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Our UK Camping forum has all the information you need on finding the right equipment for your tent or caravan.

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Our UK Camping forum has all the information you need on finding the right equipment for your tent or caravan.

Camping

How do you entertain young children camping in the rain

29 replies

TeeBee · 09/08/2008 20:06

Okay, we have bought lots of new camping gear and we are still bravely planning to go despite this crap weather. My DSs are 3 and 5 and I have never taken them both camping before. What do we do if it continues to pour down?

We are going to the New Forest and were planning to cycle and visit Monkey World and do lots of walking and picnics. All, going tit up with this weather though, eh?

All you seasoned campers - please give your advice on how to keep them entertained inside a tent for possibly 3 days!

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TeeBee · 09/08/2008 20:07

Or does anyone know of a very good pub with a play area in the New Forest where I can get pissed keep them entertained?

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charliecat · 09/08/2008 20:13

nintendos, books, drawing, cutting out maybe? wellys and rain coats and get out!

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mrspnut · 09/08/2008 20:16

Wellies and raincoats and chuck them out to play. It rarely rains continuously so there will be bits you can get out in. I also take pencils and paper, books and some small toys for rainy weather. We also try to plan our trips so we can be indoors if the weather is going to be dodgy.

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TeeBee · 09/08/2008 20:18

Thanks, yeah, got nintendos, books, craft stuff, jigsaws, bird watching book, binoculars. Guess I'm just wondering what is the point of sitting in a tent trying to occupy ourselves. They won't be able to be free and easy in natural surroundings, as I was hoping. I had visions of lovely family time, walking and cycling, climbing trees, etc. In reality, could turn into me swearing very loudly for a few days because everying is bloody soaking. Think I need my head read - answers on a postcard.

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dustyteddy · 09/08/2008 20:18

board games

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charliecat · 09/08/2008 20:19

torches for each of them...ermmm, a book you can read aloud. tennis bat type objects, swingball if you have it. I wouldnt sit in a tent for 3 days i would pack getoutable clothing.

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TeeBee · 09/08/2008 20:20

Ah yes, swingball a good idea, we could pack that.

Does anyone actually enjoy camping if it absolutely pi**ing it down?

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Theresa · 09/08/2008 20:32

Interested in answers to last question! I have bought our first tent and have borrowed basic equipment with the plan for me and 2 dc's (6 & 9) to have a 2 night try out in northumberland (about an hours drive from home) towards the end of the week (dh going to work and thinks i'm mad!). However i'm watching the weather forecast and it doesnt look good and so i reckon if its going to be really bad weather we'll not go (can't see point in going in bad weather for first trip as we may all be put off for life!)

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saggyhairyarse · 09/08/2008 20:46

We went to Cornwall last year when the weather was bad and Dartmouth this year, both times we were bailing out our tent BUT we did manage to laugh. I think the secret is copious amounts of chocolate and lager/wine!

The kids do not care! Ours have full waterproofs and most campsites have laundry rooms if you really need to dry stuff.

I do wonder what people do if it rains when you are at home? Do you stay in? There is bound to be wet weather stuff pretty much where ever you are if it is torrential.

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ivykaty44 · 09/08/2008 20:47

teebee are you going to hollands wood?

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TeeBee · 09/08/2008 20:48

Indeed I am.

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TeeBee · 09/08/2008 20:50

Well my answer to rainy days at home is hours of hide and seek and making play dough - might have to rethink that one!

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TeeBee · 09/08/2008 20:52

Ah, chocolate and wine - sounding better already. Okay, am leaving kids behind, and taking chocolate and wine instead. Perfect.

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TeeBee · 09/08/2008 20:55

ivykaty, I'm hanging around hoping you are going to suggest something wonderful in Hollands Wood to keep them busy. Dum de dum de dum.

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Blandmum · 09/08/2008 20:58

It isn't the going out in the rain that irritates if we are camping in the wet, it is the (relative) inability to dry things, like coats and shoes that gets to me.

and the faintly damp fell to the bedding.

