Entering new friends tents should always be at the discretion of the tent owner (there are no hard a fast rules), simple things though like your children informing you of either their intention to go to another tent or wishing to bring anyone to yours are standard parent practice anyway and just good manners. Removing shoes when entering someone elses tent(manners again), all high spirited activity is obviously more suited to the outside. When playing outside remember to respect other campers space, running in and out of people guy ropes or across their pitch obviously should be discouraged (unless you know the person and they have no objections).
Other than it's great opportunity for kids to experience the outside in a safe and fun environment.
If you have boys, then you don't need a bucket...take an empty (wide-mouthed) Lenor fabric conditioner bottle.
When they need a pee, there's enough room for them to pop their willies into the top of the bottle, and do what they need to (only works for wee, obviously)
Tip it out and rinse through the next day...and it still smells of a fragrant summer meadow!
I'd never camp without one!
(works for girls too, but in a more precarious-balancing-plastic-funnel-on-the-top kind of a way...)
I have a 6yr old and i try to camp on sites that either have a swimming pool or indoor play area nearby so that if bad weather lurks, he still has plenty to do. I also prefer having a playpark insitu, facilities for laundry, and evening curfew for all campers (nowt worse then hearing overgrown idiots chuckling away at drunken jokes at midnight, dont put up with neighbours sh*te, so not likely to on holiday)
I also ensure that the tesco clubcard vouchers are exch, arranged for suitable days out for the family, last year we used them at camelot theme park!
I have also taken along the nintendo ds and dvd player for evenings!
as for toilet runs, last year i was using pyjama shorts for my wee one (bed wetting -anxiety), this year i'm not sure if he'll still wear them! (dry overnight). Personaly wouldnt use any form of container unless it was single use only.
------------- weekend camping in Scotland anyone?
Faskally Meet, Near Pitlochry see forum Meeting up-Scotland
June - Glenmore camping, Aviemore :) gonna go kayaking!
On the tent entering theme, there are of course limits that you will set for your kids entering other folks tents..And of course limits for strange kids entering yours.
As a family..and now that I go solo, we always tried/try to interact in a positive way with the campers around us.
Out on the field playing frizbee/rounders etc we have had families/children join us...and have had some good times,our kids,and ourselves making friends with those around us. But we always had a limit to the interaction our kids had with others, and other children with ours.
That limit was usually reached when we felt(sometimes) that we were being used as a baby sitting service by some families...and as a surrogate mum and dad by some kids who(possibly because of their age and social skills) did not know when to go home.
I remember one time at Abington, two kids attaching themselves to our wider family group on the 1st day, making friends with our kids etc,having the odd drink/sandwhich etc in our tent...which was no real problem, But it got a bit much one morning when said kids appeared at our door just after breakfast..and we saw their family get in their car and disappear for the day without any prior arrangement with us???. And the kids would hang around waiting to be fed when we were having our BBQ/evening meal rather than be in their own tent/families company...
Yes there are limits that must be set when interacting with those around you, especially young children who's sense of camping etiquette may be less developed than your own. And YES we did have words with those particular parents on their return from a child free day out!!!!!
Jelboy.
------------- Campers of the storm,Into this world are born
Wow jelboy, I can't believe that! Who would leave 2 kids with people they didn't know for starters. And for seconds, who wouldn't check a) you were ok with it and b) you weren't clearing off for the day too. You have to wonder about some people approach to patenting!
Thanks for that little insight. I would love my boys to make a gang of friends and have a great time, but I don't want kids attaching themselves to us for the whole stay in such a full on manner. Mental note duly made :0)
Thanks for all the great tips, advice and insights. We're just planning our first-ever family camping trip with our 5 and nearly-3 year olds. I grew up caravanning, laterly with my own tent at the side, but hubby has only been camping once - it rained all weekend.
I just want to emphasise the importance of keeping warm at night. It is very difficult to get warm in a tent once you are cold. Make sure all of you, especially the kids put on fleeces, jogging pants etc , before dark and before it starts getting cold.
I just asked my boys (6 and 5) what they like taking and the answers were: rugby ball, football, torch, sandwiches and tomatoes!!??
I like a pile of magazines and lots of fleece blankets plus thermals and an eye mask. The best thing about camping with the boys is they tire themselves out so much they tend to put themselves to bed around 8 which is actually than easier than bedtime at home!
Have a lovely time x
------------- 2015 April: Polstead, Suffolk. May: Two Acres, Ely. Waveney River Centre and Whitehall Farm, Norfolk. Aug: Howstean Gorge / The Quiet Site / Fron Farm / Cae Du / Trevayne Farm - BOOKED!
Nothing to contribute because we're just about to start our camping with kids adventure with a 2yo and a 5mo
When I was a kid we stayed in a holiday house in a seaside town every year but we made friends with kids who came to the nearby caravan parks at the same time as us each year - wonderful memories!
-boggle- at the people that drove off and left their kids with you, jelboy. Told DH and he said he'd call the cops and tell them the kids appeared to have been abandoned. A chat with social services to retrieve their children when they got back would probably give the parents an attitude adjustment.
Subbing because it's a great thread with some great tips.
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Tips - first time with kids
(dry overnight). Personaly wouldnt use any form of container unless it was single use only. 
-boggle- at the people that drove off and left their kids with you, jelboy. Told DH and he said he'd call the cops and tell them the kids appeared to have been abandoned. A chat with social services to retrieve their children when they got back would probably give the parents an attitude adjustment.
