Written by Ella Woodward¦ Kids cannot wait for the summer holidays to arrive, but a lot of parents tend to dread them – at least a little bit. They get bored easily, and often you find yourselves spending a lot of time and money trying to keep them entertained. Sending them to a camp can really help to kill some time and provide them with some truly unforgettable experiences. For a lot of kids, this will be some of their first instances of being away from home, so you need to make sure they have everything they are going to need. Read on for packing advice.
The Bag
Firstly, you need to get them a bag. The size of the bag will depend on how long they are going to camp for; if it is only for the day, they’ll probably get away with a smaller bag like a backpack. If they are going for longer than this, then they might need a bigger bag. Portability and sturdiness are key too.
Clothes & Shoes
In terms of clothes, you will need to think about where they are going and what they will be doing. For example, if you are looking for children’s summer camps in the UK, then PGL has a range of options, and they detail the activities that the kids are going to do, which then gives you an idea of what you will need to pack for them.
The duration of the camp is also something to think about. In general, you will want to pack a mix of warm and cold-weather clothes. Pack an extra bag for them to store the dirty clothes in. They may also need pyjamas, and obviously, they will need underwear and socks and those types of things too.
You are likely going to send them wearing their trainers, but you probably should send them in their good trainers. They might also need just a pair of flip-flops or slides. If you can afford to – or you already have them – then a pair of hiking boots makes sense too.
Once you know what activities they are going to do, you can then pack the necessary apparel. They might need swim gear like a swimming costume or trunks. They might need old clothes that can get dirty or even potentially ruined too.
Miscellaneous Extras
You also are going to need to pack them a couple of towels; if they are going to be doing some water-based activities, then goggles, swimming caps and swim shoes could also be a good shout. If they are staying overnight, then a torch makes sense. Lastly, send your kid with a full water bottle. They can then reuse it throughout their time there.
Toiletries
In terms of toiletries, they’re going to need the basics:
- Toothbrush & toothpaste
- Shampoo & conditioner
- Soap
- Bodywash
- Hand sanitiser
- Wet wipes
- Tissues
- Sun cream
- Insect repellant
In Summary
Some summer camps do provide a packing list for parents, so if this is the case for you, then make sure you take that into account too. However, the above list is a great place to start, and you can customise it to the camp too.