Starting camping with 6 and 8 year old

[Minniemousejammies]

What would we absolutely definitely need? Other than the obvious tent and sleeping bags

Are these air tents worth buying?

And how do you prevent that ‘camping smell?’

Thank you!

I went camping last year for the first time with my 7 and 5 year old.

We took:

Tent
Sleeping bag each, 1 double duvet between us, a pillow each and 2 blankets
Self inflating mats to sleep on.
Picnic rug (this went under the mats)
Chair each
Toilet - whether this is an essential depends on you, to me it was as I couldn't leave them/send them to the toilet on their own late at night/early morning. It came in really handy and is definitely coming again this year.
Camping light and head torch - never used but we went in August so it was light outside until quite late.
Water bottles

I think that's mainly it in terms of equipment. My friend brought a table which we all crowded around. We took breakfast things and picnic stuff in a cool bag which we topped up at the shops and went out for one meal each day. Only away for 2 nights. It worked well to see if we liked it and didn't cost too much.

We are going at the end of the month and DH is coming this time. I'm looking at buying a table for us and we've been given a camping stove which we'll use this time. Also on my list to buy is a tarp kit as our tent doesn't have any outdoor shelter, windbreak, possibly foam mats to go under the sleeping mats, more camping lights as I think we'll need them in May and sleeping stuff for DH. Oh, and possibly a basic camp kitchen unit. I'm also eyeing up the bunk beds in Go Outdoors for the kids as I think they'd love them and it would free up more floor space for us.

I'm not quite sure how all that will fit in the car though 🤔 I took my medium sized hatchback when I went and it was rammed full. DH has an estate but the tent we've got for the 4 of us is loads bigger than the one I took. I'd better think on that one!

What's the camping smell you refer to?!?

Air tents look good but are big, heavy and expensive from what I've seen. Personally I wouldn't buy one unless you know you're going to enjoy camping and keep going. I got a Decathlon poled tent which I put up on my own with a little help from the 7 year old.

Thanks both! The essential bits on that list don’t seem to be too much so that’s good. We’d probably not bother with any ‘little extras’ before we knew if we liked it.

Self inflating ones are the thin sort of padded ones is that right? Not a blow up bed but more than just a foam mat?

The smell ... was just a smell I always associate with camping when I was younger. A sort of damp, musty smell.

Don’t want to spend a fortune on a tent so won’t go for inflating. Is it worth buying second hand or too risky?

There are a few sites where you can hire a pre-erected tent. It would not only give you a chance to see if you like it before actually buying your own, it would also save the faff of assembling and disassembling a tent whilst dealing with the wants and needs of two small children!

At this site you can hire a tent either already furnished or unfurnished. www.plattsfarm.com/pre-erected-tent/

Here are a few more which have that facility
www.orchardcampsite.co.uk/pre-erected-tents/ This one has an enclosed play area, a kitchen area with free to use hot water, fridge, freezer, kettle and microwave, plus a coin operated washing machine and dryer which is always handy!
www.treenfarmcampsite.com/pre-erected-tents
www.eazycamp.co.uk

DC was 6 when we first went camping.

Sleeping bag and a cheap inflatable air bed was fine - we've since upgraded to SIMs but airbeds are useful for sleepovers etc. so not wasted. The plastic/foil backed picnic blankets are cheap from Go Outdoors and make a great carpet to insulate the sleeping area.t

Somewhere to sit (again, chairs and a cheap table can be used for other things), some sort of lighting, coolbox/basic cooking/eating equipment.

Maybe see if you can borrow a tent and equipment or look on local FB sites as many people sell off almost brand new kit cheaply.

DC loved having a mallet to help with hammering in tent pegs - still sees it as their job many years later. A cheap headtorch was also a favourite for reading in bed!

Another head torch vote, wellys water proof poncho if its raining let they play in it.
Think about where to sit when eating and how to keep warm, cheap down jackets are good and pack up small.
Try a dummy run cooking in the garden

Oodles of patience....

Take a plastic box to get them to put shoes in so they don’t track grass mud everywhere!

Look and see if you can get a camping starter pack. A normal tent is best, ensure it has proper guy ropes because wind is an issue here.

Sleeping bags, mats or mattresses, something to make food on, chairs ideally unless campsite has picnic tables. Water container, plates, cups, pans etc. We take a coffee pot, very essential!

Rain coats,slip on shoes eg crocs or wellies, if you have a dog, a screw in lead fixing point. Ear plugs I find essential as those country noises keep me awake

Have fun.

Dust pan and brush. An electric hook-up (get one with a built in circuit breaker and RCD) and plug-in bulkhead light (take twice as many lights as you'll think you'll ever need). A windbreak and tarp are useful.
Decathlon tents are brilliant value. We've got an Arpenaz 5.2XL - just about right for two adults and 7 year old (we've camped since he was 3). Might get a bigger tent in a year or so - tempted by air tents but the sheer bulk of them puts me off.

You might be able to borrow or buy a tent from a friend if you ask around?

I'd be happy to lend a friend my tent for a trial- perhaps ask on Facebook if any of your friends has one?

I've had two tents over 3 years of camping , both second hand - one £50 and the other £70 plus a camping stove and chairs- and both were/ are great condition- the first I gave to my sister as it was a smaller type and once we decided camping was for us I bought a bigger one. Two years and some very windy and rainy trips and it's going strong.

The most essential kit for us apart from the obvious is a pack of cards. Mine are 7 and 9 and will waste hours of rainy days playing cards with us.