Camping — and more specifically RV camping — as a family is a wonderful way to spend quality time together. It encourages everyone to cut down on screen time and experience the great outdoors up-close and personal.
However, RVing with kids can quickly become stressful without proper preparation. Fortunately, using a simple camping with kids checklist and strategic tips can ensure that your trip runs smoothly. Whether your family camps all the time or you’re preparing for your toddler’s first-ever camping trip, this camping with kids checklist should prove to be useful!
RV Camping With Kids Checklist
Packing appropriately goes a very long way in ensuring your RV trip runs smoothly. This is especially true with kids! To help get your trip started right, here’s a camping with kids packing list.
- Lots and lots of snacks. This is the first item on this camping checklist with kids because there’s really no such thing as too many snacks on a family camping trip. Bring a range of options, including some favorites as well as parent-approved healthy snacks.
- First-Aid kit. It’s a good idea to have a first-aid kit in case anyone gets scrapes or cuts. Be sure to bring it with you on any daytime adventures away from camp!
- Flashlights, headlamps, or lanterns. These can make nighttime bathroom trips much more pleasant (not to mention safer!). Plus, little ones really enjoy having their own light.
- Glow-in-the-dark accessories. Along the same lines, a few strategically-placed solar stake lamps or glow-in-the-dark ropes makes navigating the campsite at night safer and easier for the whole family.
- Comforts from home. Your list of camping with kids essentials should include a favorite blanket or stuffed animal. This can help comfort your child if he or she gets anxious being away from home.
Once you’ve made it through your camping with kids checklist, there are a few additional tips to keep in mind before you head out on the trip.
Safety Tips for RV Camping with Kids
In addition to a comprehensive camping with kids checklist, safety at the campsite is a priority. Set ground rules before leaving for your camping trip so children know what to expect and ways to keep themselves safe.
Stick Together
The term “safety in numbers” exists for a very good reason. People are much safer from danger when they’re with someone else. Use the buddy system when camping, requiring everyone — especially children — to be with at least one other person at all times.
Stay Away From Water
As fun and tempting as water is, particularly on hot summer days, children should stay far away from it unless an adult is present. It’s far too easy to slip and fall or for a river current to sweep a child away.
Avoid Poison Ivy and Other Invasive Plants
Teach children how to identify poison ivy, poison oak, and other invasive or nuisance plants, as well as how to avoid them. If you don’t know yourself, this can be a fun learning opportunity for your whole family!
Don’t Eat or Touch Anything in the Woods
There are lots of things in the forest that may be tempting to children, including berries, flowers, and colorful or furry wild animals. It’s important to teach kids that although some of them resemble things they’re familiar with (berries, for example), they are, in fact, wild and should be left completely alone.
Keep Shoes on at all Times
It’s easy to get comfortable while you’re camping (which is a good thing!), but everyone should wear shoes at all times — even if they’re flip-flops. Even in the most kid-friendly campsites, there are simply too many critters and sharp things to potentially step on.
Additional Tips for RV Camping with Kids
Aside from your camping with kids packing list, there are some other tips that can help you prepare for a family RV trip.
Let Kids Help Pack
Letting your children help pack for the trip can increase the level of excitement they have for all the activities you’re preparing for. Not only can this help little campers get excited about camping, it teaches them a bit of responsibility for their own items.
Plan Activities Beforehand
Children really do thrive with a routine, so it’s a good idea to try and stick to one while camping. It doesn’t need to be as rigid as at home, but set a loose schedule and include activities that will keep kids entertained. To get them more involved in the process, let kids choose a couple of the activities!
Pack Food Kids Will Eat
The last thing you want to deal with on a family camping trip is a battle over food. Keep your camping checklist with kids simple when it comes to food, and stick with your family’s tried-and-true favorites.
Make Family Memories with Cruise America
From driving to the campsite to s’mores and campfire stories to camp food, there is truly nothing comparable to the memories made on family camping trips.
One way to make the experience even better is by renting an RV from Cruise America! With several family-friendly RV models to choose from and 130 convenient pickup locations, it’s never been easier to hit the road and go camping!
