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I know this is a topic that will have been discussed many times but here we go anyway!

What toy's/games do you take for the little ones?  We have all the usual stuff for indoors, coloring books, pens and board games and the like.  What other bits do you lot get up to in the great outdoors?

Looking forward to hearing some ideas!

Steve

ps

My little girl is four!

Swingball for definite, we have one of the ones in 2 boxes that makes a volleyball net with a volleyball/football and shuttlecock, all the games in one.  Usually take boules too but they never seem to get played with.  Bikes if I can find the room. 

Kate

I bought my two a Playmobil camper van for last holiday, and it was a huge sucess. (You can`t be too anal about losing bits though.)

I find a Walkman or CD player each plus story tapes/cds invaluable. A football, digging things if you`re going anywhere with sand, box of general lego, couple of dolls/stuffed animals etc. I`ve amassed some pretty good camping things for our Barbies!

If you`re on a long trip and have EHU, consider an in-car DVD player that you can also use inside the tent. I have a deep disapproval of this sort of stuff on camping holidays but for rainy evenings it has no equal, alas.

Just don`t take bubbles. You`ll be lynched...bubbles settling out on canvas ruins the waterproofing.

DVDs, PS2s, Xbox...... but no electricity! ha

Seriously, one thing that works really well with ours is walkie-talkies. You can get quite simples ones, which mean they can have a wander (mine are 8 and 10) and still keep in touch with base... or just play spies, secret agents...

We were away last summer and the wee boys in the next tent had a police dressing up outfit with walkie talkies, truncheons, handcuffs etc.

Not a toy I would have thought of for my 3 girls but they had a blast - all the kids on the site were playing cops and robbers from 3 year olds to 11 year olds.  The wee guy took it serious as he even had a real german shepherd pup!

It was a great trip they met  pals and were amused for hours - till it was too dark to catch the robbers!  It was a must as a christmas pressie this year and will be first thing in the toy bag on our next trip. Kids get on well if there are new friends to meet, in case there are no other kiddies around a good old football or bats and balls never goes wrong, something you can all play. 

Shirley x

In the camper van I have an overhead storage compartment which is jam packed with things for the kids.  Usual like crayons, colouring books, games, frisbee, cricket bat and ball, fold up basket ball net, craft kits (to make bracelets, etc).  Also take bikes, scooters, rollers skates. 

To be honest though - all of these things rarely get used as my kids just go and play either with other kids, on the play area or with their own imagination which is a far better toy than anything I can pack in the van!

 a 'parachute' is great fun like this one  early learning centre sell them.

 and if the weather is good an inflatable (small) paddling pool, neither take up much room.

dependant on age, travel games and a pack of cards, connect 4, guess who, cluedo etc are great. We take a lap top to watch dvds before bed if it is cold, wet, dark.crayons and loads of paper are great. If it nice weather they tend to amuse themselves outside. Books to read, puzzles to make or colour as well. Small soft ball to play with so they cant cause damage near the tents. Little lad likes small figures or animals to play out in the grass. Last year got a pocket kite for a £1, had loads of fun with it.

We only went away for the weekend I took swing ball, that kept my 2 amused they were 5 and 1.

This year we are going away for a fortnight so going to take board games, swing ball, football, plus various other bits. I'm hoping that they will make some friends and not get bored too easy

last summer at howgill lodge, my 2 and my nephew made friends with 2 other boys, they played each other at swingball, fish with playing cards, travel monopoly and on gameboys.  Used everyone's toys, shared very well and had a great few days.

Kate

Some great ideas guys!  Thank very much!

Steve