I have wholehearted respect for parents who recoil from any notion of family camping. Camping with kids is no picnic. In fact, it sets out from where a good picnic leaves off, venturing from the brevity and civility of a blanket on the grass into the uncertain – and certainly precarious – waters of soggy towels, tangled guyropes, cramped quarters and midnight meltdowns.And yet a great many of us voyage these waters regardless, ardently asserting (to ourselves as much as others) that camping is good for the soul, for the imagination, and for instilling a foundational appreciation of the great outdoors.It seems that I am one of those parents. I don’t quite know why, as camping was far from an integral component of my own youth, but at some point I decided to subject my kids, now six and three (and my sceptical wife), to numerous nights under canvas; even a summer’s roam through European campsites two years back.Golden slumbers? A good sleeping bag is an essential for camping success with kids. Photograph: Matt Collins/The GuardianThese experiences have taught me that, beyond the essentials (tent, mats and sleeping bags, cookware and copious blankets), there are items that go some distance in making camping with kids less stressful. Among them are practical and organisational products, such as storage boxes and awnings, and distracting games and activities.Earlier this year, I took my six-year-old for a weekend camp at Holden Farm, within the green and glorious South Downs in Hampshire, so that the two of us could refresh our camping muscle memory before other planned trips.Here are the things that make tent life with my own little ones more enjoyable; recommendations made by other persevering parents; and some of the things you don’t need to spend money on.What to pack for camping with kidsToasting the good times: fireside marshmallows are a fail-safe way to get kids into camping. Photograph: Matt Collins/The GuardianCamping lanternAt the prospect of camping, the thing my six-year-old still gets most excited about is monopolising this particular torch. Multifunctional and rechargeable, it is many lights rolled into one: a main beam for navigating the late-night strolls, a sidelight for lighting the tent, and – should the worst happen – a flashing red emergency light. It’s large but surprisingly lightweight, allowing him to lead the way. Matt CollinsLED camping lantern£29.99 at B&QFoldable camping tableThis is the first thing we set up when camping with the children, so they can entertain themselves with colouring while the tent goes up. They can sit at it to eat their meals or just have somewhere to play or put toys or nature finds – it’s their space on the campsite. Hannah, HampshireLow camping table£19.99 at Trail£16.99 at AmazonStackable trugsYou need to have a bit of order in the tent to avoid it all becoming chaos and no one being able to find their socks. For this, stackable trugs come into their own. We put shoes, Crocs, walking boots etc into one; dirty washing-up into another; and use a third for clean utensils, plates, mugs etc. You could have as many as you want; they’re fantastic. Lucy, SuffolkSquare flexi-tub£10.95 at Tooled Up£11.05 at AmazonTent porch or awningTents can feel pokey once you’ve crammed everything – and everyone – in; adding a porch or awning gives you that extra eating, changing or storage space, especially in the dark evenings or if the weather’s bad. John, KentColeman classic awning£58.95 at Outdoor XLCamping shelterA bit of shelter for kids, separate from the stuffiness of the tent, is useful. A camping tarp can be a faff to erect on your own, but it’s nice once it’s up. Tom, BirminghamMultifunction tarp£44.99 at DecathlonEurohike shelter£100 at Blacks£100 at MilletsFlying discYou might hope (pray?) that nature, in its infinite diversity and wonder, will provide all the stimulation the little ones require. But just in case it doesn’t, it pays to bring along entertainment. A flying disc is camping 101. Hi-Gear’s soft-rimmed and easily flung one makes the throw and catch all the more straightforward for small hands. MC Flying disc£6 at Go OutdoorsCraft stuffWe pack a lot of crafting things, such as scissors and a glue stick, ribbons and different coloured cards. Often we scavenge items when we’re out and about so that we can make things back at camp. A few years ago, we invested in these Posca paint pens, and they are so brilliant. They’re excellent for painting on to stones, really vibrant acrylic paint colours. Easy to use, they last, and we really love them. Lucy, SuffolkPosca paint pens£23.99 at Ryman£29.95 at Cass ArtFamily gamesTrying to find outdoor games that you can play with adults and small children can be tricky, but friends of ours gave us Kubb. It has a low bar of entry (even toddlers, who love to lob a stick erratically), but enough challenge to keep everyone interested. It can be played in a smaller area than rounders or boules, but it will need a bit of space in the boot. Harry, CardiffKubb£22 at Jaques LondonWhen camping, kids still need downtime, so a good selection of card games is a good idea, particularly if it’s raining or when they’re waiting for