Whatever the weather, the time of year or age range you’re looking to entertain, grab your cosiest slippers and a heap of toys, pillows and torches. Camping in the house is always a blast!

Forget chilly nights, with raindrops pummelling your Tent. Don’t worry about soggy socks and muddy, well, everything. From crafts and games to tasty food suggestions, here’s how to camp indoors with kids of all ages.

Setting up camp

Hammering down tent pegs is strictly an adults’ job. But kids of every age can help place cushions, chairs and throws to construct the ultimate sleep zone – the more ragtag the better!

Go for ‘open air’ (no overhead cover) or put up a tent indoors if you have one. It’s a great way for youngsters to learn how a tent works in a safe environment.

Supplies to set the scene:

– Sleeping bags, pillows and blankets

– Torches or night lights

– Toys and teddies (lots of)

The living room usually plays ‘designated campground’, but any room works – perhaps a conservatory with a glass ceiling for spotting stars?

You get to pick the exact number of days to ‘camp’ and how much of the house becomes the campsite. If everyone’s enjoying the game, why not extend it a night or two?

Tweens can join in, too, by making their own glamping sites or video game dens! It’s all about tailoring the event to your kids’ (and your own) preferences.

Games and activities

Sleeping area done, the fun is just starting. Young children could make a mini ‘camp within a camp’ for their toys. Alternatively, construct an indoor campfire by assembling orange and yellow tissue paper, sticks and fairy lights – another adults’ job made kid friendly!

More games to play:

 – Hide and seek. Since there are already blankets dotted about – and maybe a tent – give the kids a chance to enjoy their new hiding spots!

– Board games, with no worry of the pieces getting lost in the muddy grass!

– Storytelling in the dark (or by torchlight). Add a new sense of awe to their favourite book or make up a creepy tale as a group. Tweens or teens can read their own picks and still be a part of the experience.

Find more at-home fun – playdough, treasures maps and potions included – here: activities sure to drag your little ones away from screens.

Cooking up a treat

There’s no burnt-on-the-outside, raw-in-the-middle sausages on this menu!

Camping in the house means you have your regular utensils to hand – and mess-cleaning-up equipment, such as strong, wettable kitchen towel for wiping away chocolatey fingers after s’mores.

Speaking of which, how do these foodie delights for all campers sound?

• Bangers and baked beans
• Corn on the cob (seasoned with chilli and lime for the adults)
• Burgers (veggie or meaty) with cheese slices melted atop
• Cups of hot chocolate, either with added marshmallows – or save these for the s’mores! Sandwich marshmallows between two chocolate biscuits and heat up your s’more, so it turns melty and gooey – perfection!

Locate more camping cooking here, including pear and blue cheese salad and spiced baked apples for dessert.

And there you have it – how to camp comfortably in your own abode. It’s low-cost, involves minimal travel time to get to and certainly beats changing the little one in a muddy field. Plus, access to a hot shower and proper loo is ensured.

That said, if the sun is shining, there’s a world of possibilities to include the great outdoors in the game. Stomp on a woodland walk or discover a new cycling route, before returning to your ‘campsite’ for a cosy night in. Parents can even retreat to their own beds, once the kids are safely tucked below the ‘stars’…