How to thrive while camping with kids

The Lorrimers sold their home in 2015, piled their three kids in a camper van, and have been travelling around Australia ever since. So we asked them to share their best tips when it comes to camping with the kids, so you can be more relaxed out there with your family whether it be for weekend trip or a three-month adventure!

BEFORE YOU HIT THE ROAD

It always pays to plan ahead. While it’s great to be spontaneous, it can be a little harder with kids in tow! It’s good to know:

• Where you’re camping

• What fees you might be up for

• What to bring

• Where to gather food

There’s nothing worse than running out of food and water, so make sure you pack appropriately for the length of time you’ll be away.

CHECK THE WEATHER

Avoid a torrential downpour or gusting winds by researching the local weather forecast for your camping area. If you’re booking months in advance, give the Information Centre or National Park a call to find out what the weather’s like at your desired time.

SET UP A DUMMY RUN TO TEST YOUR GEAR

If it’s your first time camping, opt for a dummy run before you take the kids. It really does make life easier when you know how to set up your camp. You can figure out if you’re missing anything or require any essential items, like extra pegs.

Testing your gear to make sure it’s in working order is essential. No one wants their air mattress deflating at 3am or to run out of gas while cooking the BBQ. Ensure you:

• Refresh batteries in torches

• Avoid overpacking

• Keep to the essentials – but do pack for all kinds of weather

ONCE YOU’RE AT YOUR CAMPSITE

Aim to arrive with enough time to set up your camp in daylight. This way you can give the kids a job like unpacking or setting up the tent. Kids love to get involved and feel like they’ve helped. If you have time left to spare, here some easy camp ideas to keep the kids active(/blog/camping-activities-for-kids).

PREPARE MEALS EARLIER

If you’re arriving later in the day, have a meal prepared so you can make the dinner routine much easier. For example, cook a spaghetti bolognese before the drive and just pop it over some heat when you get there.

Think about meals that will engage the kids and are easy to cook once at the campsite. Of course, anything you can put on the grill over the fire is going to keep everyone happy: mushrooms, zucchini, capsicum, onion, snags, sliced potato. As long as they have supervision, giving the eldest some responsibility for the meals will keep not just the cook occupied but the younger ones will be captivated to see their older sibling cooking for them.

PACK GAMES FOR WET WEATHER

If you strike some bad weather, break out a few indoor games to keep the kids entertained. Some Lego, colouring-in books, puzzles, reading books and magnetic tiles will all do the trick.

BALANCE YOUR KIDS INDEPENDENCE WITH THEIR SAFETY

We want our kids to gain their independence but we also need to keep them safe. It’s always a tricky one when camping with kids, but you can find a balance by:

• Setting boundaries – around the distance older kids can venture from your campsite

• Insisting on helmets – while they ride scooters or bikes

• Informing your kids about vehicles – campsites can be full of cars that don’t stick to speed limits so help them be vigilant

• Making communication fun – get your kids some walkie talkies so they can contact you when they need to

TEACH YOUR KIDS CAMP ETIQUETTE

Kids need to be reminded about a few things every time you go camping. A few fundamentals include:

• No running through someone else's campsite. Take a few extras steps around sites and teach your kids to do the same.

• Teaching them to wake up quietly as most campers don’t get up at the crack of dawn.

• Encouraging them to keep some space between you and other campers.

• Educating your kids on fires, as camping and fires usually go hand-in-hand. And remember to teach them about fire areas that can remain hot in the morning.

ESTABLISH A ROUTINE

To make your camping trip a smooth one, stick to your ‘at home’ routine as much as possible – and even more so with young kids. They’re creatures of habit and routine so by following nap times throughout the day, this will ensure a good night’s sleep.

CONSIDER HOW YOU’LL BATH YOUR KIDS

Load up on baby wipes and sanitiser as you might be skipping a shower if there aren’t any facilities. Alternatively, look into a handy, lightweight camp shower. They’re easy to use and your kids will go to bed nice and clean.

It’s important to unwind and completely remove yourself from your routines once in a while, and camping has a way of relaxing and giving your life more balance. Kids are adaptable and resilient and will flourish when given the freedoms and responsibilities that camping provides. They’ll thrive on the ever-changing landscapes and constant adventures, while you will get to know parts of their personality that may never have come to the fore without nature's aid.