• PARENTING
    • POSITIVE PARENTING
    • MOM LIFE
    • CHILD SAFETY
    • HEALTHY KIDS
    • ACTIVITIES & BIRTHDAY
    • SCHOOL
    • BABY & MOM FREEBIES
  • SLEEP & ROUTINES
  • BIG EMOTIONS
  • HOLIDAYS
    • GIFT GUIDES
    • CHRISTMAS
    • EASTER
    • HALLOWEEN
    • NEW YEARS EVE
    • VALENTINE’S DAY
↑
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Parenting Tools
  • Learning Tools for Kids

The Pragmatic Parent

Positive Parenting for Connection and Thriving Family, Emotional Tools for Developing Kid’s Emotional Intelligence, Daily Routine Charts & Create a Schedule with Kids, Fun Family Activities, Calm Parenting and Stop Yelling Parenting

  • PARENTING
    • POSITIVE PARENTING
    • MOM LIFE
    • CHILD SAFETY
    • HEALTHY KIDS
    • ACTIVITIES & BIRTHDAY
    • SCHOOL
    • BABY & MOM FREEBIES
  • SLEEP & ROUTINES
  • BIG EMOTIONS
  • HOLIDAYS
    • GIFT GUIDES
    • CHRISTMAS
    • EASTER
    • HALLOWEEN
    • NEW YEARS EVE
    • VALENTINE’S DAY

10 Essentials for Camping with Kids You Don’t Want to Forget

2228 shares
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email

The weather is warmer, which means camping season is here!

However, camping with kids is a whole other ballgame than the days when you used to camp with friends or your honey.

Camping with kids requires serious planning and a slew of supplies, but if you bring along the right camping essentials when you take your kids camping, the smaller incidentals you may have forgotten to pack, won’t put a damper on your outdoor adventure.

What are camping essentials of when you go camping with kids? Here are 10 Big Camping with Kids Essentials, but don’t forget to check out the small list at the end, of items you should always overpack… because you know, weather and life happens.

It's Summer, which means camping season is finally here! Camping with kids requires serious planning and a ton of supplies, but if you bring along the right camping essentials when you take your kids camping, the smaller incidentals you may have forgotten to pack, won't put a damper on your outdoor adventure.

10 Essentials for Camping with Kids You Don’t Want to Forget

Once you’ve chosen your camp location (picking the right kid-friendly camping spot is the first step), then you can begin preparing for all the supplies you’ll need to pack. Here’s what you’ll need to make this family vacation a fun one.

 

First Aid Kit

This may seem pretty basic, but you’d be surprised how many camping trips our family has been on and other campers come around asking if we have bandaids and antiseptic. Always carry a first aid kit with you when you’re camping because kids are notorious for scraping their knees, falling, tripping over sticks and accumulating a list of injuries. I keep a first aid kit in the car for this reason, but we also have one packed away in our camping boxes so we’re never without bandaids, cleaning wipes, antiseptic and other necessary items.

This is the compact first aid kit I keep in the car for lighter, everyday use and this is a bigger first aid kit with more gadgets if you’re out in the wilderness and need more than just a bandaid.

 

Bug Off Bracelets & Insect Repellent

Bugs are the worst. I love being in nature, but only when we’re in a bug free area and in the wilderness this is pretty much impossible unless you have the supplies to make it happen. Sure, bugs are annoying, but also, ticks carry life debilitating diseases! Thankfully you have a couple easy options which can make camping a bug-free and bug-bite free experience!

  • Bug Off Bracelets for the kids are easy to put on their wrists and forget about. These bug off bracelets are all natural, non-toxic and deet free.
  • This is an all natural Lemon and Eucalyptus spray you can spray on clothes (especially socks, shoes and bottoms of pants where ticks can attach themselves and crawl onto the skin) and your tent entrances to keep the bugs away.
  • For skin, I love the Babyganics Natural Insect Repellent, I feel it’s the safest option out there for little ones and personally know it works well.
  • Keep Citronella Candles around your campsite

You can also DIY your own bug off bracelets:

  • Take pipe cleaners and twist them into a bracelet. You can also use a leather bracelet or thicker banded bracelet which will absorb oils.
  • Soak the bracelet in essential oils: Lavender, Tea Tree, Eucalyptus and Citronella.
  • Wrap it around your kid’s wrists and help deter ticks, flies, and annoying mosquitoes.

