Camping alone or with a partner is one of the best ways to unwind from your routine. Every now and then, it's good to simply get away from it all and take in the scenic routes of the countryside, enjoying all the benefits that nature has to offer.

If you're going as a Family, the benefits increase exponentially since you get to create beautiful memories with your family and bond with them. Children especially love camping. It enables them to be spontaneous and learn independence and what it means to work as a team.

Chances are, when you look back on your childhood, some of your fondest memories are of times spent with your family. From swimming with your parents and siblings in a calm lake on a hot summer day, sharing stories by the campfire under a starry night sky, or making new friends, the experience is not easily forgotten.

That experience may be something you want your children to experience. If that’s the case, then this article is for you. Planning is important when you're camping, even more so when you're with children. This article explains in detail everything you need to get started.

Getting Ready for Camping

It's beautiful that you want to go camping with your family. If it's your first outing together, we recommend camping with a family who takes regular camping trips so you can shadow them to learn all the do's and don'ts. Most often, they would come extra prepared due to experience out in the wild; thus, if you have any issues or discover that your gear is incomplete, they can help. Apart from practical reasons, camping with friends is pure, good fun. Plus, your children will have other kids around to play with.

But whether or not you decide to go camping with another family the first time, one major tip for when you're starting is to begin small and then gradually add to your camp setup as time goes on. Many beginner camping families make the mistake of going to the closest camping store and buying all the gear they can find. More often than not, you only need the fundamentals to start, especially if your campsite is a well-frequented campground.

Now, as we established earlier on, proper planning when camping with the family is crucial. To do that, you must consider what kind of camping experience you want. Typically, for families, there are three main types of camping setups. Your trip can either be:

1. In a caravan park with a high level of organization.
2. In a park with bathrooms and some level of organization.
3. In a forest/reservation/wilderness, where there's low or nonexistent organization.

The degree of organization you decide on depends on how much you and your family need your comfort. Generally, if you and your kids are likely to be deeply frustrated without modern facilities (or if you are starting), the way to go would be organized camping in a caravan park. If being without some comfort is okay by you, then the second option above, a park with a bathroom and other facilities, seems perfect. The third option will be ideal if you're a rather adventurous family.

The latter can be fascinating. However, because the level of organization on the part of nature is nonexistent, you have to be very organized in your planning and packing for this experience, especially if this is your first time. Now that you know what camping experience you intend to have with your family, planning should be much easier. We'll go over 12 hacks and tips below to help you with this.

12 Tips for a Successful Family Camping Experience

From packing essentials to meal planning, safety precautions, and entertainment ideas, these practical tips should help simplify your family camping experience and ensure a fun and memorable adventure for everyone.

#1. Like the boy scouts, be prepared.

Because you are entirely at the mercy of nature when you're on an adventure (and you are with your children, whom you need to keep as safe as possible), you must do a lot of research ahead of time. This puts you in a better position to respond to any unforeseen circumstances.

First, look at the forecast beforehand to prepare for potential rain, cold, or other adverse conditions. Of course, forecasts are never entirely accurate, but it’s better than nothing; they give you a general idea of what to expect and help you pack accordingly. Also, take into account the distance and affordability of your preferred campsite. Camping closer to home or opting for more budget-friendly options can make the trip more convenient and cost-effective.

Again, if it's your first time, consider an established campsite. Your children would definitely appreciate the facilities (showers and toilets) they have available. And if you want to splurge, you can put your family down for other facilities and activities, such as swimming pools. For established campgrounds, be sure to book your space beforehand. Failing to make an earlier reservation can leave your family stranded, as these sites are usually fully booked.

#2. Ensure everyone knows their duties.

In the planning stage, you want to assign duties to every family member in addition to listing out all the gear you need to pack. Your kids would love this as it helps them feel like an important part of the experience. And be sure these duties are fun and easy to do. For example, you can have some people in charge of getting wood for the fire and others on cleanup duty.

When you pack your gear for the trip, have your kids double-check to ensure all the items are there. You also want to teach them how to set up and take down a tent. This way, on-site, they can help you, and things can get done faster. Some other duties you can assign the little ones include:

• Getting firewood.
• Collecting water.
• Washing the dishes.
• Helping to prepare a snack or meal.
• Disposing of refuse in the bins.
• Helping with camp set up and pack up.
• Recharging all lighting devices.

#3. Carry out a couple of dry runs.

Now that you have done your planning and assigned duties for when you get to camp, the next thing to do is do a free practice test. If you have toddlers or young children, camping can be a scary experience for them. One way to help them see the fun and get familiar with the whole process is to do it at home first.

Set up a tent in your backyard and let the whole family sleep there overnight. If the kids get scared, tell them about the sounds of nature (crickets, birds, bats) and how they're nothing to be scared of. Play a few games, sing some songs, and soon they'll fall asleep. This helps you prepare beforehand as a parent.

#4. Choose the right tent and bedding.

When collecting gear for an outdoor adventure, the tent is the most important. If you get it right, that hard part of your adventure is done. Your shelter must protect you from nature and give you some privacy. It should also protect your belongings and outdoor gear, such as a gas cooker.

If you have a large family, choose a tent that comfortably contains everyone. You might even want one with two separate compartments, perfect for giving parents and kids separate. Keep in mind that most of the time, a larger tent implies more time and effort to pitch and pack up. However, if you have everyone helping out, it becomes easier.

Some things you should look out for when buying a tent for your family are:

• Accessories.
• Ease of setup.
• Packing weight.
• Material quality.

