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We have two girls - 8 & 3 - and the first thing we do is to put up the lilos and they play 'gymnastics' on them for an hour while we put the tent up. The older one also has a couple of specific jobs which she loves to do each time e.g. erecting the table, getting the dishes/plates sorted, fixing up the gas and mains electrics . They also love to 'help' by following me around with the peg bag. We have always found that getting them involved passes their time more quickly. I would hate to lock them in the car - we get away to 'get away' from the TV, walls, windows etc.

Our 2 children were 4 and 2 when we first went camping - I thought put them in car and tell them not to come out. Bad idea - they decided to play with the lights and central locking! After 2 days of great camping - packed car up, and had a flat battery!

After that I didn't let them in car just put them on a picnic rug with lots of games/food/ drinks or asked them to do something like count pegs and pass to mum and Dad.  If the water tap was near they would go and get some water - bit of a wet job though.  Now they are 7 & 9 so explore the campsite and find  the playarea asap.

I did have an idea to buy a toy hammer for our 2-3yrold to "help" pegging out! I've not got round to it so it may be a dvd in the car and hope the baby sleeps.

I used to think a dvd was too extravagent but got one just befroe Christmas. Both our parents are 4-5hrs drive away. Our daughter will be content for max 2.5hrs (incluing a sleep) and then it's whinging and crying all the way. Now we have the dvd the jounreys seem so much shorter even though they aren't. No stress or tears from anyone!

I wish I'd thought of a toy hammer...When we first bought our tent we were having a practice pitch and my 2 year old was desperate to "help" so we tried the "hand out the tent pegs" approach which of course ended up scattered all over the grass, I bent down to pick them up, bringing my head down to her level and she spotted something to hit with the mallet.  Good job it's a rubber one!

Now she's five and is a fully trained air bed pumper/jumper! She's also great at walking the pitch looking for stones/sticks etc. She'll also keep the baby amused who's strapped in the buggy.  A small reward (bribery) goes a long way too.

My two are 14 and coming up to 12 and have their jobs to do when camping. Son helps us put the tent up and then pegs it out with OH, whilst daughter inflates the airbeds and help me move everything into the tent.

I think a portable DVD player would be a good idea, as would be a picnic mat with some puzzle/colouring books. You caould give them a sketch pad and ask them to draw pictures of you putting the tent up. I know one woman tells her kids the picnic blanket is a raft at sea and they haven`t to leave the blanket or the sharks will get them! They have great fun `paddling` the raft, bailing out water with a toy bucket and looking for shore!

Thanks everyone for sharing your suggestions.  With so much of all this it will be trial and error.  Yes, we could go out and buy every possible piece of kit under the sun but I suppose after a few camping trips we will work out what is more useful and essential.

Most of the time I am excited about the prospect of camping but then I have these "Oh no, what have we done" moments!  Lets just hope the fears and concerns will fade away with the sunshine ................... now thats another issure, rain and camping; aarrrrrggggghhhhhh!

Thats why i bought the tent we did as i can put it up on my own and hubby clears off with the kids for a while.My children are 9yr 8yr 6yr 4yr 2yr and a week old so looking forward to having an hour to myself in 14 days time when we are going camping and hubby takes children off round the site when im busy with tent lol.

julesrush

ours are now 6 & 4. they help by sitting on corners ( not always necessary but it makes them feel useful & we can see where they are! ) and dishing out pegs .

other than that i let them feed the dog or play with a ball

Hi,if you choose your site carefully and ask for a pitch next to a play park they can play and you can see them.My son is 2 and he stayed with his sister  who is 5 and they were only 20 meters away from where we were so they were fine.They wouldnt have stayed in the car to watch a dvd after being strapped in there for the journey, espeically when the can see the park.

Jayne.

Hi everyone

I've just joined the forum and now going through all the topics - this one is so funny but very true.  I've a lazy 12 year old that doesn't do anything but scarper when we get on site and a 2 year old - gosh it is hard sometimes but after reading all your ideas I think this time at Spring bank will be great.

Hey and talking about best holidays my kids or should I say my eldest and his 2 cousins both said camping at Woodlands Leisure park in Devon two years ago as been the best holiday ever and they've been to Mexico since in a flash hotel!

We have been camping with our smallest DS since he was 6 months, he is now 4 1/2.  When he was smaller, he used to stay in his car seat or buggy until we had pitched, now he has his lunch sitting on a chair and then helps with the pegs.  As soon as the tent is up, I sort his pod first, then he plays with his toys, that are kept purely for camping, so are like new each time.

For our first camping trip in June we have convinced some friends to come along with us (they are familiar with camping!) so now we can leave Dad's to put the tents up whilst Mum's go off with the 4 children and explore the site.

I think the key is to "train" the children that, along with most things in life, it can be fun as long as they are sensible as do as they are told ..................!  Easier said than done but I am sure they will learn quickly that if they let Mum and Dad get on with getting the tent up, the quicker they will be able to play and have our attention.

I'll let you know in a few weeks how my theory fails!

we always try to plan our travel to arrive at 12,ish lunchtime

we put up sandwiches and fruit treats for the kids(ours are 5 and 2) and give them lunch still in their car seats, it keeps them out of the way for 20 mins or so, this is long enough to get the frame and canvas  up, if they are still quiet we leave them there, if not we show them the new small toy we have bought them just for camping(only a little toy that we kept secret) if that does not work my mrs normaly takes them for a look around site while i peg tent down and lay groundsheets/ and put bedroom pods in....after that they can help fetch things into tent from car(after ive got tent up and pegged down i dont care how car gets emptied

i look at it that i have built the nest then i leave it to mrs to furnish it  she puts all the curtains up and roof liner ect and sets tables ect just where she likes them i set cooker up just where and how i like