sometimes he can now go on his own, depending on how near the bins are, and how high they are. Take then with you and explain what you are doing and why, so that it also becomes a hidden learning experience for them. Water container nice and light when going to the tap - heavy on the way back when filled with water. I agree with Emvid, and the idea of having a snack for when they arrive, even if it is a totally unhealthy fizzy drink, and some crisps. Nothing worse than a child whining that they are hungry when you are trying to set up. I will often take that night's meal with me as well - just heat and serve. I also take things like fresh milk, and the next day's breakfast, then I am not worried about hunting down a shop, or worrying that the on site shop has milk left when we arrive. Cans of things like beans and soup are handy to have, as kids are often hungrier when camping, and out in the fresh air, than they are at home, and having stuff for a snack is really useful (voice of experience).
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Tips for camping with young children?
They are aged 3 and nearly 2. Although we have camped before I would be interested in any tips specific to camping with children?
