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What you and your kids will love at the campsite
What you and your kids will love at the campsite
- Doing things together – Activities that bring the family closer together and let you forget, even for a while, how busy life at home can be.
- Water fun nearby – Swimming, splashing, and sliding down the water slide together on warm days.
- Free play and discovery – Children can explore at their own pace, try new things, and build confidence.
- Enjoying time together – Eating at the picnic table, playing games in the awning, and long summer evenings together.
- Setting your own pace – A relaxed holiday where you decide how your day unfolds.
Camping with children by age and stage
Camping with a baby is all about enjoying the little things and being outdoors together. While your child lies comfortably in the shade or discovers the world from their baby carrier, you can relax and truly enjoy nature.
Camping with a toddler becomes more active – and more exciting. At this stage, children want to run, explore, touch and try things out. A well-organised, safe campsite with little traffic provides the ideal setting for this. Playgrounds and grassy areas invite them to explore, while you can keep a close eye on them.
For children aged four to twelve, camping is often one big adventure. They explore their surroundings independently, quickly make new friends, and enjoy themselves in the playground, the swimming pool, or with the entertainment team.
Camping changes when you have teenagers: they want more independence and a space of their own. Camping offers exactly that balance between freedom and spending time together. Sports activities, games, and places to hang out with others their age make the holiday enjoyable for older children too.
Top destinations for kids
Holiday ideas for camping with children
The wide sandy beaches along the Dutch coast – from Cadzand,Zoutelande and Scheveningen all the way north to Duinoord– offer plenty of space, fresh sea air, and a wonderfully relaxing atmosphere. Walks along the promenades and through the dunes are especially enjoyable with a baby, with the gentle sound of the waves adding to the calm.
Brittany is perfect for little ones: short walks along sandy beaches, gentle dunes to explore, and quiet coastal paths make for easy days outdoors. Playgrounds, shallow tidal pools, and colourful fishing villages add variety, while castles and small harbours spark curiosity. Every day feels like a tiny adventure in a safe, relaxed setting.
Lake Garda is ideal for families with primary-school-aged children: cycle along the Peschiera promenade, enjoy the thrills of Gardaland theme park, relax on child-friendly beaches, and explore medieval castles.
Camping with teens in the Ardèche is all about adventure and activity in the great outdoors. Kayaking on the river, rock climbing, or mountain biking through the forests gives them a sense of freedom and challenge. A canoe trip on the Ardèche adds that extra excitement: paddling past cliffs, tackling small rapids, jumping into the water, and stopping on a pebbly beach. For many teens, this is the highlight of the week – adventure, a little challenge, and lots of fun together on the water.
No strict schedules, no rush to be on time for breakfast like in a hotel. Just being in the outdoors, cooking together, roasting marshmallows and falling asleep tired but satisfied at the end of the day. At a child-friendly campsite, something happens that is often difficult at home: quality time together.
The advantages of camping with children
Camping often ties in well with what children need. At a campsite, they have plenty of space to freely explore and follow whatever catches their interest. Instead of sitting still at the table, they are off on a journey of discovery: to the playground, cycling along the paths on the campsite or making new friends.
Many child-friendly campsites also have limited traffic or are even (almost) completely car-free. This gives you, as a parent, extra peace of mind. You don't have to be constantly alert and are able to really relax yourself.
Nature as a playground
When camping, nature becomes one big adventure playground. Whether you are in the forest, by a lake, in the mountains or by the sea, being in the outdoors automatically becomes the highlight of the day. Children build huts, look for sticks, spot animals, count stars and enjoy marshmallows by the campfire.
The social aspect is also important. It's easy to make contact at a family campsite. While your children make new friends, you can chat with other parents. Friendships are often formed that last for years.
Flexible holidays
One of the great advantages of camping is the freedom it offers. You set your own pace:
- Breakfast in your pyjamas in front of the caravan
- A spur-of-the-moment afternoon at the beach
- Early to bed with the little ones
- Or grabbing an ice cream at sunset
The holiday adapts to your family – not the other way around. Especially in a time full of schedules, appointments and screen time, camping is a great way to really be together again.
Special facilities at a child-friendly campsite
Child-friendly campsites are fully equipped for families. That means less hassle and more relaxation for you.
Typical facilities include:
- Craft and creative workshops
- Kids entertainment
- Sports tournaments and outdoor games
- Children's swimmingpools, shallow bathing areas or waterparks
- Adventure playgrounds
- Mini disco or evening shows
and at some campsites even:
- Small animal park or pony rides
- Youth club or chill-out area
Many campsites also have age-specific clubs, such as mini, kids' and teen clubs. This way, every child feels at home.
Camping with children: for every stage of childhood
What’s suitable for your child often depends on their stage of life, their needs will change and a camping holiday will look very different. Here is an overview:
Babies and toddlers (0–2 years)
With the little ones, comfort is key. Consider the following:
- Sanitary facilities with changing area
- Facilities for washing baby clothes
- Quiet pitches
- Shaded areas in summer
- A spot close to the sanitary facilities
A mobile home or furnished safari tent can be extra practical at this stage.
Preschoolers and primary school children (3–6 and 7–11 years)
This is the perfect age for camping. Children at this stage love:
- Playgrounds they can get to on their own
- Entertainment programmes
- Swimming pools with various depths or waterslides
- Treasure hunts and nature activities
- Cycling around the campsite
- A well-organised, small to medium size campsite with clearly marked play areas is ideal for this age group.
Teenagers (12–17 years)
Teenagers want freedom, but also challenges. Important factors include:
- Sports facilities (football, beach volleyball, water sports)
- Reliable Wi-Fi
- Special activities for teenagers
- Meeting places for young people
- Adventurous activities such as canoeing, climbing or mountain biking
Camping gives teenagers more independence than a hotel holiday, while still allowing the family to get together.
Practical tips for a relaxing camping holiday
- Bring plenty of spare clothing
- Don't plan too much
- Don't forget your favourite cuddly toy
- Remember good sun protection
- Build in moments of rest
With children the key is often to plan less and enjoy more. One highlight a day is usually plenty.
Memories for life
Many adults still smile when they think back to their first camping holiday: the campfire, new friends from other countries, the feeling of freedom. They often still remember a few foreign words they picked up during their camping days. And that’s exactly what it’s all about.
Laughing together. Meeting new people. Living outdoors. Having time for each other.
If you choose a campsite that suits your childrens needs, your camping holiday will not just be a holiday – it will be an experience that your children will talk about for years to come.
