Why Garden Camping Can Be A Great Adventure For Your Kids

When we think of camping, we think of freedom and openness. Sure, we might select a pre-arranged and curated camping spot to make sure the facilities we need are relatively close by, or we may bring many preparations, but sleeping under the stars in nature is beautiful no matter how you do it.

It’s also a lovely way to showcase a comfortable new travel norm for your children. Sure, heading across the globe and spending on a high-quality hotel can be a fantastic experience, but nothing really beats the humility of a modest vacation with relatively inexpensive camping comforts. It’s something you can enjoy at almost any age.

But of course, not all children are super comfortable with that. So what’s the best way to help them feel relaxed in this type of adventure? You could always try a garden camping adventure for them over the weekend, safe within your property borders but new enough that it feels like a fresh experience.

So, how do you begin? In this post, we’ll discuss some advice to get you started:

Preparing The Garden

Of course, before anything else, it’s a good idea to make sure the garden is in decent shape for your children to camp there safely. You don’t need to go overboard, but tidying up a bit can make the experience a little more enjoyable, especially for the kids. Clearing the garden of any debris and using a leaf blower to clear the space (especially at this time of year) is wise. 

Clear away any toys, tools, or anything that might get in the way of setting up your tent. It’s also wise to cut the grass if it’s been a while since nobody wants to lie down on a patch of uneven or prickly weeds, and it’s easier to stake the tent when the ground is relatively smooth.

You might even consider roping off an area of the garden just for this purpose, turning it into your designated “campsite” for a bit of fun.  Adding a few little details = like lanterns, a picnic blanket, or even a hammock – can make it feel like a real event, rather than just a night in the backyard. There’s no real obligation here, you get to design how you feel is best.

Finding An Appropriate Tent & Showing How To Pitch It

Finding a tent that works for your family with enough spaces for your children and any friends they invite is necessary. You might have a family tent and dusting that off is a good idea, but if it has holes or is just too old, now is a good time to replace and test it. 

Remember that you don’t need a top-of-the-line model for a night in the garden, but something spacious enough for everyone with appropriate sections and enough room for airbeds is a good idea. If the kids are small, a basic two or three-person tent will do the job, If you want to make it extra fun, you could go for a tent with a pop-up design, which is quick and easy to set up and often popular with those attending festivals.

Pitching the tent together can also be a nice way to get them involved, rather than treating it like a chore which makes you lament the loss of your hotel room space. Show them simple jobs like hammering in the pegs or laying out the sleeping bags, because this teaches your little ones some basic camping skills, and also gives them a sense of ownership over their little camping spot.

Setting A Small Campfire

Even though you’re just in the garden, a small, safe fire can add a nice ambiance to the experience. If you have a fire pit, great – use that. If not, you could opt for a portable version or even set up a little BBQ in place of a traditional fire, you can purchase them from shops. Either way, gathering around the warmth as the sun sets is bound to make the evening feel special. Just let your neighbors know out of courtesy if they’re close by.

This is a great opportunity to go over fire safety with the kids, even if it’s just a tiny one you’re having. You don’t need to make it a lecture of course, but explaining why it’s important to stay back and showing them how to handle the situation responsiblyly is wise, even if it’s just having some water on hand if needed, and also showing them never to throw water on a propane fire. Then you can show them why a fire is so fun, such as when roasting marshmallows, telling stories, or just enjoying the night air while you play your guitar. It’s a lovely experience to share with your kids and you don’t even have to travel for it.

Assigning At Least One Parent

Even if you’re just a few steps from the house, having one parent “on duty” is a good idea for convenience at safety’s sake. It’s not that you’re hovering with a watchful eye, but rather being there in case anything goes wrong, which even in a garden can happen. It’ll help the kids feel a little safer knowing that someone’s always nearby if they need help.

It’s also a chance for the parent to soak in the experience and prepare for your “real” camping trip if you decide to take one from that point on. You can see what may have been frustrating, such as the tent you’ve chosen requires a little more set-up time, or perhaps your one child felt scared in the night and wanted to come in – perhaps they need to be a little older before you go camping next time.

With this advice, we hope you can more easily and readily enjoy garden camping and experience it as a great adventure with your kids. It’s not only a cheap way to enjoy a free weekend, but it prepares them for a variety of different travel experiences in the future.