Tips for lone camping with young children

[redjumper]

I'm thinking of taking my 3 DCs camping on my own in our campervan. Just wondering if anyone does this and do you have any tips?
Any suggestions for managing things like bedtime, mealtimes, shower time etc?
My thoughts are to find a site where we can just play there all day/walk to a village/walk along the river etc. It's too much hard work to pack up the campervan to drive it when we're there.
I'm looking for a suitable site in the north of England - where there's something to do eg a playground or river, a nearby shop and cafe, it has to be sheltered so not by the sea, friendly and somewhere there will be other kids playing out so hopefully my DCs can go off and join in. Any ideas?

Could you cook a couple of meals before you go? Will you be showering them in the motorhome? If not, you will probably need a site with family shower rooms.

For bedtimes take packs of cards and casino chips, and use dim camping lights
We taught DCs to play Texas hold em poker, pontoon etc. Great fun for all

How old are they?

Your logistical problems will be going to the toilet block if they can't be left, or if you need to accompany one or more to the toilets and have to take them all, every time.

Depending on ages I would take a portable potty, or one of those cheap toilet / utility tents with a KampaKhazi or similiar. If they are aged 8-12, you won't have this worry.

But if they are all under 6 then the logistics of keeping them safe while you fetch water, cook, wash up etc could be tiring.

Yes toilet trips annoyed me. Esp when the youngest was adamant they didn't need to go when there, but desperate as soon as we were back to the tent. I'm bringing a toilet bucket this year lol.

They are all under 5! I'll definitely bring the potty thanks. I'm also thinking it'll be a faff doing things like washing up as we'll all have to go to the pot wash. I'm going to set expectations low and not aim to do anything except play with the kids.
I can't see how I'll get chance to shower unless I sneak out while they're all asleep and lock them in the campervan. That doesn't sound very safe though. I may just have to not shower! Actually a site with a mother and baby shower room would be handy...

Riverside camp site near Caernarfon is lovely, it has a river to play in, nice facilities, a swing park and woods to make dens in. Re showering I would just all go in together, or you go in with the youngest and leave the others in the main bathroom bit and then send them in after. At night I took size 5 nappies and nappy bags with wipes and hand sanitiser. I used the nappies to line the potty and let them wee on that, then bagged it up but we were staying in a tent so I was worried about potty spliiages.

Find a site with a family shower room or disabled shower, I used to shower and take the pushchair in the room with me in a campsite we went to. It was also a wet room so I could shower little ones when i needed.
Also really simple dinner ideas are best especially if you can take some prepared for a couple of nights like pasta sauce etc.
A site that sells cooked food and you can walk to something or a town is handy too.

Yes, definitely find somewhere with a family shower room.

Depending on the age of the youngest, washing up won't necessarily be hard work. Other parents can be a real asset. Usually we strike up a deal with neighbouring parents of children of a similar age and I or they will watch all children whilst the other washes up for both parties. Alternatively, you can do the washing up whilst the children play nearby. Often the pot wash is only a few feet away from somewhere they can find pebbles/bugs anyway.

Definitely bring a potty (not least because if one child needs a wee at night you'd have to leave the others alone)

Meals you can pre-cook and bring frozen to defrost while you're there (and keep the cool bag cool too). Pasta sauce with pasta is easy. There are some good food ideas on getoutwiththekids.

How good are the children at keeping away from the hot plate? I've found that mine are poor at gas hobs but seemed to just 'get' that they needed to keep their distance when I use a fire (even as young as a few months). We have this: m.gooutdoors.co.uk/hi-gear-bbq-notebook-grill-p322094
And it works well, folds small, can be used for BBQ or heating a pot etc.

Make sure you have something for you in the evenings when they're asleep. You'll need the downtime!

Thanks everyone. I'm quite excited to go now. We probably won't shower tbh as it's only going to be a 2 night trip.
Can anyone recommend a site in North England eg Yorkshire Dales, York, boroughbridge, North York moors? Near a village or with a site shop and cafe. Maybe on a river. Has a playground. A nice communal field of grass pitches rather than separated hardstandings.
Thank you so much for all the tips so far x

Could you go swimming if you need a shower?

Take disposable plates and cups? Use them over plastic plates & cups for sturdiness. Saves washing up time.