updated 6/17/21 This post contains affiliate links. Purchasing through these links does not cost you extra, but helps to support this website.
I got this text last night from a dear friend and I immediately smiled from ear to ear. This is exactly my dream goal: to be a resource for other families so that spending time outdoors & heading out on adventures is possible. Keep reading for my top FIVE camping gifts for kids that they will appreciate and USE!
So, while my dear friend was privy to multiple, rapid-fire, stream-of-consciousness responses, I wanted to share the same list, but in a curated format, with you too! These ideas actually are not just for kids, this list includes gifts for glampers of all sizes!
Table of Contents
Practical and appreciated, these are my best camping gifts for kids (and adults)!
1. Camp Chairs
Years ago, we kind of inherited a loveseat camping chair from my grandparents. They had barely used it and we had a firepit with nowhere to sit. It is SO comfortable and I’ve realized that I love sitting sideways on it during my morning coffee & book ritual. My girls and I will always choose to sit there over our individual chairs.
I also want to travel back in time and tell myself DO NOT WASTE MONEY ON YOUTH CAMPING CHAIRS! We have bought those adorable children’s camping chairs through each stage and never learned our lesson. Those tiny chairs tip over and while it’s nice for them to easily be able to sit down, the kids always preferred to crawl up into an adult-size chair.
When not lounging on the camp couch, I prefer a camp chair that lets me sit more upright. Friends of mine have the best camping chair with a side table that is so handy! Camping and snacking go hand-in-hand and I love the practical nature of having a small side table!
Recently when camping with our extended family, these rocker chairs were the most popular chairs around the campfire. It became quite the battle of trying not to have a reason to get up because then someone else would quickly claim the chair. Perhaps I need a nicer family! HA!
If you’re really looking to GLAMP your trip, this Camp Couch Set is swoon-worthy! In fact, it could easily go from patio to campsite!
2. ENO DoubleNest Hammock & Eno Atlas Straps
Again, trust me when I tell you that quality matters. I initially bought the girls inexpensive single hammocks and learned this the hard way. ENO’s are simply the best. The fabric is superior (and this is from a woman whose daughters swung her new ENO over/into a stump and put a huge hole in it. It survived!). Also, the double size is only a teeny bit more expensive and personally, I prefer that width even when I’m hammocking alone. I rarely get to hammock alone (no complaints there!).
I owned my hammock for a year and struggled with cumbersome bits of ropes and webbing to hang the hammock. Once I tried their Eno straps, I was hooked (see what I did there?). Now we immediately purchase the straps with each hammock. So worth it!
3. Slackline Kit
We first saw a slackline at someone else’s campsite. It was a single mom with a few kids and I immediately admired the woman. I always thought that slacklines were made by taking climbing webbing which is pulled tight around 2 trees through superhuman strength. Fortunately, she showed me that these kits come with ratchet straps and training/ hand lines. Mind=blown!
This is the EXACT kit we purchased and we have been really happy with it. We leave it out year round!
4. Petzel Kids Headlamp
Buy a good-quality headlamp! Super helpful for all Levels of camping! Playing flashlight tag, walking to the shower house, reading in bed, rummaging for snacks… Cheap headlamps can be really clunky, uncomfortable, and lose their charge quickly.
5. Rechargeable Walkie Talkies
Once again, I want to warn you away from buying the “kid” version. If your kids are anything like mine, these walkie-talkies are going to be dropped, abandoned, tossed, etc. However, they are SO worth it! Especially when you are camping at a campground. It’s so freeing to let your kids experience independence as they bike around the campground or walk to the playground without you! Knowing that they have a long-range and fully charged walkie-talkie might give you the peace of mind that you need to let them explore!
All of these items are GREAT camping gifts for kids whether you’re staying in a camper, tent camping from your vehicle, day hikes, or simply life at home (Levels 0-3)! As for backpacking or minimalist adventures, our kids would still take their headlamps and ENO hammocks (Level 4-5)! Check out this post for a few more gift ideas for your outdoor lovin’ kids!
What would you add to this list?
Each of these items are things we already own OR are as similar as I could find. Purchasing through our affiliate links does not cost you extra, but helps support this website & our family. Thank you.
