Camping
Beat the chill
Keeping warm at festivals
by Lisa Mills
One of the issues that comes up time and time again when I speak to parents considering a first festival with a child or baby is the fear of whether they’ll be able to keep them warm.
Family Camping Packing List
Here is our ultimate family camping packing list. You can also a printable version at the bottom of this page.
Of course all families’ needs are different, so we have included an editable version for you to download and adapt for your own family.
We hope you find this useful!
Building a fire
One of my favourite things about festivals is sitting round a campfire on a cold evening watching the flames. Jacket potatoes taste amazing when cooked in a real wood fire. Children love to toast marshmallows and poke the flames with sticks, and it helps them to learn about fire safety.
In my previous post I went through the equipment that is useful to have to cook on a fire. In this one I have provided a simple step by step guide to building and lighting one.
Building a fire is an essential survival skill and is great fun for kids too. My children enjoy collecting tinder, kindling and firewood among the trees. They appreciate the responsibility at being allowed to help light the fire.
Managing it and helping keeping it lit gives them a respect for fire. Of course close supervision is still necessary but leaving a child ‘in charge’ of keeping the fire going can be great for their confidence too.
Festival sleeping know how
OK, so you’re pretty unlikely to have a great night’s sleep at a festival. Even in the family or quiet sleeping areas there will be unfamiliar noise, your bed is not going to be as comfortable as home and your children will still wake up well before you are ready to get up.
But there at least are things you can do to improve your chances of getting some rest… Read more…
How to choose the ideal camping pitch
Long gone are the days when I used to turn up to a festival with a two-man tent and a backpack, pitching at the first point I came across a friend or when the backpack got too heavy!
The Best Camping Chairs for Festivals
Comfort or practicality? Can you have it all?
Packing for a festival with kids can be a bit of a military operation. Weighing up what you can fit in the car and physically carry versus what you’d ideally like to take is a real balance. Luxury items like camping chairs can sometimes find themselves abandoned in the hall while parents frantically try and cram the last pillow on the parcel shelf as the kids go crazy in their seats.
Read more…
Festival Camping Gear & Gadgets
Remember the days when festival kit meant a tent, a sleeping bag and, if you’d really made the effort, some patterned wellies? When you could get 5 adults and all your gear into a two door Ford Fiesta? Well, if you’re like me, then the arrival of kids has changed all that. I now tend to start the festival season staring at the pile of equipment and gadgets and wondering which child I’ll have to leave behind if I’m going to fit it all in our seven seater car.
Going Solo – Why Should Single Parents Miss Out?
Last year at Blissfields we happened to be camping near some single parents having a fantastic time and by the end of the festival we were all great friends.
So what do you do if you’re a festival-loving person and you don’t have a partner, or if your partner hates camping and refuses to go with you? Do you give up on festivals? I know if you love festivals as much as we do here at Festival Kidz that is simply not an option. Read more…
Inflatable Tents Guide
Festival season is still a few months away, but if like me you’re already dreaming of cider in the sun and kids dancing themselves silly this is probably a good time to start thinking about camping kit and keeping an eye out for last season bargains.
In 2015 our big kit purchase was an inflatable tent – and we loved it! Read more…
Flags and Windsocks Guide
Spinners, flags and windsocks are fun and colourful. They can help your children find their way back to your tent, as well as brightening up your festival pitch.
They are also fantastic if you are arranging to meet up with friends at the festival. Just tell them the rough location of your tent and which flag to look out for!
There are many different designs on the market. You can choose something special for you and your family, depending on your budget. Read more…
Beat the chill
Keeping warm at festivals
by Lisa Mills
One of the issues that comes up time and time again when I speak to parents considering a first festival with a child or baby is the fear of whether they’ll be able to keep them warm.
Building a fire
One of my favourite things about festivals is sitting round a campfire on a cold evening watching the flames. Jacket potatoes taste amazing when cooked in a real wood fire. Children love to toast marshmallows and poke the flames with sticks, and it helps them to learn about fire safety.
In my previous post I went through the equipment that is useful to have to cook on a fire. In this one I have provided a simple step by step guide to building and lighting one.
Building a fire is an essential survival skill and is great fun for kids too. My children enjoy collecting tinder, kindling and firewood among the trees. They appreciate the responsibility at being allowed to help light the fire.
Managing it and helping keeping it lit gives them a respect for fire. Of course close supervision is still necessary but leaving a child ‘in charge’ of keeping the fire going can be great for their confidence too.
How to choose the ideal camping pitch
Long gone are the days when I used to turn up to a festival with a two-man tent and a backpack, pitching at the first point I came across a friend or when the backpack got too heavy!
Festival Camping Gear & Gadgets
Remember the days when festival kit meant a tent, a sleeping bag and, if you’d really made the effort, some patterned wellies? When you could get 5 adults and all your gear into a two door Ford Fiesta? Well, if you’re like me, then the arrival of kids has changed all that. I now tend to start the festival season staring at the pile of equipment and gadgets and wondering which child I’ll have to leave behind if I’m going to fit it all in our seven seater car.
Inflatable Tents Guide
Festival season is still a few months away, but if like me you’re already dreaming of cider in the sun and kids dancing themselves silly this is probably a good time to start thinking about camping kit and keeping an eye out for last season bargains.
In 2015 our big kit purchase was an inflatable tent – and we loved it! Read more…
Family Camping Packing List
Here is our ultimate family camping packing list. You can also a printable version at the bottom of this page.
Of course all families’ needs are different, so we have included an editable version for you to download and adapt for your own family.
We hope you find this useful!
Festival sleeping know how
OK, so you’re pretty unlikely to have a great night’s sleep at a festival. Even in the family or quiet sleeping areas there will be unfamiliar noise, your bed is not going to be as comfortable as home and your children will still wake up well before you are ready to get up.
But there at least are things you can do to improve your chances of getting some rest… Read more…
The Best Camping Chairs for Festivals
Comfort or practicality? Can you have it all?
Packing for a festival with kids can be a bit of a military operation. Weighing up what you can fit in the car and physically carry versus what you’d ideally like to take is a real balance. Luxury items like camping chairs can sometimes find themselves abandoned in the hall while parents frantically try and cram the last pillow on the parcel shelf as the kids go crazy in their seats.
Read more…
Going Solo – Why Should Single Parents Miss Out?
Last year at Blissfields we happened to be camping near some single parents having a fantastic time and by the end of the festival we were all great friends.
So what do you do if you’re a festival-loving person and you don’t have a partner, or if your partner hates camping and refuses to go with you? Do you give up on festivals? I know if you love festivals as much as we do here at Festival Kidz that is simply not an option. Read more…
Flags and Windsocks Guide
Spinners, flags and windsocks are fun and colourful. They can help your children find their way back to your tent, as well as brightening up your festival pitch.
They are also fantastic if you are arranging to meet up with friends at the festival. Just tell them the rough location of your tent and which flag to look out for!
There are many different designs on the market. You can choose something special for you and your family, depending on your budget. Read more…