Festival Season is Almost Upon us – Are you Prepared?

Mums Tips

Travel with kids

Published on Friday, 29 March 2019 11:12

Last Updated on 29 March 2019

Monica Costa

0 Comments

I am not a camper but I love music festivals and outdoor gigs. Camping during the festival season can be an exciting experience, especially for young children as it means there is so much more space to explore. Taking the family on an outdoor festival in the wild may seem daunting. But with a little planning and expectation, you’ll be able to enjoy a stress-free camping trip. So, if you’re thinking about taking your little ones on a camping holiday, stay prepared and use this guide to help you.

Equipment

A couple of years ago I went to Cornbury Music Festival with my best friend and her two young daughters and we camped in a small tent – all four squeezed in.

The festival was great with Bryan Adams and Kaiserchiefs headlining but sleeping in the tiny tent left me really tired during the day.

That’s why I have since started looking at glamping options and have found out that actually the secret to a better festival experience is quite simple.

As a matter of fact, Gazebos provide the ultimate camping experience and while at Cornbury I saw really experienced campers building proper tents with gazebos that looked professional. These people and their kids seemed so comfy in their temporary outdoor accommodations and I was truly envious.

Pop up gazebos are used as extensions of the tents to provide more comfort and covered space during breaks in-between gigs. Typically, during the festival season weather conditions can be horrible, muddy and wet and I am a bit posh (wink) and hate all of that aspect of festivals except for the music.

For safety reasons it is important to have a pop-up marquee that is strong and completely waterproof to withstand the weather as well as UV resistant and flame retardant.

 

Bring clothing for all conditions

The British weather is famously unpredictable, so it’s best to pack for rain as well as for sun. Even if conditions are clear, temperatures will more than likely fall during the evening. This is why it’s a good idea to pack some jumpers just in case it gets chilly. Surprisingly, rain on your camping trip shouldn’t force you indoors. Camping is all about embracing nature so make sure your little ones can still enjoy being outdoors. The best way to do this is to pack rain suits to use if the weather changes.

Plan your meals

One thing that can turn a fun camping trip into a bad one is the lack of food. Plan your meals and snacks ahead of time to ensure you have enough to take with you. It’s a good idea to think about where you’re going to store the food. You may not want to bring lots of perishables, as you won’t have a cold enough place to safely keep it. Tinned food is a great option and don’t forget about the fruit and vegetables; they’ll be fine in outdoor conditions. If you want to be super prepared, you could pre-prepare some meals to take with you. This can be especially handy on the first night where you’ll be occupied trying to put up the tent.

 

Bring lots of entertainment 

Leave the technology at home and enjoy outdoor activities. Go back to basics with some old school games and bring with you equipment to play field games such as cricket, rounders or football. You could give your children a disposable camera so they can spend time snapping away and capturing some memories of their own. Pack a book on insects to help your little ones identify bugs on your woodland walks. For extra back up, bring colouring books and stories with you. These are great for calming the children down at the end of a busy day. 

 

Try to stick to a routine

Your little ones are bound to be fired up with excitement. There’s so much for them to explore and see, let alone all the noise of the music around them and that’s without the thought of sleeping in a tent. Try to stick to your normal routine to help maintain boundaries. An easy way to do this is around meal times. A bit of familiarity may comfort a nervous child in this unusual setting. You could pack your children’s favourite teddies or their favourite blankets to help them if they’re struggling to sleep.

Don’t over plan your schedule 

Although you may want to occupy your excited child with lots of activities, packing in too much to their daily schedule may overwhelm them. Do remember that one of the best reasons to go to a child-friendly music festival is to get a break from the school routines. If you take away the pressure of having to tick off everything on your to do list, you’ll feel more relaxed. Be leisurely with your family’s schedule to help make sure you can all spend quality time together doing activities you all enjoy.

With these essential tips, you’ll all be able to enjoy your festival camping retreat together.