· 1 min read
Keep kids happy at camp
Small jobs, simple routines and a few tricks for calmer days with little campers.
Kids love camping when they have a part to play. Boredom and tiredness cause most meltdowns, and both are easy to plan for.
Give everyone a job
Even a three-year-old can carry pegs. Older kids can unroll mats, fill water bottles or set the table. A job makes the campsite theirs.
Keep the routine
Meals and bedtime at roughly the usual times make a big difference. A familiar teddy or pillow helps, too.
Their own gear
A small chair and their own lantern mean kids aren't competing for adult gear. They'll also stay put at the fire or the table for longer.
Pack boredom busters
- A nature scavenger list: a feather, a smooth rock, something red
- Cards or a small board game for rainy afternoons
- Sidewalk chalk for the campground road
- A cheap magnifying glass
Safety basics
Agree on boundaries when you arrive: where they can go alone and where they can't. Walk the area together, point out roads, water and the fire, and give each child a whistle.