Bedding

Bedding is the most crucial aspect of your trip next to the tent. After every long day, you and your family should be as comfortable as possible. Considering the abovementioned, look up which sleeping bags and other bedding equipment (sleeping mat or a doona/quilt) are suitable for your family.

#5. Ensure good lighting.

Your camp must also have adequate lighting for safety purposes. You want to be able to see well during any of your camping activities. Whether it's playing games, reading, or going to the bathroom. Good lighting also brings calmness when camping with your children since they can see their surroundings. Ensure that your lighting sources are not only compact but also rechargeable. If you don't know where to start, here are two lighting ideas to remember.

• General lighting for the living areas like the kitchen and tent.
• Directional lighting to help light the path.

#6. Prioritise health and safety.

Fun as it is, camping outdoors comes with certain risks. While planning and on the trip, aim to reduce those risks drastically, especially where your children are concerned.

Here are 8 ways you can do that:

1. Ensure your first-aid kit is stocked up before you go on every adventure. Don't only plan for outdoor-related injuries; pack any medications required by either family member.
2. Your kids should want to be independent and explore on their own. That's natural. However, there should be some limits. For instance, they should never be beside a body of water without your presence.
3. When you get to camp, show them the potential dangers, such as fire pits and wildlife. Keeping them ignorant is not at all advisable.
4. If there is a landmark (say, a large tree) or some other way for you all to locate your campsite, point it out to them. The woods can look very similar a lot of the time and are easy to get lost in.
5. Come with season-appropriate clothing. Since you would have checked the forecast, bring along any other items you might need.
6. Your children should know not to feed or pet wildlife. Unfamiliar creatures are often poisonous or dangerous.
7. Cover all the basic health tips with them, such as what to do in case of a bruise, a sprain, or insect stings or bites.
8. Give the older ones walkie-talkies if necessary. Also, ensure they are always paired up with the younger ones.

#7. Make your menu exciting.

If your kids haven't gone camping before, this is an opportunity to make the meals they'll eat at camp as memorable as possible. Toss the safe, boring option out the window, but not what they generally do not like or are allergic to, though. Use shelf-stable food options, if possible, to help you save on precious cooler space. You can also switch up your recipes so that you only have to use one pot or pan to minimise how much you have to clean up.

Similarly, the meals you decide to prepare should be able to be made from common ingredients. This way, you can reduce the ingredients you must include in your luggage and free up space. For example, if you have potatoes in the morning, and the leftover from the previous night is chill, why not have them both together?

Also, consider the prep time required for every meal and factor those into your planning. Switch things up by looking up various camping meal recipes on the internet. But practice a few times at home before camping to be sure your kids like it.

#8. Prepare meals and snacks at home.

Honestly, sometimes, the last thing anyone wants is to have to prepare a family-sized meal after spending all day expending all energy at the beach or hiking. The week before your trip, prepare the snacks and meals at home, especially those that take to refrigeration well. Even if you can't afford to do everything, doing some of the work will save you a lot of trouble during the camping trip. And your children will thank you.

#9. Teach your children to keep safe.

Children need to realize that the outdoors is very different from being back home, and it is important that they learn campfire safety and other crucial aspects of keeping safe when on an adventure in nature.

You and your partner should know the guidelines for keeping safe outdoors to teach them to your children. Here are a few rules of thumb.

• Using an online guide, teach everyone how to identify harsh plants such as poison ivy and poison oak. Let them know these plants aren't to be played with.
• Children should not put in their mouths any fruits or berries they find in the forest or wilderness. The kids might be allergic. The fruits might not be good to eat in the first place.
• A whistle is a good item for everyone to always have. Teach the kids how to use it if there's danger or they're lost.

#10. Ideas for family activities while camping.

Camping with your family is different from camping alone or with your spouse. This time, you have children with you of different ages and interests. Take these factors into consideration.

Before you set off, ask everyone what they'd like to do and find ways to make it happen, as long as it is safe, given your location, and within the budget. Your children may want to play on the beach or in a swimming pool, while your spouse may think hiking or taking pictures of the scenery is a good idea.

If you're going to an established campground, look up what outdoor activities are available and the details, such as if pets are allowed, the limit on how many people can participate in an activity, etc. This way, you can plan for a more fruitful experience.

#11. Bring along a few games and toys.

If your campground does not have enough entertainment opportunities, you must take care of that from home. Sometimes there isn't enough space to pack large items like surfboards, but there are many other ways to provide you and your family with good bonding opportunities. Here are a few of them:

• Legos
• Board games
• Books
• Inflatables
• Cards
• Art supplies

#12. Plan the end—packing up.

When the adventure ends, you must leave no trace of your presence in nature. When packing, get your children to help out. It teaches them to be responsible and can be a fun experience for everyone. Here is what to know when packing up and drawing curtains on your adventure:

1. With proper preparation, you should carve out time for packing up. Have it on the schedule so that everyone looks forward to it.
2. The more durable the ground where you choose to set up camp is, the less damage you do to your tent. Take note of this ahead of time.
3. Dispose of both human waste and garbage properly. Littering is not something you want to teach your kids. Also, it’s bad for the environment.
4. Make use of the fire pits around, and do not source wood from places that can destroy the habitat of the animals.
5. Wildlife is not pets. It's your best interest and theirs to treat them accordingly even as you exit.

Summary

Parents rarely enjoy family camping as much as the children since they have to be responsible for the preparation and execution of tasks at the site. They have to keep the kids safe, plan meals, have some skill with pitching a tent, and so on. Extra points if they're new parents.

It doesn't have to be entirely so. With these helpful tips, we hope you are well-informed on how to have the best time with your family when you go camping outdoors. It can be an enriching experience to spend time with your loved ones away from the usual schedules and environments.