Indoor camping with kids: Everything you need, from play tents to night lights

Holidays probably seem like a thing of the past for many of us. With a third national lockdown in place, we’re largely restricted to our homes and local area, with the chance of a getaway a mere pipedream.

But that doesn't mean you can’t try and bring a vacation vibe into your home.

We may not have the sun, but with some simple staging and a little imagination there’s no reason you can’t turn your living room into a cosy glamping experience that could be anywhere in the world.

We love this idea for little children especially (say from three-years-old), though it can be great fun for any age.

They might not actually spend the whole night “camping”. But, being at home, you can take them up to bed once they doze off for a comfy sleep in their own room.

But even staying up until after their usual bedtime will give them a sense of adventure and take them out of their routines, if only for a night. And that’s something lots of us could probably do with right now. Here’s everything you need to create the indoor camping experience at home.

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Camping indoors requires, naturally, a tent to make the experience authentic. But don’t worry, we’re not talking about the enormous, takes-threes-hours-to-assemble kind.

This play tent (£55.99, Wayfair) has a pretty prairie design on water-resistant cotton calico canvas, so you’ll be able to use it outside when the weather gets warmer.

Our tester of the best play tents of 2020 noted: “Assembly is straightforward and quick – as is taking it down again. Once folded up, it can be neatly stowed.” Bonus.

When we clapped eyes on this lovely little den kit (£40, Not On The High Street) we knew it was the perfect set for some glamping with the kids. 

It comes with tools to make an outdoor fort, which will come in handy in warmer months, as well as other essentials you can use indoors.

Our reviewer said: “Our little tester absolutely loved the tin cup and the camo face paints which are included too. The whole kit is an utter delight from start to finish – and the perfect starting point for camping holidays.” Or camping at home!

When we think of campside meals, we think of baked beans and sausages being cooked over an open fire.

But the great thing about this camping-at-home scenario is that you’re not too far from a kitchen.

This opens up options about what to eat while you have your adventure, and if you manage to think ahead, you could get the kids involved in making some “campfire” snacks.  

This lovely Usborne My First Cookbook (£12.99, Waterstones) has simple recipes in it that children can do with a little bit of help – some of which, we think, make some great camping meals.  

Our tester of the best kids’ cookbooks said: “We cooked the baked tomatoes – scooped tomatoes, filled with egg and seasoning, topped with parsley and baked in the oven. Our little chef found this all very exciting, and the little tomato ‘lid’ was the height of sophistication. We enjoyed seeing a whole vegetable being devoured with no fuss.”

Nothing says cosy like this wool velvet blanket (£58, Nordic Nest), available in a range of lush colours including a pale blue, avocado and this saffron yellow.     

Once the kids have had their food and are ready to settle down, throw it over them and watch them get sleepy! 

Our tester of the best wool blankets of 2020 described it as “soft and cosy”, adding: “It features a lovely bumpy honeycomb pattern, which adds to the arresting texture.”

This CloudB twilight ladybug night light (£17.50) has been a staple in our child’s bedroom for years, and throws a wealth of stars all over the room – perfectly evocative of a night camping outside.

It has three colour filters, so you can choose to see red, green or blue twinkles, and it’s become a nightly tradition to try and spot the moon crescent among the stars.

Or, to represent the moon shining brightly on its own, you might want to consider this stylish mini moon lamp (Amazon, £16.24), which made it into our round-up of the best night lights of 2020. 

Our reviewer said: “We love the simple design which offers a soft glow to a nursery or bedroom” – or wherever you’re camping, in this case.

Dim the lights and use a torch for a real campsite atmosphere. It will be handy while you read bedtime stories, and one of our favourites is this ThruNite torch (£35.99, Amazon), which featured in our guide to best torches.  

Our tester liked it for its range of brightness settings, noting: “We also really liked firefly mode, which is an ultra-low light, great for map reading or even checking in on sleeping kids at night.”  

For soothing nature sounds to give the feel of the outdoors, the Calm app has everything you need (free one week trial then £28.99/year).

Our tester of the best mindfulness apps said it has “rolling waves, pouring rain, crackling firewood or crickets”.

But there’s also a dedicated kids’ section which has bedtime stories and meditations to send them off peacefully to the land of nod. You can download it for iOS here and for Android here.

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