December 17th, 2020

Planning your first camping trip with the little ones? Or bravely going for attempt two after an earlier disaster?

No matter how experienced a camper you are, roughing it with kids is a whole different experience. Ditch any expectations you have after years of solo or couples camping. You’ll need to treat this trip differently than any of your past ones. 

It’s important to make sure this next camping getaway is a hit, so instead of hearing “do we have to?”, you’ll be hearing “when’s the next one?”.

Here are some tips that will make sure your kids love camping just as much as you.

 

Make A Checklist 

You may have prided yourself on your spontaneous camping trips in the past, but when kids are involved, preparation is key. We guarantee you, if you don’t have a list, you’ll get halfway to your destination and find out you forgot a favourite toy at home. 

Follow this list, pack accordingly and thank us later. 

  • Where are you camping (facilities, water, amenities)?
  • What to bring (important camping gear and anything the kids need)?
  • Knick knacks and toys (avoid a tantrum and double-check if your toddler has their favourite blanket)
  • What’s the weather going to be like (will you need to pack for rain?)

Running out of clothes, food or water can bring your trip to a standstill, so make sure you’re prepared.

 

Include The Kids 

One of the biggest struggles parents find while camping with kids is keeping them entertained. One solution to this is to put them to work. We don’t mean put your feet up and get the toddler to hammer in the tent, but when you’re doing the important jobs, let them get involved. 

Let the younger ones help unpack the car while any older ones can lend a hand pitching the tent. Involve them in every step along the way so they feel like they have contributed to the experience. 

This applies for camping preparation too. Let the kids choose what’s for dinner one night and get them to pick up the ingredients at the grocery store (with the correct supervision of course), or let them choose what camping chairs, tents or fishing rods to pick up before the trip.

 

 

Make Sure All The Gear Is Working Smoothly 

If you thought you needed a lot of equipment camping solo – you’re about to learn a harsh lesson. When kids are involved, the amount of gear you need is doubled. 

On top of the regular camping must-haves, you’ll need to pack bikes, scooters, toys, a crib if you’ve got a newborn and plenty of other gear. 

Make sure everything is working properly by doing some maintenance before the trip. Lube up any bike chains and wheels beforehand and make sure everything that needs to move, moves smoothly. INOX offers a range of lubricants which are perfect for tackling any job. Our INOX-MX3 and MX5 Plus are perfect for keeping sports equipment and things like bikes or scooters operating smoothly. 

Make sure to pack a can or two with you for each camping trip so you can tackle any problem that arises. 

 

 

Test Out Tent Sleeping

Sleeping in different spaces is exciting for some and nerve wracking for others. A bed is a safe spot, so if you’ve got a child who enjoys their personal space, it may be best to acclimate them to tent sleeping slowly. 

Pitch a tent in the living room first for a sleepover, then the backyard the next week before moving on to sleeping at the campgrounds. 

 

Stick To Routine

Being away from home is an exciting experience for children. All that adrenaline and excitement, added with late-night roasted marshmallows, are sure to have them hyped up by bedtime. 

Try maintaining the regular house schedule, like their nap and bedtime routines, to make sure you’re not dealing with a tuckered out child the next day. This rule is especially important if you plan on having a longer camping trip. Don’t control bedtime with an iron fist – you shouldn’t sweat the small things. The routine will be thrown out of whack a little; it’s just your job to make sure everyone is rested and ready to tackle the next day. 

 

Find A Balance Of Freedom & Restriction 

Being in the great outdoors with your family causes a cluster of emotions. It can be exciting, relaxing and stressful all the same time. Sounds weird? We know, but trust us, your mind will be scattered by the end of the day, in a good way. 

Your little ones will want independence and the ability to explore. It’s instinctual to want to guard over them, but if you keep them on a short leash, you run the risk of them hating the experience. 

To keep everyone happy and safe, we recommend the following:

  • Set boundaries – give your kids set areas where they can explore around the campsite and tell them where the off-limits areas are (roads, bodies of water and other dangerous terrains).
  • Set check-in times – if you’ve got older kids who can tell the time, give them times where they have to be at the campsite to check-in. 
  • Give a car safety talk – if you’re in a populated campsite, there are likely a range of vehicles moving through it at all times. Educate your children about safety and to stay clear of vehicles. 
  • Teach them camp etiquette – make sure they’re aware of how to behave around other campsites and how to be respectful of other people’s space. 
  • Fire education – camping and fire go hand-in-hand. Teach your kids how to behave around campfires and remind them that a fire pit can stay hot long after it’s been extinguished. 

 

 

Get Some Walkie Talkies

Always keep tabs on where your children are and make communication fun with them. A set of walkie talkies can bring a lot of enjoyment to the kids. There are plenty of games you can play with them and they could be of vital importance in the off chance something goes wrong. 

 

Break The Rules – Just A Bit

Chances are you want to take your kids camping because you love the experience and want them to as well. 

If you want your young ones to remember this camping trip for years to come, then loosen up on the reigns a little bit. We all have those memories as kids where a parent let us try soft drink for the first time, let us stay up past bedtime, or watch a movie that was M, not PG. 

What’s actually just a little change in routine can seem like a huge adventure for a kid. They’ll be asking when the next camping trip is as soon as you get home. Just remind them that this is a special camping rule and not one that applies at home. 

 

Bring Entertainment 

As much as we’d like our kids to enjoy nature the same way as we did, chances are they’ll want to return to habit at some stage. Bring something they’re familiar with to entertain them once they get bored of climbing trees and clanging rocks. 

If you’ve made a rule to leave technology at home, stick to that, but a little bit of screen time can help wind them down around bedtime, or give you a few hours where you know exactly where the kids are. If you want to leave the iPads at home, bring along a favourite toy or book to keep the kids calm. 

 

 

Find Your Own Traditions 

Holidays are the perfect time to pitch a tent and bring the whole family on a camping trip. Just remember that there’s a chance not everyone in the family wants to follow the itinerary you prepared. Don’t let that get you down.

While you may have plenty of great memories of camping with your old man, that doesn’t mean your young ones want the same experience. Find what works for them, what parts they enjoy and cater to that. 

This experience is yours and at the end of the day making sure your kids love it will make you love it too. Seeing those tuckered out smiles on the return trip will make it worthwhile. 

 

If you’re planning a camping trip these holidays, make sure to bring a can of INOX lubricant with you. From maintaining your car, camping and fishing equipment, our lubricant is a must-have for your camping packing list. Head to our website to browse our range of products or contact us today to learn more!

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