Camping with Kids: Tips and Tricks for a Fun Family Adventure

There’s something magical about spending precious time together under canvas. Children love camping and for good reason. It offers a sense of freedom, a slower pace of life, and a unique way of connecting as a family. Somehow, tent life brings you closer, with simple pleasures creating unforgettable memories. 

Many relish the simple life on the campsite. Here are some great tips to help you create a holiday filled with laughter, adventure, and fun. 

Board games, puzzles, and creative fun 

Take time out together with a board game, card game, or puzzle. The campsite is also perfect for unleashing creativity. Collect stones and decorate them with glitter and paint or gather leaves to make nature-inspired art with just glue and paper. 

Connect with nature 

Children love being outside, and the campsite is brimming with opportunities to learn and explore. Go for short hikes (at a child’s pace), look for animal footprints in a nearby forest, go birdwatching, or search for insects and beetles. If there’s a lake close by, why not teach your children how to fish? These small adventures help kids discover the wonders of the natural world. 

Get kids involved in campsite chores 

Washing up or cooking might not sound exciting, but there’s a real sense of achievement in giving children responsibility and doing things together. Let them help fetch water, prepare food, or join you on a trip to the local market. It’s all about making memories through shared moments. 

A true camping companion 

There’s something special about a child’s very first sleeping bag – a cosy companion that will follow them on family camping holidays, school trips, and sleepovers. 

The holiday begins in the car 

The journey to the campsite can be part of the fun. Make a bingo sheet with things to spot along the way – cars, animals, or landmarks, or listen to an audiobook together. For extra excitement, print out the Outwell Colouring Book so your children can be creative and build anticipation for the adventure ahead. 

Choose a child-friendly campsite 

Picking a family-focused campsite gives children the chance to make new friends and burn off energy at the playground or even in a pool if there is one. Many campsites also have kids’ clubs packed with activities, so before you know it, they’ve spent the whole day happily outdoors. 

Bring outdoor toys 

From hula-hoops and buckets and spades to footballs and frisbees, outdoor toys guarantee hours of fun in the fresh air. Pack your favourites and make your pitch the place to play. 

Rainy day fun 

A little rain never hurts – just remember waterproofs and wellies. For cosy days under canvas, create your own “hygge” with a campsite cinema. Use an Outwell movie screen, lay out mats and sleeping bags, and snuggle up together for a family film.