Camping with kids can be a LOT of work- there’s lots of prep that goes into it, and lots of dirt and mess while you’re there. And despite all the dirt and mess and lack of sleep (my kids wake up the second there is daylight, no matter the time they went to bed), we love taking the kids camping! It’s such a great chance to spend some quality time together, and the kids love the chance to get messy, explore nature, and make memories.
Below is a list of activities, a general packing list, and some other items we love to bring when we camp with kids (even our favorite bubble recipe to make giant bubbles which are always a hit when camping!). I hope they’re helpful to you on your next camping trip. Camping with kids may feel intimidating, but if you’re prepared with the right stuff, it will go much smoother!
30+ ACTIVITIES TO BRING CAMPING FOR KIDS:
- Coloring books
- Beads
- Coleman mini lanterns
- Bug catching kits
- Walkie talkies
- Binoculars
- Our daisy chain beads from our website (no string required!)
- Portable cornhole
- Crafts for at the campsite (messy crafts are great here- at a campsite it’s easy clean up!)
- Giant bubble wands (check out our favorite recipe for giant bubbles below)
- Wipe clean activity books
- Glow sticks
- Spike ball
- Portable kite
- Sticker books
- Piece of turf with legos (such a fun activity for kids, and the turf is a comfy clean place for them to sit in the campsite and helps the legos not move around)
- Frisbee/football
- Collapsible bucket and shovels
- Play trucks
- Soccer ball (this one glows in the dark!)
- Starry night light projector (battery operated)
- Glow in the dark paint for rocks
- Portable ropę swing and ropę ladder to play on
- Scrubbies pets (so easy to wash without worrying about the mess)
GIANT BUBBLE RECIPE:
- 1 tsp Guar gum
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 2Tbs rubbing alcohol
- 9.5 Tbs Dawn dish soap
- 15 cups water
These bubbles are so fun for kids and adults alike. We suggest doing them on a higher place so they can form fully before the kids run to pop them. Try getting your hand wet and sticking it in the bubble- it will go right through!
(The solution works best if it sits for 24 hours before you use it.)
Hope this list of activities was helpful! There’s so many fun things to do camping, and exploring out in nature is always entertaining. These activities are some extra ways to bring fun and memories to your campsite!