How To Have An Amazing Camping Vacation With The Kids!!
There’s nothing better than loading up the car with camping gear and taking the kids on a wild adventure outdoors for the weekend. But before you fill the trunk with tents, your camping stove and all the other essentials, there are a few things that you need to plan and do to ensure that you and the kids have a great time on your trip.
Have A Family Meeting
Sure, it’s tempting to book everything without asking your kids, but sitting them down in advance and asking them where they’d like to go, for how long, and what they want to do when they get there will really help you pick the right trip for your kids.
Sitting down together as a family will not only help you select the perfect camping vacation for your family; it’ll also help teach your children a valuable lesson about teamwork, which is something that we’ll touch upon later.
Book A Campsite
Yes, it can take all the spontaneity out of a family camping trip, but booking a campsite will assure you of a good spot in one of the country’s best camping sites. It will also guarantee that you will have access to some essentials, such as restrooms, electricity and even a nearby store for things that you might have forgotten.
Choose Activities
This will largely depend on the location of your campsite, but choosing activities that you can do as a family on a camping vacation can be one of the best parts of the trip!
Start by discussing how everyone can pitch in to make this vacation the best one yet. The answer to this, is, you’ve guessed it, teamwork. Inform your kids that unlike staying in a hotel, there are a lot of things that campers have to do, such as setting up the tent, cooking your own food and perhaps most fun of all, building a fire. The fun you can have with camping equipment!
Once you’ve discussed the tasks, delegate which child can do which task. Emphasize that camping is all about helping each other and teamwork and it can only work if everyone does their bit.
Create Memories
Once you’ve arranged all the camping equipment you need, booked a campsite and given the kids the talk about what they have to do on the trip, all you have to do is get in your car and be prepared to make long-lasting memories. Remember to take your camera or smartphone with you, so you can capture these precious moments with your family and always make sure you have a couple of spooky campfire stories to share after the sun sets!
21 Comments
Natalie
Camping with the kids is SO much fun! I have created so many memories camping with them up north.
Angelica
I have the greatest memories of camping with my dad. I can’t wait to build memories just like those with my kiddos (when I have.. kiddos). 🙂 Thanks for the tips!
Marnie G (Derrick Todd)
Thanks for the information. There is definitely a difference when camping with kids vs. camping only with adults. Camping with kids can make some great memories.
Rosie
that is great info! We went on many camping trips growing up, although we had a small trailer. We loved it. I’ve also gone camping later on, and planning ahead like this makes all the difference!!!
Pamela Gurganus
It has been so long since I have been camping, but I would love to go and take the family. Thank you for sharing these great ideas!
Tiana
I’ve been wanting to take my kids camping now that they are old enough (almost 3 and almost 8). But since I have Crohn’s Disease, we would need a bathroom nearby and who wants to camp by the bathrooms?! lol =)
Sherry Keef
I feel like I camp out all the time since my home is nestled in the thicket and with a large creek here as well. I am glad you camped out and enjoyed the woods and all.
abby pafford
Great info! next week well being camping with 5 kids! should be an adventure for sure!
Sue E
I am an empty nester, but I still enjoy going places with the grandkids, etc. I feel that they make the trip a lot more interesting – plus I would visit places that I wouldn’t visit if it were just us! They see things in a whole different way!
Stacy
We have a few places we love to go camping, and living in Florida we get to do it year-round. We like to reserve our campsite not only so that we can have access to bathrooms (very important because I usually have to get up to pee at least once a night) but also because some of the places we go have beach sites and forest sites and we prefer beach sites. We bring our kayaks with us and I love just being able to launch from camp to go exploring.
Rachel Beltz
I have to agree that having a meeting first makes everything so much easier! It’s so easy to get sucked into creating the “perfect” camping trip with a bunch of activities and fun events; only to find out that you wasted your time because your family isn’t down for your plans!
Laura
My family always loves to go camping! How fun! 🙂
Kelly
We used to go camping when I was a child, and I have memories that are so wonderful. I now take my kids camping every year at least once. I try to include them in the planning as much as possible, so that they feel they are part of the vacation too. It is so much fun.
Sarah L
When I was growing up we always had family meetings about our vacations.
Sherry Keef
I live in a rural area of Texas on the water and we have campfires when we want. I know the fun of camping out and the fun of building a camp fire.
Lindsey L
We are going camping this weekend with my husbands family for a family reunion and to celebrate July 4th! 🙂
Tamra Phelps
I’m not usually the camping type. But maybe if you put me in a tricked-out RV I would love it, lol!
KATE SARSFIELD
No kids so no hassle! And I usually holiday alone so camping’s not an option I’d choose unless I borrowed my sister’s dog!
Linda Manns Linneman
My son takes my grandkids camping alot. He plans on hiking, swimming, etc and doing the things they love to do. They always seem to have a wonderful time and look forward to going again. Thank you so much for sharing this article