The Best Camping-Themed Toys for Toddlers and Preschoolers
Our girls LOVE camping. If they had the option, they’d probably go camping every week. But since we can’t go camping every weekend, we brought in some of the fun of camping into our home with camping-themed toys. (And if you’re trying to find ways to get your kiddo on board with the idea of camping in the first place, these toys can be a great way to sell them on the idea of camping out.) So from one camping-obsessed family, these are our absolute favorite camping-themed toys for toddlers and preschoolers.
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Pop-Up Camper
There’s nothing more fun than crawling in and out of your own pop-up camper. This is so beloved in our home that it’s not been put away in the past year because they play with it EVERY SINGLE DAY. My toddler and preschooler love hanging out in there- whether they’re playing camping with their baby dolls or they’re just reading some books in there- it’s well beloved.
We got this one and it’s held up fantastically (not even sponsored- this is genuinely the one I loved the most for my girls).
And a bonus- it came with a campfire that lights up AND makes sounds as well as a pretend smores making kit. It’s so awesome that even I- a self-proclaimed mom who STRUGGLES with imaginative play- enjoys it.
Melissa and Doug Camp Cookware Set
Melissa and Doug never let me down. This camp food set is so much fun. It comes in a self-contained bag and has all sorts of items to grill and cook over a stove. The cookware is adorable and nests inside of itself and actually looks like a real backpacking cookware set.
It’s great for pretending that we’re camping out (which is also a GREAT way to reduce any anxiety your kiddo might be having about camping).
It’s also authentic looking and it’s durable. We love it.
Melissa and Doug Nature Explorer
If your kiddo is big into pretend play with outfits and all, check out this set. It comes with a vest and then different items that a naturalist would use like a magnifying glass, tweezers, identification cards etc.
Even when we’re just in our own backyard, my preschooler loves putting on this vest and exploring nature.
Melissa and Doug Camp Music Set
What’s a campfire without some music? This camping music set from Melissa and Doug has a tambourine, a wooden harmonica, and some wooden percussion instruments. It’s perfect for my girls to sit around a campfire (real or pretend) and play music together. (Also- a bonus for me- nothing in it is that loud.)
Small World Camper Toys (Peppa, Mickey, Little People, etc.)
Preschoolers love small world play, and there’s no shortage of small world camping sets to pick from. Whatever your kid’s favorite character is- whether it’s Peppa Pig, Mickey Mouse, or you’re looking to add to their LIttle People set, there’s bound to be a camping set that’s right up their alley to let them set up a small camping world right in their own room.
We have the Peppa Pig camper van set and my preschooler LOVES it. For my toddler we got a Little People camper– it’s small but much more durable against toddler hands than the Peppa Pig set is.
Jr Ranger Toys
MasterPieces has a line of Jr Ranger games that are great for preschoolers (and older kids). We have the Chutes and Ladders board game and the Night Sky dominos and while they’re not directly related to camping- they’re camping adjacent.
Plus, while playing games about national parks, we can talk about parks that we’d like to visit and dream about where we’d like to camp one day- all things that can get kids excited about camping.
Closing Thoughts
I hope there’s something on this list for your camping loving toddler or preschooler. I know that my own toddler and preschooler have LOVED playing with these camping-themed toys and are some of the most loved toys in our home.
And if you’re looking for camping themed books for toddlers or preschoolers, check out my posts here:
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