10 Tips to Keep Everyone Happy (Including You)

At first blush, camping with kids sounds like a blast. A hot fire and s’mores, stargazing, swimming in the nearby lake - the list goes on. Reality check: Camping with kids isn’t always zen bliss. There’s dirt. There’s whining. The fire pit is wet. The s’more-makings were left at home.

Sounds tough right? We’re not here to be doom-and-gloom, camping with kids is awesome! With the right mindset, a few clever hacks, and gear that actually works, it can become the kind of trip your family looks back at fondly for years to come.

This guide pulls together real-world tips for parents who want to have the best camping experience for their kids - and themselves. Let's dive in...

1. Start with just one-night

You don’t need a week in the wilderness to start. Begin with one night at a campsite close to home. Low pressure, high learning curve.

Try this: Start even closer to home - in the backyard. Put together the tent, build a fire, make sure rechargeable headlamps and lanterns are charged and let the kids sleep outside in a place they’ll feel comfortable.

2. Assign everyone a camp job

Kids love responsibility when it feels like play. Let them be in charge of collecting kindling, handing out snacks, or setting up sleeping bags. Give yourself a task too and show them that everyone contributes. Want frustrated kids? Give them a chore as you kick-back and relax.

Try this: Provide specifics in what you’re needing help with to set them up for success. For example, when assigning kindling duty specify that you’ll need dry, small sticks that fit in your portable grill.

3. Make Food Part of the Fun

Kids are way more likely to eat dinner when they help make it. Simple skewers, foil packets, or pancake breakfasts are easy and tasty.

Try this: Cook with a portable grill like FirePit+ - no gas, just wood or charcoal. It’s easy to set up, simple to cook on, and once dinner is done it can convert into your bonfire for the evening.

4. Don’t skip the creature comforts

As noted in Tip #1, start simple when camping with kids. Car-camping allows you to bring more than you necessarily need. Pack their favorite pillows and cozy blankets. Familiarity goes a long way when everything else is new.

Try this: Comfort goes beyond just physical coziness. Being in the woods at night can be scary. A rechargeable headlamp or lantern gives kids plenty of glow to feel brave at bedtime.

5. Stick with your nighttime rituals from home

Bedtime doesn’t have to feel like a battle. If you always read a book to them at night, make sure it’s packed. Don’t be overly rigid though - depending on the time of year, it might be too light out at their usual bedtime, so it’s ok to let them hang out a bit longer while the sun gets lower in the sky.

Try this: Find a camping spin on your usual routines and share with the kids how it connects to what you do at home. Tuck them into that sleeping bag and show how cool it is to be tucked-in in their tent just like in their bedroom. Hang solar string lights around your tent for extra cozy vibes.

6. Embrace the mess

Let the dirt happen. Kids will be happier if they don’t feel policed about every smudge. Bring towels, extra clothes, and laugh it off. Don’t forget how dirty you and your things get when you camp without kids!

Try this: Be the family photographer. Focusing on capturing the moments - however dirty - is more important than spending the entire day cleaning. A portable charger keeps you powered all day, so you can fill your phone with photos and videos to your heart’s desire.

7. Let them be bored (a little)

Boredom is the gateway to creativity. Once camp is set up, there is usually some down time before dinner gets fired up. Give them time to invent their own games with sticks, rocks, and imagination.

Try this: Not finding that spark at camp? Leave the site behind for a moment. Plug your phone into a portable power bank and toss it in the tent before heading out for a short walk from your site. You came all the way out to the woods to camp, embrace the change of scenery and give everyone a break from the screens.

8. Pack for play

Toss in a soccer ball, bubbles, or a deck of cards. Movement and silliness are your best allies. Just like in Tip #7, simple games like these will still require creativity at camp. Soccer shootouts are extra special between two trees and bubbles look better in the sunlight.

Try this: Camping is one of the most important times to keep an eye on your kids' energy. Read the “room” and match their needs throughout the day. Family nap time? Great. Marshmallow sugar rush? Rally for a few more stories around the fire. 

9. Celebrate the wins, no matter how big

Got through the night with only one meltdown? Victory. Everyone had fun at breakfast? Celebrate it. Reinforce the good stuff and build momentum. Ask the kiddos for ideas on what they want to do next time you camp.

Try this: Let kids scroll through trip photos on a charged tablet on the drive home. BioLite’s portable charger options keep devices powered when it’s time to relive the best moments.

10. Build in one “wow” moment per night

This should really be #1. Camping with kids is magical because they see magic everywhere. Go on a night hike. Stay up late stargazing. Make popcorn over the fire. These are the things kids will carry with them forever.

Try this: Save your moment for the dark. The Milky Way never ceases to amaze and the woods are extra spooky after dark. Match your idea to your lighting needs: Rechargeable headlamps for hikes, solar string lights for campfire story time, and colorful camping lanterns for a nighttime dance party.

Final Thought: It’s Supposed to Be Messy

Camping with kids isn’t about getting everything right. It’s about being together, outside, in a way that’s full of unexpected laughs and lessons. Start small, stay flexible, and enjoy the journey.

Looking to make your next trip smoother? Explore BioLite’s camping gear collection >

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