Being prepared for your camping trip will make all the difference to everyone’s enjoyment levels.  Create a comprehensive list that you can reuse each year and you will never get caught out without the right equipment.
Invest in comfortable mattresses.  If you are in a tent you will appreciate one of the excellent camping mattresses that are now on the market.  Many of these our self inflating and pack down easily so will not take up too much space in your car.
Pack a first aid kit.  Look online for a list of ideal things to pack in a first aid kit.  Some of these lists are very extensive so you might choose to minimize on a few items.  This will save you a mad dash to find supplies if someone is not feeling well or is hurt.
Pack lots of outdoor games the whole family can get involved in.  Favourites could include a Frisbee, football, swing ball and kite flying.  Bring some creative activities.  You might collect some nature items and create a collage to help remember your holiday.  Children love treasure hunts.  Join up with some other families on the campsite and set a treasure hunt out for them.
If you are planning on having a barbeque please check with the campsite owner first.  Whilst the disposable barbeques appear convenient they are not always the easiest to light.  There are a number of good portable and reusable ones on the market that are very good value and much better for the environment.  Make sure you do not scorch the grass by placing some stones underneath the barbeque.
Don’t forget your torch.  Children love playing with these so invest in fun ones for them.  For yourself consider a head torches.  They work well as they keep your hands free for doing other things such as food preparation.
Be prepared for all weather.  Camping can still be fun in the cold and wet as long as you have the right equipment.  Wet weather gear, umbrellas and boots will keep the rain at bay.  Even the warmest days can turn into cold nights so pack the gloves and your woolly hats.  You may well find yourself sitting outside the tent waiting for the children to fall asleep so you will glad of these extra layers.
Pack your earplugs.  If you are a light sleeper this will help you get the sleep you need.  You will be in reasonably close vicinity to your neighbours with only canvas or a thin wall between you.  It is not much fun listening to a neighbour talking or coughing for most of the night.
Research your destination and remember to book early.  You will be surprised how busy some campsites get and there is nothing worse than turning up to a full campsite.  Most sites have comprehensive websites so you are able to get a real feel for the facilities they have to offer.  For personal recommendations, search for ‘camping forums’ in a search engine.  Here you will find lots of campsite reviews and recommendations and you could start your own thread and list your needs for your holiday.  You will be surprised at how active some of these sites are and with many helpful the members.
Children love camping, and will hold these memories dear to their heart as they grow up.  However things can go wrong and you might find they never want to camp again.  So make sure you get it right when you take your family camping this year and they will be keen to keep going for years to come.  Here we have some top tips that will help your camping trip run smoothly.