food. Flip 7 is our favourite at the moment. Lucy, SuffolkFlip 7 card game£7.99 at John Lewis£4.89 at AmazonBooksBringing books on a camping trip may feel optimistic, but some titles can add to the experience in relaxing and active ways. A “things to spot” type of book can encourage kids to engage with the natural world, while other books bring it to life in the torch-lit quiet of the tent. MCBugs to Spot by Kirsteen Robson and Sam Smith£3.99 at the Guardian Bookshop£3.79 at AmazonThe Lost Spells by Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris£14.99 at the Guardian Bookshop£14.99 at WaterstonesFifty Things to Do With a Stick by Richard Skrein£12.99 at the Guardian Bookshop£8.47 at AmazonMarshmallowsSometimes marshmallows alone provide all the incentive kids need to get on board with a camping trip. For our most recent excursion, my son and I took along Epic Snax Co’s Giant Toastin’ Marsh-Mallows, which were all too easily jabbed on to a foraged stick and melted over the fire. MCGiant Toastin’ Marsh-Mallows, 300g£2 at Waitrose£2.50 at TescoVegan marshmallows, 140gskip past newsletter promotionafter newsletter promotion£1.55 at OcadoPortable digital microscopeA portable microscope is brilliant for when you don’t want your kids to have a smartphone. The Tomlov P10 is small enough to pop in a pocket, and they can zoom in on the details of insects and take photos. It’s fabulous if you’re a watcher of bumblebees returning to their burrows. Once home, you can download the pictures on to a laptop. Clare, HampshireTomlov P10 digital microscope£24.68 at AmazonChildren’s digital cameraMy son absolutely loves his little Groov-e digital camera; it was one of the first things he thrust into the weekend camping bag. The resulting images comprised mostly closeups of leaves and numerous compositions of me, mid-tent assembly. MCGroov-e kids digital HD camera£12.93 at Robert Dyas£20 at AsdaBird ID appMy son and I use the bird app Merlin ID wherever we go, which identifies nearby birds by their song and calls. Although it’s an activity using my phone, for him it still feels “in the moment”; he loves collecting new birds he hasn’t heard before. James, HertfordshireMerlin Bird ID appFree to download at All About BirdsScreen-free audio speakerYoto radios and their educational, story-telling and sleep-inducing Yoto cards have revolutionised our kids’ bedtime at home. In the unfamiliar environment of a tent, they can be a source of comfort for children, helping them drift off. Also, don’t forget Yoto’s Cooltime: Camp Songs Pack cards (£16.99). MCYoto Mini, 2024 Edition£59.99 at Yoto Play£60 at ArgosSleeping bag and matWhile a quality sleeping bag and ground mat are standard fare for a camping trip, the looping sleeve function of Big Agnes’s Wolverine 20 kids sleeping bag is worthy of a highlight. With the blow-up mat slotted through the sleeve, your child is prevented from wriggling off the mat in the night. On our trip, I found it worked brilliantly – the six-year-old remained comfortably in place, and the contoured hood and thick insulation ensured he was cosy throughout a chilly 4C night. MC Big Agnes Wolverine 20 kids sleeping bag£79.96 at Alpine Trek£99.95 at Little Adventure ShopBig Agnes Divide insulated sleeping mat£79.96 at Alpine Trek£89.95 at Little Adventure ShopCrocsWith children going in and out of the tent so often, Crocs make life so much easier, particularly at night, when putting on trainers or boots in a hurry can be such a faff. Zoe, HampshireKids’ Crocs classic clogFrom £9.99 at SchuhFrom £27.99 at CrocsSnuggly socksCamping can be quite cold at night. We encourage our kids to put warm socks on at bedtime because they sleep really well when they’re cosy in their sleeping bags, and then everyone benefits! Lucy, SuffolkPeter Storm boys’ midweight trekking sock, two pack£14 at Go OutdoorsPeter Storm girls’ midweight trekking sock, two pack£12 at Millets£12 at BlacksTick removerDespite letting the kids run feral, I do a good tick check when camping, as removal within 24 hours significantly lessens the likelihood of Lyme disease [which is on the increase in the UK: more information on the National Trust website]. Tick Twisters are good for removing ticks properly. Clare, HampshireTick Twister tick-remover tool£2.98 at Christies Direct, three tools£6.99 at Amazon, six toolsAnd lastly …BoozeCrucially, don’t forget to bring a bottle of wine. Or several … Harry, CardiffMorrison’s the Best wine collectionFrom £8 at MorrisonsDon’t bother with …Walkie-talkiesWalkie-talkies sound far more fun than they are in reality, which on a campsite inevitably means squabbles and disgruntled neighbours. MC Kids’ camping chairsThey rarely sit on a chair; they just want to sit on the floor! Jess, BirminghamTop TrumpsKids might love it, but it’s far too dull and boring for the adults. Lucy, SuffolkTrying to keep the kids too cleanPart of the joy of camping is letting them find their feral selves. A flannel, water and a small towel are ample! Clare, HampshireStomp rocketsEveryone will hate you. Kate, HertfordshireMatt Collins is a garden and travel writer, an enthusiastic camper, and head gardener at the Garden Museum in London