Seven Things You Need to Start Backyard Camping

My daughter finally broke the generational curse. When I was a kid, my parents sometimes put up a tent in the backyard so we could play in it, but we were never brave enough to spend the night there. It was the same with my older children. But when the little one insisted on actually camping out in our backyard this week—with me, of course—we really made it.

Backyard camping is an experience your child will find really special, and also a great way to test drive if you’re thinking of taking them on a real camping trip someday. (Optional: If you have older kids who want to invite a friend over for a sleepover, you can keep them out of your house with the promise of a cool/fun/exciting camping trip.) However you do it and why, here are the basics you need to nights on the Small Open Air.

Tent

You need a tent, of course. If you buy one, remember that a “4 person” tent can only fit four people if you’re very comfortable with each other, so get a larger tent than you think you’ll need.

Choose a level spot in your yard, and if you can’t find a perfectly level spot, plan to sleep with your head on higher ground. Set up your tent in daylight and remember that you will likely be making your way between your house and tent in the dark, so make sure the path is clear. Another consideration I didn’t think of until we tried it: if you’re near a road, the car headlights will illuminate the tent every time they drive by. Choose your site carefully.

If there is a chance of rain, use a raincoat or drape a tarp over your tent as an extra roof. And if the bottom of your tent isn’t waterproof, put a tarp under your tent so it doesn’t soak up moisture from the ground. Fold it so that the tarp does not stick out from under the tent.

• For something you can use in your backyard and on a real camping trip, try this Coleman dome tent , which comes in 2, 4, and 6 person options.

Brush and dustpan

Children will climb in and out of the tent playing in it. Make it a rule not to walk in the tent with shoes on, but also bring a brush and a dustpan so that you can sweep up the dirt that will inevitably get inside.

• Here is a basic set of brushes and scoops .

Inflatable mattress

Yes, I’m old. If I were on a camping adventure, I would sleep on a thin pillow and tell myself it was worth it. But if it’s a weekend evening and I want to go back to my normal business in the morning, I’d like to be at least a little comfortable, please.

If you have a king or queen size air mattress, you can use it to cover the entire bottom of the tent. (Tip: blow it up after you put it in the tent.) We only had a double mattress, so I told my kid it’s for me , an old man , and she can sleep on the ground.

I will give you three options here:

• A lightweight foam pillow that kids will be fine with and that you can take with you on your next real hike.
• Standard air mattress that can be inflated with a hand pump .
• A double height air mattress that inflates itself , which is great if you can find a place to hook it up. I had to carry mine from home, which led to the hilarious photos you see above.

Comfortable pillows

There’s no reason to settle for a rolled-up sweatshirt under your head when the house, with all its comfortable pillows, is right next to you . Large, comfortable pillows are one of the best travel upgrades you can make , and doubly so for backyard camping.

• I’m not giving you an Amazon link here, you lazybones. Take a pillow from the bed.

Sleeping bags and/or blankets

It will be colder than you think. (At least that was the case during our walk.) Dress in layers so you can put on or take off your hoodie in the middle of the night. And make sure you have a warm sleeping bag or a suitable blanket. Your child will abort the mission if they are uncomfortable.

• Here’s a mummy-shaped baby sleeping bag that’s good for temperatures up to 30 degrees Fahrenheit . Make sure they know they can pull up the hood to keep warm – it really does matter.
• Here is a good option for adults , which drops to 20 degrees.
• And if you’re not sure if your sleeping bag will be warm enough, get a sleeping bag liner . You can also use it instead of a sleeping bag if the night is warm.

Battery for phone charging

Look, this isn’t some “pass out in nature” bullshit. You will need your phone as an alarm clock in the morning and/or to check the time when it starts to get light and you can’t sleep. (Just deal with it, for once you can wake up early.)

Since you won’t be plugging your phone into a wall charger while out in the yard, bring a portable charger with you to make sure it doesn’t run out of power in the morning.

• Here is a typical portable charger .

Flashlight

Children love flashlights. When you go to the tent before bed, they can take it with them to light the way. (Then you’ll also have this for any emergencies in the middle of the night.) If you want to make the night really special, also get a lantern that you can hang on top of the tent to read a book before bed. To.

• Here is a cute little flashlight for a child to carry around.
• Here is a battery operated mini flashlight .