urgent camping question - toys to entertain 3yo and 5yo whilst we are setting up tent/ cooking / general faffing

[Concordia]

They musn't take up too much room as our car is going to be overflowing.
Off camping for to escape jubilee weekend!

Our two (5 & 2) were quite happy to sit on the camping chairs and hold their plates and forks tight while we cooked .

While setting up they usually mill about near us. We ask them to help by holding tent pegs and passing them to us.

Otherwise, soft foam 'tennis' balls or bean bags are quite good.

thanks crafty. i think we must do a lot of faffing or have overactive children. last time i remember it being a bit of a problem DS (5) is getting better at helping but tis hard to occupy DD (3).

I once took a couple of tiny (maybe 2inch by 1 inch) boxes, and offered a prize for the most interesting thing they could find to fit in the box. Judging was at tea time.

Or... as a variation, prize for the most number of different things they could fit in the box in one go.

Kept them entertained for HOURS.

sponge balls
notebooks (special for camping) and pencils
velcro pads and ball game
pack of cards
books
folding scooters if there is room
we used to have a swingball thing but the dc have broken it

Our dc are good at cleaning tent pegs now....

bondage tape

sorry!! couldn't resist!!

We always take a box of duplo- they play with it for hours, rain or shine, and it usually attracts other little people, so ours are amused for a while!

MrsMellowDrummer what a fab idea! will 'check' that one for next time we go. Also, if you are near woods with stones\large pebbles\rocks... we had our create a bug house with a tunnel that led to a second bug house.

That too kept them entertained... and then they had to go find the bugs There is a risk of course, that one or two might end up in your sleeping bag (all in the name of juvenile fun)

Love the Box idea. I got mine a couple of sticker books which kept them occupied whilst pitching tent

We left the kids in the car eating a packed lunch whilst we got the tent up, then I took them to the campsite park whilst DP put the internal pods in.