Our kids generally enjoy being out doors camping, finding ways to keep busy in nature. But there’s always times when boredom can set in. Here are our 10 best activities to entertain kids when camping!
We aim not to take the entire household collection of toys and games. I like to bring generally light weight activities that won’t take up much space in the car.
Rock Painting
One of the absolute best activities to entertain kids, this is a two phase project so this can really keep the kids entertained for a long time.
First of all, send the kids on a hunt for the perfect rocks to paint on. Once a few rocks have been gathered, break out the paint pens to decorate them.
We generally buy some cheap acrylic paint pens from Amazon or Kmart as they get used or destroyed relatively quickly!
Hide and Find
What are you going to do with all those painted rocks? The kids can take turns hiding them around camp, and then the others have to find them. If you don’t have rocks, you can literally use anything else!
Building Blocks
Foster that creative side with a bag full of building blocks! These always get brought out. Speaking of which, I now need to wash them.
Scavenger Hunt
Make a list of things to see or find and send the kids off with a checklist and a pencil to tick them off!
Camera Hunt
Much the same as above, but set them a task to take a photo of various objects. Birds, insects, flowers…
For the little kids, you can get cheaper kids cameras from amazon. They often come with inbuilt games which might be a negative or a positive depending on your view point (they might get distracted playing games rather than using the camera). For the older kids, a hand me down point and shoot cameras or old mobile phone is probably better (better quality photos).
Colouring
Popular at home, and popular at camp. The kids love decorating anything by colouring it in. Run out of colouring books? Decorate this beer carton!
Build a Campfire
The kids love helping out with tasks, and the campfire is an especially popular one. It’s also a good learning opportunity in the danger of fire and keeping safe distances even when the fire is small. Set tasks such as finding little sticks to get it started, or crumpling paper up.
Hiking
Keep the kids busy, safe, and burn off some energy by taking them on a hike. We did plenty of this during our trip to Tasmania.
Light Painting
A favourite activity after the sun goes down. Set your camera to long exposure mode on a tripod, and hand the kids glowsticks, torches, or headlights. When you say “go!”, click the shutter button, and the kids wave their lights around in circles for length of the exposure. Then come and review the results! A camera with a remote control would be really handy for some relaxation time for the parents.
I’ve also found my phone (Android) tends to create this effect just by taking a photo in the dark as it decreases the shutter speed enough to capture the blur of the lights. Much easier… but no remote.
Totem Tennis
This is a cheap activity, and easy to pack in the car. Around $10 from Kmart!
Bicycles
Not exactly a light weight option, but if you have room, bikes and/or balance bikes can give parents a welcome break from entertaining as the kids buzz around camp on their bikes. At least until you hear those familiar cries “watch this mum! watch this dad!”.
Given our current set up is a camper trailer, and the kids bikes are still small, I just chuck them on top and strap them down. The bigger kids may need a bike rack option to fit them in.
Conclusion
Getting kids out in to nature and off their ipads can’t be beaten. Hopefully some of these ideas for the best activities to entertain kids when camping will help your kids not say “I want to go home!”.
If all else fails, kids love nothing more than: other kids! Set up camp nearby other families, and the kids will soon have new friends that they run around with for hours.
Check out our tips on taking kids to K’Gari (Fraser Island) and also our three week itinerary around Tasmania – Tasmania in 3 weeks with Kids.
