Is camping with children challenging?… It depends.
But one thing is for sure… it’s rewarding!
If you don't prepare well for a camping holiday with your children, what's most likely to happen is that it won't go as well as you imagined.
But with the right preparation and some knowledge and tips, family vacations can be a lot of fun and very rewarding.
With the experience we have had over the years here at Lisboa Camping & Bungalows, we already feel confident to share some advice if you are planning a camping holiday with your children.
1. Choosing the right tent for your family
- Always take a tent larger than the number of people in your family. For example, if there are 4 people, the ideal would be to take a tent for 6 people.
- Make sure that the tent does not allow light to enter the sleeping areas. This is if you want to sleep more restfully from the moment the sun rises.
- Choose a tent that has a covered outdoor area in case it rains.
2. Take a test at home
If you have the opportunity, take a 'test drive' in your garden at home.
It's always safer to do a test to see if things could somehow go wrong or someone in the family might just not like the idea. If it's not possible to do this test, the first time you go camping, choose a campsite relatively close to home, so if things don't go as planned, the trip back home takes less time.
3. Distribute tasks to children
Children love to be involved in tasks that they think belong to adults.
Therefore, let them participate in preparing the trip, packing the material and bags as well as preparing and assembling when they arrive at the campsite.
Tasks as simple as filling water bottles or assembling chairs will make children feel involved and, in addition, they are busy and away from their cell phones.
4. Plan your arrival early
Arrange your departure time so that you arrive at the campsite plenty of time before sunset.
You won't want to set up and prepare everything in a hurry to avoid having natural light, nor will you want to start your first day of camping stressed or in a rush.
5. Prepare for bad weather
If you are not camping during the peak of summer, it is best to be prepared for all types of weather… Keeping children warm and dry is one of the secrets to successful camping with children.
Even if you go camping during the summer, there is always the possibility of cooler, windier nights and even the occasional rainy day.
These are the 5 main tips we have for those who are going camping with children but… as it is a topic that always causes some insecurity for freshmen on these trips, we will leave you with some more tips:
Try leaving technology at home
These days it almost seems like an impossible mission but trying doesn't hurt.
If it's not possible, at least try to get them to spend as little time as possible on their cell phones/tablets...
One way to help achieve this is to have some planned activities and games, as well as taking some walks around the park or area.
Choose a campsite that is 'family-friendly'
Not all campsites are ideal or have the necessary conditions for family camping…
These are some of the details you can take into account:
- – plenty of free space for children to play
- – playground or area for children to play
- – supermarket inside the campsite
Lisboa Camping & Bungalows is 'Family-friendly'! See here >>
Prepare some food in advance
Everyone knows that children's appetites are not the same as adults, much less their schedules or tolerance to hunger. Therefore, it is best to be prepared with snacks, biscuits, juices, milk, water, cereals and even some canned meals.
And that's it... very briefly, these are some of the topics that we consider to be important and should be taken into account if you are planning to go camping with your children for the first time!
We hope it was an encouragement and that you are already thinking about reserving a place at our campsite!
If that's the case, Make your reservation here now!