Stay away from any fragrant lotions, sunscreens, and body products which make you bug’s best friend!

 

Foam Tiles for the Camp Floor

When your kids are walking around in the tent, are trying to fall asleep, or roll off their beds at night if they’re on air mattress or pad, the extra cushion of soft floor tiles on the bottom of the tent, makes tumbling onto rocks and dirt underneath, not painful or wakes them up at night.

 

Tent Lanterns

This is one of those often overlooked areas of camping. You remember to pack camping lanterns for outside, and for your food prep and meals area, but what about inside the tent? Having light in the tent when you’re getting changed for bed, or up in the middle of the night for a bathroom break is a must! Camping lanterns are expensive so stocking up on 6 or 7 of them is a big outrageous, plus the large C and D batteries are equally expensive. Here are some inexpensive tent lighting options:

  • These mini hanging tent lights made it on our camping trips last year and worked great! Your tent already has netting and hooks to hang items, and these are the perfect brightness and right compact solution.
  • Headlamps – these come in adult and child sizes, and can easily be taken on and off and stored by the side of your bed while you sleep at night.
  • You can also take a flat bright headlamp and strap it to the a water or milk jug (filled with water) to illuminate the entire tent. We tied this and it surprisingly worked really well and gave off a lot of light.

 

Pool Raft Camping Beds

Pool rafts can be multi functional on a camping trip – as beds for your kids and during the day, as floats if you’re near a stream, lake or any water really. After the floats are dry and cleaned off, this is a cheap way to make your kid’s camping bed nice and cozy without the price tag of an air mattress. I wouldn’t necessarily use these for adults, but for kids it’s a great solution.

I usually pick up 3 of these each year for a few dollars each  at the beginning of swim season and throw them into our camping bin for safe keeping.  Here is a 2-pack set for a decent price.

 

Hand & Foot Washing Station

  

Having a hand and foot washing station at your campsite is absolutely necessary because most campsites aren’t equipped with running water. Camping is messy and within minutes of setting up your campsite, I’m willing to bet your kids will already be covered in dirt.

This is why you need a hand washing station. You can make your own with a recycled laundry detergent or double water jug from the grocery store, just as long as it has a spout. Place the washing station on the edge of the table for easy washing. You an also place a large tub under the spout to catch the water and use it to rinse off feet, without wasting any water.

As a bonus, use a bungee cord to secure a paper towel holder to the top as you can see from the picture on the left. (source unknown)

For a foot washing station, reuse the tub under the hand washing station, or place a new bin with water and towels outside your tent so everyone can wash their feet before they crawl into bed or use the tent to change. This way you keep dirt, rocks and other gunk out of the tent.

Hanging Clothes Organizer

A hanging closet organizer makes it super easy to set out outfits for the kids each day, instead of digging through suitcases and bags (and making another fun mess.) (via Mama Momtourage). We use this hanging three-compartment organizer for each of the kid’s (and we color code so there’s no confusion among them) and it works great!
For extra organization, we love this hanging pocket organizer for hairbrushes, toothbrushes and toothpaste, deodorant, shampoo & conditioner, sunscreen, bug spray, toilet paper, matches and lighters, dog leashes, flashlights, our keys and phones and anything else we need to keep track of.

Bikes

You can explore so much more when you bring along everyone’s bikes (and helmets, of course.) Also, when you’re around your campground, this is a fun activity for the kids to jump on bikes and ride around where you can keep an eye on them.

Shoe Basket

This is an easy way to keep kids (and adults too) from tracking dirt inside your tent or camper. Set out a shoe basket  outside the door and each time someone comes in, they leave their shoes in the bin, and when it’s time to go outside, they know exactly where they are. This is a big help in middle of the night to use the bathroom and need your shoes.

