Take the stress out of camping with kids
Follow our camping survival guide for busy parents of young children, with top tips and a packing checklist.
Who is this camping guide for?
If you're a parent taking your child camping this summer or heading to a festival, CBeebies can help you manage challenges and milestones.
Camping is a brilliant activity for the summer holidays or half term. Getting out into the countryside, taking time away from screens and spending an evening under canvas with your family and friends is the ultimate summer adventure. Follow our CBeebies guide to plan your camping trip for children with advice from your favourite CBeebies characters.
In this guide, you will find suggestions for:
Click on the links above to go straight to that section on this page or scroll to find what you are looking for.
What to pack for camping with kids
Some home comforts will make your trip even better and certainly safer.
A tent (plus mallet and pegs) - If you're staying in a cabin or a camper van, you can skip this, but if you are staying in the great outdoors, you need shelter from the elements. Think about the size of your family and how much space you'll need. Have a plan for organisation inside the tent, because if everyone can find what they need when they need it, you’ll have a happier crew.
Sleeping bag/duvets - Warm blankets are must for cosy nights even if you don't need a tent. Pack warm base layers or thermals for chilly nights. You could also bring hot water bottles to heat up sleeping bags in the cold evenings. To reduce bulk, try using vacuums bags.
Ground mat and/or air mattresses/travel cot - Insulation from the ground can turn the lumpy, muddy mud into a snuggly fort. Don't skip this kit, as it will keep you warm and give you a good night's sleep. If your child has a travel cot, bring it with you.
Camping chairs and table - Make you own camp site, with warm throw blankets to keep warm as the nights draw in. A table is useful for cooking and keeping mugs and food off the ground.
Utensils for cooking - If you plan on cooking, bring a pan, cutlery, plates and mugs etc. and a cool box for food. Bring dish soap and a sponge to clean dirty crockery, with a washing bowl or plastic trug to wash hands and dishes.
Drinks and snacks - Remember to keep hydrated during the day, so bring refillable water bottles. Bring snacks, lots of snacks… think about things that pack well and don’t make too much mess like apples, easy-peel oranges and flapjacks.
Survival kit - Pack torches, first aid kit, sun cream, insect repellent and rubbish bags.
Toiletries - Easy to forget, awful to be without! Include toilet roll, plus towels and a bag for dirty clothes. Bring an emergency toilet or travel potty with you, with wipes or flannels for accidents.
Coats, welly boots, sun hats, wooly hats and an umbrella. Summer can still bring cool and rainy weather, so think about all weathers and bring spare clothes, just in case! Warm pyjamas, socks and sleep suits will help your child feel safe and secure.
Make sure grown-ups have a phone (and signal) at the campsite in case of emergencies. If you're going somewhere remote, bring power banks, so phones can be charged without mains electricity.
Food - If you’re planning to cook your own meals while camping, prepare and freeze some meals and bring them with you. Boiled eggs, noodles, baked potatoes and one pot meals like curries, chilli and bolognese can make easy camping dining. Bring your essential cooking kit, a camping gas stove, a good knife, tin opener, plus salt and pepper.
Water – A bottle of still drinking water can be useful in an emergency. Freeze the water before heading out and it will help keep other food cold.
Top tip: Try a dry run
Before your trip, help your child get used to the idea of camping. It's a new concept for little ones, so why not try setting up your tent in the living room or your garden before the trip, and make a game out of it. Your child can experience the new elements of camping in a safe and familiar home environment.
You could also show them what camping is like, by watching My First Camping Trip with your child. Join Joseph as he goes on his first camping trip to the Lake District with his family.
Tips for long journeys
Planning and preparation are your friends when you’re going on holiday with your child. Here are some top tips for how to survive holidays with kids.
Get excited about packing your bags
Packing up for a trip can be disorienting for little ones, so it's a good idea to explain where you're going and what you'll be doing. Encourage them to help by packing a spare set of clothes, their favourite teddy, a torch, water and snacks in their own bag, so they have a sense of control and autonomy. Help them get used to this concept by helping Mr Tumble pack his bag in this easy packing game.
Plan some fun on the way
If you're travelling by car, long distances to the camp site can be a challenge. If your little one is a Bluey fan, check out Bluey’s games to play on a long journey or Bingo’s I Spy Checklist for your next trip?
Listen to playlists or podcasts
Check out nursery rhymes with CBeebies Radio playlists or download your favourite characters' podcasts through BBC Sounds:
How to listen to the Hey Duggee Pupcast
Listen to Dodge’s Pup School: Story Time
Tune in to Supertato: The Tato Radio Show
Singalong to Yukee's Musical Adventures
Join Maddie + Triggs in their audio adventures
Explore Mr Tumble's Radio Show
Play along with I Spy, You Spy on BBC Sounds.
You could always play the tried and tested game I Spy, which is brilliant for letting your child put their phonics learning into practice.
For more travelling tips, check out the CBeebies journey survival guide.
