Backyard Camping to Prepare Your Kids for Travel

There are plenty of reasons to go camping with your kids; it’s a great opportunity for family bonding, it teaches them valuable skills and life lessons, and it provides them with exposure to a number of different experiences. However, if it’s their first time going camping, you might find that they’re a bit uncertain. After all, going from sleeping in a familiar bed to a small tent is a big step for some kids. Moreover, the great outdoors can seem quite daunting to live in for a couple of days

Luckily, there are several things you can do to help ease your children into the camping lifestyle, before you actually try the real deal. Our suggestion is to practise backyard camping- a fun and relatively simple idea that works just as well for making the best out of COVID lockdowns as it does for preparing for future trips!

Below, we’ve listed some of our favourite backyard camping trips for both kids and parents to enjoy: 

Set Up Your Tent

Unsurprisingly, the first thing you’ll be wanting to get sorted for backyard camping is your shelter. For that, you’ll be needing a tent, sleeping bags, sleeping mats and potentially some blankets and pillows if you want to make your bed extra comfy. Backyard camping is the perfect opportunity to teach your kids how to set up a tent. After all, this task can be confusing and tedious the first couple of times; even for adults. By practising how to set up and pack up your tent with the family at home, you can guarantee a smoother setup once you finally get to your campsite in person.

Alternatively, if you haven’t yet bought a tent, sleeping bag, or any of those other essentials, you can still put together an outdoor fort using a tarp or canvas. One of the best things about backyard camping is that it allows you to trial the idea of camping with kids before you fully commit to buying all the necessary camping equipment. You won’t have to invest in a camping haul that only ends up getting packed away in the shed.

Deck Out Your Campsite

Now that you’ve got your tent sorted, it’s time to fill in the gaps with all those other essentials that make a campsite really tick. A campfire is quintessential on camping trips, so for you to invest in an outdoor fire pit and get it crackling. Aside from adding to the campsite vibe, this will enable you and your kids to stay warm and toasty. Naturally, it will also provide everyone with the opportunity to roast marshmallows, make s’mores, and indulge in many other campfire treats.

Aside from a campfire, you may also want to pull some chairs and tables into your campsite, so that you can cook, eat, play or chat more easily. Hanging lights or lanterns will also help to create a cosy glow and will probably help your kids feel a lot more comfortable about spending the night outside in the dark.

Make It Fun

Out on a camping trip, there are plenty of swimming holes, hiking trails, forests, bushlands and beaches to explore. However, when you’re camping out in the backyard, the options are slightly more limited. So, you’ll have to find other ways to make your camping experience fun for the whole family. Luckily, there are plenty of fun things to do in your own backyard. Some great activities worth trying include:

• Scavenger Hunts
• Board Games
• Campfire Stories
• Lawn Games
• Charades
• Stargazing
• Campfire Cooking

Cook Up a Feast

Although you’ll have access to a fully decked out kitchen just a couple of steps away, you might want to practise cooking and eating as if you’re actually at a campsite while backyard camping. Luckily, there are plenty of super easy and delicious recipes to try over a campfire, that only require simple items like cast iron cookware or foil packets.

Get Some Exercise

Another great benefit to going camping is that it provides as an excellent opportunity for exercise. Keep in mind that exercising for at least 60 minutes a day has been proven to encourage healthy bones, muscles and joints in children. Aside from this, it will also help them to become more flexible, improve their posture, and maintain a healthy body weight.

If your backyard is big enough, you might want to try playing some sports or games which involve vigorous activity. On the other hand, if you’re working with a smaller backyard, consider venturing out into the neighbourhood for a walk. Alternatively, you could take your kids on a journey to nearby walking trails or natural landmarks to get them out and about.

The Benefits of Backyard Camping

Choosing to trial the idea of camping with kids comes with several great benefits. You can discover whether it’s something that you and your kids would be interested in doing, before you go and invest in all the essential camping equipment. Needless to say, backyard camping will allow you to save money, experience the benefits of being outdoors, and enjoy spending time with your loved ones, all without having to leave your own home.

Find All Your Camping Essentials at Supex Products

Whether you’re camping out in your backyard or in the bush, camping essentials from Supex Products will never fail to impress. Built strong, tough and durable, our camping equipment is guaranteed to last multiple uses, despite constant exposure to the harsh Australian conditions. Moreover, we carry an extensive range of products, including everything from tents and sleeping bags to outdoor furniture, camp cookware, caravan hardware and more. All in all, you can turn to us for everything you need to make your next trip the most memorable one yet.

To discover our wide range of high-quality camping products, find your nearest Supex Products stockist now!