The coronavirus pandemic has made it likely that we’ll all be holidaying at home far more often in the near future, and without a doubt, the best way to see what the UK has to offer is on a camping holiday that lets you get close to nature. From the manicured beauty of the Lake District to the rugged landscapes of the Scottish Highlands, we have so much beauty available to us for free that it would be a shame not to enjoy it, However, many parents shy away from camping with kids because they think it will be far to impractical; far too stressful to bear. That really doesn’t have to be the case!
Below, you’ll find 5 top tips to make camping with your kids a big success:
- Avoid roughing it
Roughing it may be fine if you’re camping with all adults or maybe even teenagers, but if you have younger kids, forget it! At the very least, you’re going to want to book a pitch on a campsite that has decent amenities nearby. If you can get access to a VW California or even a simple caravan, then so much the better. The last thing you need is for your kids to not have access to running water or flushing toilets, or for you to have no access to cooking facilities when they get hungry.
- Choose a more remote location
Although you’re going to want to have full access to amenities, try to avoid booking the most popular campgrounds in the area you’re travelling to because everyone else will be doing exactly the same thing and the place will get noisy! Slightly more remote locations will be far more peaceful, and as long as you have a car or access to a decent public transport system, you won’t have to miss out on any of the popular attractions.
- Pack light
Kids need waterproofs, wellies and enough changes of clothes to account for accidents, but you should not bring everything but the kitchen sink. Stuff will just bog you down and cause clutter and chaos – stick to the essentials only.
- Plan plenty of activities
Camping can be lots of fun, but it’s no Disneyland, so if you want to prevent the kids from getting bored and moaning at you about it, you need to come prepared with lots of activities. Bringing board games, and maybe a tablet if you aren’t averse to holiday screentime is a good idea for when the weather is bad. In good weather, you can make up cards with all of the local wildlife on them and have the kids tick off each animal as they see it; you can go on nature trails and pick up stuff to use in craft activities back at the caravan; you can go swimming in local pools; you can hunt for shells – you get the idea.
- Stick to your routine
Last, but not least, keeping to regular mealtimes and bedtimes as much as possible should help to keep the kids from getting cranky, so try to do that as far as possible.
Keep calm and enjoy your camping trip!
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