Top tip: Give your little one a job
When a child masters a new skill, or manages to do something ‘grown up’, it gives their self-esteem a huge boost. Learn more about independent skills your child can begin to master and consider how they could help you when camping.
Get your child involved with each step of the way with choosing a song or radio show, picking their favourite toys to bring along, packing their own bag, or helping to pick a camping spot.
Once you're at your destination, allow your child set up their space with their things. It'll keep them busy and help give them some control over their environment.
Older children could roll out ground mats, inflate air mattresses or fill water bottles.
Young ones could be in charge of teddy patrol or marshmallow keeper or they could help you scout out the facilities for later.
Why not ask your child to copy Bluey as she sets out to gather sticks, which can be used for a campfire.
Where to camp
There are plenty of camping grounds up and down the country for any kind of budget, ranging from wild camping all the way up to luxury glamping!
⛺️ Get set up on a campsite
The UK is home to some fantastic campsites, from lively holiday-park-style sites to peaceful spots surrounded by nature. Most offer useful facilities such as toilets, showers and picnic areas, included in your pitching fee. With families and fellow campers sharing the space, campsites often have a friendly, welcoming community feel.
🚐 Curl up in a cosy camper van
One step up from camping, your might have a camper van or caravan. This is small, self-contained but basic accommodation tucked into a van, so you can travel and rest once you get to your destination. They can be parked in specialised campsites, with access to running water, electricity and restroom facilities.
🏕️ Roughing it with the elements
If you want a true wild adventure and you have plenty of experience camping, you could try wild camping. This means setting up camp outside of designated, paid campgrounds. This is completely free, "leave-no-trace" camping found on public lands (such as National Forests), which entirely lack amenities like running water. Usually this is a hike-in option that is more remote, so you would carry your bags and canvas some distance before pitching your tent. If this is what you're looking for, make sure you get permission from the landowner and leave only footprints behind. This might be a good option for older children who will see it as a huge adventure but younger children would struggle, so make sure you take this into account when you pitch up.
🎪 Go full glam camping
If tents or vans aren't your style or you want something a little more like home, the ultimate home comforts can be recreated with glamping. It's a form of 'glamorous camping', which means instead of a tent, you can rent out static pods, cabins or yurts that have built-in beds, with some basic furniture like chairs and tables. Some come equipped with small conveniences like kettles or hairdryers, there are onsite showers, toilets and sometimes a shop or cafe. Instead of roughing it, this is as close to staying in a house as it gets while still enjoying the great outdoors! Glamping pods can be found on specialist camping sites up and down the country. Some people find this too elaborate, where as others find it suits their needs perfectly.
Make sure you find the level of comfort, convenience and cost that is just right for your family.
Top tip: Keep warm and snuggly
Pack plenty of warm and familiar items so your camping trip is safe and welcoming. Socks, hats, jumpers, coats and blankets can all transform a miserable, chilly field into a magical, cosy adventure. Bring hot cocoa or squash in a flask to warm little hands and bellies as a special treat.
How do you keep kids entertained when camping?
We're so glad you asked! CBeebies House has made a special list of camping ideas and activities from Dodge and his friends. If you're looking to reconnect with nature with your children, use our handy checklist to get started.
Toys or games you could bring on your camping trip:
A football or tennis ball, with rackets or paddles
Soft toys
Deck of cards
Bubbles
Frisbee
Toy cars for tiny adventures
A speaker for music
Glow sticks and bracelets for night lights
If you're bringing a tablet, check out the CBeebies collection for games on the go or download CBeebies apps for kids.
If you'd like to pack light, here is a list of activities you can do while out and about in nature with your child.
We have more guides and tips for exploring nature with your little one from CBeebies Parenting.
Top tip: Nature missions
Let kids explore leaves, bugs, and muddy paths. You can even join in with Dodge's nature mission and send in drawings or sounds of what they spot.
Simple ideas for healthy snacks
If your little one struggles with change to their routine, keep some things the same so they can feel grounded. Home-cooked meals, familiar snacks and treats can make them at home in the great outdoors. Bring their favourite cup, plate or bowl to help them cope with foods in new places so camping meals for fussy eaters aren't as overwhelming.
You can find lots of simple ideas for healthy snacks on the Playtime Towers recipe page.
More resources for nature-loving kids
Learn more about the benefits of outdoor play for your children with CBeebies Parenting, and find more outdoor activities or games for curious little minds with their outdoor play for kids collection.
If your child is excited to learn more about the great outdoors, explore the Happy Campers collection on iPlayer for episodes from their favourite CBeebies shows.
More CBeebies shows for little explorers:
What's in Your Plant Pot: Get kids excited about gardening by showing them the cool, surprising things plants can do.
Tiny Tunes: Learn BSL (British Sign Language) nursery rhymes in the great outdoors.
I Can Grow It: Uncover the magic of nature in a colourful inner‑city garden.
Ranger Hamza's Eco Quest: Discover nature's wonders and the important role it plays in our environment.
