Some advice on camping with kids

[MUM2BLESS]

Never done camping with the kids.

Where do I begin? would like to start within the uk first.

Where would you recommend?

Are most campers members of camping organisations?

Any advice welcomed.

Thank you very much campers !!!!!

Lots of layers and warm clothing!
Decent tent and vv good sleeping bags.
Choose sites carefully. Do you want basic or all mod cons?
Rehearse putting tent up before you travel. Make first overnight stay close to home in case of disaster. (We broke our tent!)
Torches! Head torches great.
Take frozen meal (like spag Bol) it'll defrost on the way and keep milk and wine cool!
We subscribe to a good camping magazine. (Called camping?)
Buy basics and add as you find you need stuff. (We have a trailer now!)
Be prepared for tired, happy kids and lots of time to chill!
Enjoy!

Wellies for outside and slippers for in - feet get cold even in summer. Wellies or crocs for slipping on quickly to do toilet runs.

Depending how old your dcs are - a bucket in the tent so they can "go" at night - there is nothing more miserable than stumbling across fields to toilet blocks in the middle of the night (especially if its raining)

Waterproofs

dustpan and brush for sweeping out the tent

inside games for evenings or wet days.

Be prepared to decide where you want to go far in advance - many of the most family friendly sites are booked up for the following year before the current season is over yes Blackberry Wood I mean you

As above, and don't expect them to go to bed when they normally would at home - trying to insist on it will end up with grumpy parents and grumpy kids. Go with the flow! (at the risk of sounding like a wanker :o)

Have a look at ukcampsite website for ideas of places near you.

Have a campfire! Lovely to build, sit around and toast marshmallows.

How old are your kids?

You need layers underneath your air mattress we buy those silver blankets, from amazon cheap as chips, then have a picnic blanket with silver backing, then a camping may, then air mattress with blanket on top, then sheet, then sleeping bag, then maybe an extra blanket. Sounds extreme, but don't underestimate how cold it'll be, and the cold comes up from the ground.

Onesies from primark are great for the kids too.

Not sure how old your DCs are but the most enjoyable trips for us have been on sites where there is a dedicated family field where all the tents pitch in a circle surrounding a good play area.

The kids all play together and you can relax while watching them from your tent.

Fen Farm in Essex is fantastic for this.

I always find that throwing biscuits into the kids bedroom area when they wake at silly o'clock stops them disturbing our fellow campers!

We always take waterproof trousers etc and even when it's been tipping down the kids just stay outside and carry on playing!

Nice one, thank you so much.

Our kids are 17 14 11 and 8.

What do the teenagers do whilst camping?

how mcuh does it cost to camp on sites?

How much will it take to get all the equipment? I suppose it depends on where we shop I guess. May be somewhere like the pound shop of wilkos will be ideal to get some stuff.

How much does it cost to camp on a camping site?

We take duvets camping, and sleep on our sleeping bags, opened up and it keeps us snug in bed. Layers for sleeping, I wear pyjamas then an old jumper on top.

I think we spent about £500 on equipment at first. We bought the basics, tent, sleeping bags, airbeds, cooker (2nd hand ebay), pans & kettle. We already had plastic plates and cutlery and my in-laws gave us some cups and bowls. We have since bought another tent with carpet and groundsheet, an electric coolbox and a portable bbq.

Campsites costs vary from about £5 for very basic to £20+ (per night) for holiday camp type sites. We are members of the Camping & Caravan Club and use their Certificated Sites. These are usually on farms, and are basic. The ones we go to have toilet/showers, washing up facilities and all have a drinking water tap. These sites cost us about £10 per night in the summer holidays, so a cheap fun holiday.

You need a good tent and sleeping bags etc, take plates from ho
me etc as it will save money, do a dummy run in the garden, might be better with two smaller tents than one big.
If you ask the site and explaine its your first trip some will help you set up

What type of things do you engage your kids in whilst camping ie if you have older teenage kids and well as younger one.

Thanks for helping me so far (nice one!!)