Camping Safety Tips for Kids

Whether you’re a seasoned camper or just venturing out into the great outdoors for the first time as a family, the embrace of nature is an experience like no other - especially when shared with our children. Yet, as magical as these moments can be, ensuring our children's safety in the outdoors is paramount. At Outdoorithm, we've dedicated ourselves to empowering families with knowledge so you can camp with confidence. Here are some tried-and-tested safety tips, gained from years of camping with our own 4 kids, to ensure your little ones stay safe and sound while camping.

1. Educate About Wildlife

Before heading out, talk to your kids about the wildlife they may encounter. Teach them not to approach, feed, or attempt to touch wild animals (including smaller animals that may look harmless). A good rule of thumb is to "look with your eyes, not with your hands." If you want to help your kids explore further, we love Julia Rothman’s book Nature Anatomy. It has beautiful artwork and great, easy-to-read overviews about the birds, animals, plants, etc. that we encounter in the outdoors. [Note: I actually bought the book for myself but once the girls saw it…well, now it’s theirs 🤷🏽‍♀️] Read our post on Camping Activities for Kids for more ways to engage in the outdoors.

2. Stay Together

Emphasize the buddy system. No one, especially kids, should wander off alone. If they wish to explore, they should always inform an adult and take a buddy with them. Kids also shouldn’t wander up trails alone, ahead of the group and out of sight of adults. But in case they do, make sure they know to stop at any trail junctions to avoid getting lost (this actually happened once with two of our kids while we were hiking in Big Sur; it was a very populated trail and we were able to backtrack and find them but you can imagine it was a little scary for all involved).

3. Fire Safety

Campfires are quintessential to camping, but they also pose risks. Teach kids to maintain a safe distance from the fire, never to play near it, and ensure they know fire safety rules. Always keep a bucket of water or a fire extinguisher nearby.

4. Water Safety

If your camping spot is near a body of water, ensure your kids know the water safety rules. Always supervise them when they’re near water, and if they’re swimming or on rafts/inner tubes/kayaks, etc., make sure they're wearing appropriate flotation devices. Some parks explicitly require the use of flotation devices, even for adults, so be sure to check the rules.

5. Safe Food Practices

Keep all food items securely stored to avoid attracting wildlife. Teach kids not to eat anything they find in the wild, even if it looks like something familiar. This includes berries and mushrooms which can be easily mistaken but potentially harmful.

6. Insect Protection

Insects like mosquitoes and ticks can be more than just a nuisance; they can carry diseases. Ensure kids wear appropriate clothing and use insect repellent to avoid bites. Check for ticks at the end of each day. If we’re going to be in areas known to have significant bugs, we pre-spray our clothes with Permethrin. Read the label carefully to see if this is a good fit for your family.

7. Stay Hydrated and Protected from the Sun

Ensure your kids are drinking enough water throughout the day. Equally important is sun protection: apply sunscreen regularly and have them wear hats and sunglasses.

8. Teach Basic First Aid

Equip your kids with basic first aid knowledge. They should know how to treat minor cuts or scrapes, and more importantly, they should know when to call an adult for help. Here’s the first aid kit we use when we’re out camping. Check out our Camping with Kids Checklist to see what else we recommend bringing on family camping trips.

9. Establish a Safe Camp Zone

Set boundaries in and around your campsite. Define where they can and cannot go. This will help them understand their limits and keep them from wandering into potential danger zones. Have your kids memorize your campsite number so they can ask a ranger/camp host if they get turned around.

10. Night Safety

Equip each child with a flashlight or headlamp. Teach them not to wander around after dark, and if they need to leave the tent at night (e.g., to use the bathroom), they should always go with a buddy or inform an adult. We also like to put up string lights at our campsite (see picture below) to make it easier for our kids to find our campsite once it starts to grow dark. We like these Coleman String Lights because they have a soft glow and also won’t bug the neighbors 🔦

🌲 Embarking on a camping journey with children can be both exciting and a tad bit daunting. As parents and guardians, our role is to provide them with the tools and knowledge to navigate this environment safely. With the right knowledge and safeguards in place, the vast outdoors transforms into a place of boundless wonders and discovery for the whole family. So here's to starry nights, the thrill of new trails, and the shared stories that will echo for years to come.

Read our Ultimate Guide to Car Camping for more tips and ideas. Happy camping!

Join our email list to get more resources and tips to help your family camp with confidence!

We respect your privacy.

Some of our blog posts include affiliate links. If you choose to purchase with those links Outdoorithm may receive a small commission. Thank you for supporting our work.