Camping as a family means preparation – but don’t be put off! A little advance planning will make sure you can free up more of your camping time to enjoy being together, have some new adventures and create plenty of memories.

Ask your older kids to help write the list of things to bring while younger kids could draw some things to bring.

Have a practice camp out if you can beforehand e.g. in the back garden or somewhere close to home so you can check if you need anything extra that you hadn’t thought of.

Keeping young children occupied while you are setting up camp and getting organised is essential – hold back something new or exciting that the kids haven’t seen before to keep them busy.

Older children can be occupied with exploring jobs – going off to check out the facilities (eg picnic tables, toilet block, etc) and reporting back, or going on the hunt for firewood.

Get funky and cute (and warm) sleeping bags for each child and label them inside so each has their own.

Let them bring a favourite blanket and/or pillow with them, as well as their favourite cuddly toy for bedtime.

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Make your own trail mix (we like these ideas for healthier trail mix on Greatlist.com) and get the kids to help mix it up and fill bags/tubs to bring.

Don’t forget the marshmallows for toasting on the bbq or campfire!

Bring glow in the dark snap sticks or make your own glow in the dark bubble mix for some after dark fun!

Buy some solar fairy lights for your tents – they will charge up during the day and twinkle nicely after dark, plus make it easier to find your tent.

After dark take the kids to do some stargazing and see if you can spot a shooting star! Use an app like Star View to find out the constellations and planets you can see in the night sky.

Keeping everyone busy and having fun is easy with a bunch of outdoor games to play at the campsite, eg, football, a frisbee, a hula hoop, swingball, Twister, skipping ropes, a kite, etc.

Have contests like who can collect the most firewood or who has the tidiest tent space or who is the quickest to get dressed in the morning!

Evenings around a campfire are great fun! Have some great ideas for campfire games up your sleeve to keep everyone entertained, and then sit back and enjoy the fun.

Make some pancake batter and fill baggies, tie the end, and then when you are ready to use just snip the small ends to use as a piping bag into the frying pan.

Did you know that the first recorded instance of a S’more recipe was back in 1927?

To make S’mores, you’ll need graham crackers (or you could use digestive biscuits), milk chocolate and marshmallows.

Place a square of milk chocolate on a graham cracker. Toast a marshmallow over the camp fire and put on top of the chocolate, then a second graham cracker on top of the toasted marshmallow and squeeze.

This is one of our family’s favourite BBQ desserts, and it’s so easy. You will need:

• tin foil
• bananas
• chocolate

Just take an unpeeled banana and gently cut along its length through the skin. Stuff some squares of chocolate into the banana then wrap the whole banana in some foil and put on the BBQ. The bananas will cook and the chocolate will melt. Heaven!

Bake potatoes on the BBQ (or pre-bake them before your camping trip and bring them along), then cut the potatoes horizontally in slices and stuff cheese and ham or bacon into each cut.

Put a bit of butter on top and some salt and pepper then wrap in tin foil – after 25-30 minutes the potatoes will be warm and the cheese will be melted. Here’s a nice recipe on Echoes of Laughter for Potatoes with Bacon, Ham & Cheese.

Use mini pizza bases or pitta breads and top with tomato sauce, and your choice of toppings such as ham, pepperoni, olives and cheese.

Use a foil tray and place tortilla chips topped with black beans or refried beans, then sprinkle on taco seasoning mix, tomato salsa and grated cheese on top.

You could opt for jacket potatoes wrapped in foil for a comforting classic – or you could turn those jacket potatoes into delicious cheesy garlic hasselback potatoes, like these ones from Mountain Cravings, with just a tiny bit of extra preparation. Then all you have to do is sit back and let the fire do all the work. They are sure to be a hit with the whole family!

Get ready for a day of activities with a hearty breakfast, thanks to this campfire skillet breakfast on All Recipes.

Bacon, potatoes and eggs are all cooked together for a very filling and satisfying camping breakfast.

Either freeze juice cartons or gallons of water to use in your cool box as ice packs.

Polenta can be bought ready-cooked, perfect for slicing and frying up in a pan or grilling over a BBQ.

Or you might like to cook couscous, which is very quick to cook – it only requires some boiling water and to be left for a few minutes to steam cook, instead of having to wait for pasta or potatoes.

Reuse a prescription bottle as a mini First Aid Kit with plasters, a couple of folded alcohol pads, a mini tube of antiseptic cream, and a couple of cotton balls

Fill a cardboard (not styrofoam) egg carton with ready-to-light charcoal to boost up your campfire or BBQ quickly and easily – plus the egg box is easy to transport.

Use a coffee tin to keep your roll of toilet paper from getting wet or dirty.

Use a belt and hooks to hang pots and utensils off a tree or pole when camping.

Hand the kids scavenger hunts to have a go at while you get the camp set up, it will help keep them amused and out of your way.

You could also try our checklist for fun outdoor activities that are sure to keep the kids busy!