3 day in the pissing down rain have confirmed that I am mostly a fair weather camper. I don't mind a bit of rain, but I have my limits

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TeeBee · 09/08/2008 21:00

That's what I'm worried about too MB. We won't melt in the rain, but it is bloody miserable being cold and wet even when you come in.

Think I'm going to have to resort to the hide the sweetie in the back of the VW game. Better pack a lot of smarties.

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filthymindedvixen · 09/08/2008 21:04

theresa - my boys just came back from a week in n'umbria. The forecast was ehavy showers every day. The reality wa 1 day of sunshine and showers and the rest was sunny and cloudy They even managed a trip to farne islands and 2 days on beach. Go prepared - but you may be surprised.

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ivykaty44 · 09/08/2008 21:09

I took toweling dressing gowns for me and dd to go and shower - easier to then get dressed in tent rather than try to get dressed in shower area and not very big.

People had taken gazeboes and were sat under these or playing swing ball if raining (we were lucky and had lovely weather until the last two days)

The cycle tracks are not that fast to cycle on they are heavy largish gravel - but really good for getting around. Me and dd2 (9) cycled to lyndhusrt a few times. The £1.50 cycling maps are ok - but some of the numbers are missing of the posts (I think around 33/34) so beware. The cycle path is the main tarmac road through the campsite that then continues into the wood. If you have a compass - take it with you ours came in handy (never used the one on the bike before thought it was a bit poncey!!)

Saw lots of little ones marching around with wellies on finding puddles to splash in!! great fun they were having

See my profile for the bridge dd2 made over the trench.

We camped right at the far end of the camp and over near the field/heath - as then we were as far from the main road as you can get. There is a toilet block up that end.

No electric on site - they do though charge your mobile fun if you have a mains plug in (50p per night charge)

Pubs in Brockenhurst. Lyndhurst the treesomething cafe was nice.

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ivykaty44 · 09/08/2008 21:14

found online cycle maps for you

You can down load and print these off and take with you.

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TeeBee · 09/08/2008 21:23

Thank you, that's great. Some really good tips, thanks - particularly the one about the dressing gowns, I'll dig ours out.

Think I might try and get hold of a gazebo too.

Thanks everyone. Think I'll just have to stay positive and take plenty of clothes.

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hotcrossbunny · 10/08/2008 00:01

We took playdough and a chopping board to roll it out on. Was played with a lot. Also took portable dvd (charged it in car each day). In fact dd sat in the car and watched it sometimes!! Lymington has the best tea shop - yummy scrummy cakes and very friendly owner. Also I think it has an outdoor pool....You'd already be wet after all

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BBBee · 10/08/2008 15:00

take crocs or similar.

we are just back from camping and before we went I started a very similar thread to yours!

We had a great time - bit of rain but never as bad as I envisaged - the children didn't seem to mind. We went to monkey world too on the drizzly day.

It was no where near as wet as forecast predicted!

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Theresa · 10/08/2008 16:34

thanks filthy, me and dh went to farne islands years ago and its on 'my list' of thinbgs to do with the children so fingers crossed!

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MatNanPlus · 10/08/2008 16:38

Continue with your plans wearing jacket and wellies MW in the rain can be good.

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DrZeus · 10/08/2008 18:47

Just returned from camping with dc (6 and 4) and had pssng rain most of the time. Luckily there was a great playarea near the tent, so off they went in wellies and kags and played footie. When it was time to come in, we had a laptop to play dvds in the evening to settle them down a bit. Also had colouring, bingo, various comics and books to look at and Nintendo DS's. I packed a small PVC car mat (which doubled as a picnic "rug" and some toy cars too. Got them battery glowsticks which proved to be great entertainment.

They didn't seem bored! I gave the older one jobs to do, like going to get the paper from the camp shop. DS2 helped with the washing up too! Didn't stress too much about bedtime as the campsite was quite noisy until 10pmish. They just crashed out when knackered and woke up at normal time.

Only issue was the nocturnal trips to the toilet in the rain with a torch - how I loved them!