 

Bring Pool Noodles to Cover Tent Pole Lines

Tent lines look nearly invisible… until you’re tripping over them. Mark tent lines with pool noodles to save everyone – and especially kids – from stumbling over your cabling.

It’s Always OK to Overpack These Items…

  • Blankets and Towels (it’s better to be too warm, than freezing at night)
  • Food
  • Jackets / Sweaters
  • Extra Clothes

More Camping with Kids Hacks:

  • Genius Hacks for Camping with Kids 
  • 30 Easy to Make Camping Meals Your Family Will Love

FREE PARENTING GUIDE: 8 COMMON PARENTING MISTAKES & HOW TO FIX THEM

There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again.

Filed Under: ACTIVITIES

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

CAN THIS HELP YOUR FAMILY TO THRIVE?

Grab your FREE copy of 8 Not-So-Great Parenting Habits to Break Today (& Simple Fixes for Big Changes) when you join 65,000+ Other Readers who Receive the Weekly Parenting Tip & Printables

**We never spam or distribute your details.

Free Baby Products for Mom and Freebies for Baby. Stock up on awesome baby essentials and new baby products you'll need and use. These baby essentials come in a variety of patterns including baby wrap, baby sling, baby carrier, carseat canopy or carseat cover, hooded towels, nursing pillow, pregnancy pillow and more.

Positive Parenting

How to Prevent Homework Meltdowns

Practical Tips For Ending The…

A shy kid needs a little more help navigating new situations and meeting new people.

How to Best Support a Child…

Raising an Emotionally Intelligent Son

Raising an Emotionally…

see more >>

Big Emotions

A shy kid needs a little more help navigating new situations and meeting new people.

How to Best Support a Child…

Raising an Emotionally Intelligent Son

Raising an Emotionally…

help for a child with anxiety

The Known (and Unknown) Signs…

see more >>

Sleep & Routines

How To Create A Homeschool…

potty training regression

Potty Training Regression: How…

The Ultimate Guide For Potty Training

Potty Training Tips 101: The…

see more >>

Raising children can feel overwhelming. Let me help!

CHECK OUT MY FREE EMAIL COURSES

Could you use a little extra help?

HERE YOU'LL FIND THE MOST POPULAR PARENTING RESOURCES

72 Printable Family Conversation Cards

$5.00

Kid's Positive Affirmation Cards

$5.00

Calm Mama Kit (4 Most Popular Tools)

$26.99

WHAT'S TRENDING...

How to use time outs correctly with kids so you don't break their spirit. How to discipline toddlers.

How to Use Time Outs and Correct Misbehavior Without Breaking Your Child’s Spirit

We can't chose our kids friends, but we can teach them how to choose good friends and the right friends. Showing children what makes a good friend, how to choose their own friends and be a good friend to others. Friendship lessons on communication, loyalty, support and handling disagreements without hurt feelings.

Guide Your Kids to Choose the Right Friends & Be a Good Friend Themselves

Quiet games to take anywhere with kids that don’t need prep or a lot supplies. Quiet activities and quiet games for kids to play when you’re in the car, in a waiting room or at home and need the kids to play independently.

18 Simple & Fun Quiet Games for Kids to Take Anywhere

How to peacefully defuse and calm tantrums using empathy and teaching about emotions in the process. Stop tantrums by helping your child learn about emotions, name feelings, give back power and calmly handle emotional behavior.

Peacefully Calm Tantrums Using Empathy

RECEIVE THE WEEKLY PARENTING TIP

Grab your FREE copy of 8 Not-So-Great Parenting Habits to Break Today (& Simple Fixes to Big Changes) when you join Over 65,000+ Other Parents & Readers who Receive the Weekly Practical Parenting Tip & Occasional Freebie

We never spam or distribute your email.

  • HOME
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT
  • SHOP
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • TERMS OF USE
Copyright ©2023, The Pragmatic Parent. All Rights Reserved.
Design by Pixel Me Designs