Silly "Is it us or them" thing...

ok- so we live in NJ, not far form Delaware Water Gap. every year, one of our friends (who doesn't have kids yet) sets up a night of camping at a group site at one of the state parks. Its a place with no real toilets (just outhouses), no water hook-ins, no pool, no playground--- just nature HAHA
We didn't stay the night, just because with 2 kids its a lot of stuff to pack just for one night... we went to have dinner and s'mores by the fire.

ANYWAY-- there were about 8 kids there. we were there from late afternoon until 8:30 or so. NOT ONE of the other parents brought a single thing for their kids to do.... not even a ball to kick around. my boys are 3 and 6-- and ACTIVE-- they need stuff to do. So we brought a whole bin of balls, frisbee, one of those stomp rocket things, some Duplo blocks..... and i kind of felt like our friends were looking at us like we were a little crazy, for some reason. At one point the frisbee went behind some bushes and my husband went to get it and my one friend was like "You're better than I am- i would've just told them too bad!" meanwhile her kids were the ones enjoying the toys we brought the most!!
I'm not sure what our friends thought their kids were gonna do for 4 hours at a campground with nothing! LOL I'm just curious if our kids are crazy because they need something to do all the time???

Re: Silly "Is it us or them" thing...

Even when I go camping with Boy Scouts (ages 11 to 17), we have stuff to do. We have Frisbees, balls, etc. Plus, we have Scouting activities planned.

Even with older boys who are used to being in the woods, I can't imagine just driving to the campsite, taking out my chair, and saying "Good Luck!" to the boys, with nothing to do....

I completely agree with no electronics while you're in the woods, but they need something to do.

Silly

Even when DD & I go to the park, where there is a ton of stuff to do already - I still bring a ball, or a toy or something.

Re: Silly "Is it us or them" thing...

I'm not a parent, even I know that kids need something to occupy them in a situation like this.
Kids left on their own is not a good thing.

Silly

You kind of lost me at legos lol. I would probably bring a few things like a ball, jump ropes, bubbles. I definitely wouldn't go crazy. They have each other to play with and they can explore nature. My kids are okay without a ton of activity though. They're lucky if I tell them to grab a doll before we start a 3 hour car ride and they're okay if I don't. They're also the type that could occupy themselves for 4 hours with a jump type and a cardboard box.

Re: Silly "Is it us or them" thing...

I'm with you. I wouldn't go crazy but I'd bring a few things for them to pay with.

Re: Silly "Is it us or them" thing...

Re: Silly "Is it us or them" thing...

We go camping every year. WE go with a few families. My boys are 8 and 6 and the age is usually from 13 to 6 year olds. We used to bring stuff, but the kids play a lot of games and go for walks. Of course the older kids (there's also a 15 and 17 year old) will take them. They play a lot of kid games on the field, hide and seek, etc. They go in the cabins and do dances and talent shows. One family did bring Pie in the Face, which was a hit.
I've stopped bringing stuff bc they kids do a lot with the others, but the way you described the place I would've brought too. WE also had cabins, a local pool the kids went to, basketball and tennis that the campground provides, etc.

Silly

I don't do camping, but we do have a BBQ once a month at a state park. I bring a ton of stuff for my son. His baseball set, his bike, balls, coloring, cards, etc. I got annoyed because my husbands friend showed up with his two kids, and just a six pack of beer. Nothing for his kids to eat or drink, or play with. (We do BYOB and bring something to share on the grill).

Silly

We go camping every year and honestly I don't bring that much for DS. He runs around with the others kids and we bring his bike. That's about it.

I never bring toys to a park, beach (beach toys). We try not to travel heavy. But my DS could have fun in an empty room most times......

Re: Silly "Is it us or them" thing...

I would have talked to my friends beforehand to see what we should all bring for the kids. or had my BF (in my case, no DH, lol) talk to them if they were his friends.

We always have a basketball and our DS' baseball bags in our car, sot here will always be things to play with.

However, idk, if it was just supposed to be dinner and s'mores, then idk that I would have brought a lot. We'd do that, lol. Have dinner and do s'mores and let everyone hang out.

Re: Silly "Is it us or them" thing...

well, i see this two ways and am in the middle of the two..

1 - it's good you had the foresight to bring a few things to entertain the kids.

2. - it was only for a few hours - kids should be able to figure out some fun things to do in the middle of nature, especially with other kids around. Maybe if they didn't have all the stuff you had brought, they would have found some cool new rocks/plants/animals etc that they wouldn't have otherwise noticed if they were playing with toys they can play with anywhere else.

I think as parents we sometimes overthink things.. always wanting there to be something to 'do' for the kids. Let them figure it out on their own and they might come up with a cool new game or discover something interesting in their surroundings.

But, i get it, as a parent you want your kid to be occupied so you can enjoy yourselves too!

Silly

I bring toys for my 8 month olds! My SIL is the same, doesn't send my niece with toys or anything then she goes after my kids. We actually don't let my niece over anymore without her parents because no one disciplines her and they don't bring stuff for her. She threw a hard toy at my kids head because she was bored and that ended that right there

Re: Silly "Is it us or them" thing...

While I probably wouldn't have brought duplo blocks, I definitely would've brought balls/frisbees, the stomp rocket sounds cool... I would've tried to keep it outdoorsy, ya know? I'm sure kids COULD entertain themselves in nature for a few hours... but you probably wouldn't like what they found to entertain themselves with!

Silly

I don't bring stuff for my kids if we're going to be out in nature, but I've also been deliberate about spending more time in nature with my kids lately, and I still don't think I spend near enough time outdoors.

That being said, I rarely bring toys/paraphernalia for my kids when we go places. Sometimes I'll bring some coloring books/stickers. This weekend I went to have lunch with a few friends at another friend's house, and her youngest child is 18. I did bring a coloring book and 2 barbies for dd (3 yo), but nothing for ds (10 mo). They were fine for the 3 hours we were there.

Silly

If there was a field, I might bring a ball. In the woods, I wouldn't. There should be plenty to occupy them for half a day, especially with other kids there to play with.

Silly

In that situation, no, I wouldn't have brought anything for my kids. Unless one of them was an infant-- I would probably bring a toy for a child that wasn't able to run around yet.

8 kids out in the fresh air should totally be able to occupy themselves.

Re: Silly "Is it us or them" thing...

I would definitely throw some things in a bag - especially for the 3 year old.

Silly

My trunk looks like a toys r us so we always have stuff with us from balls, bubbles, chalk. I would have to bring stuff just in case but knowing my dd she would occupy herself with sticks and rocks.

Re: Silly "Is it us or them" thing...

I would have probably brought one or two things, but definitely not as much as you did.

TBH, whenever we go camping the kids are much more interested in exploring their surroundings and making up games than play with the toys we bring.

Re: Silly "Is it us or them" thing...

Re: Silly "Is it us or them" thing...

I agree with you and would have done the same thing. My kids are around the same age and I like to be prepared. They always have the option to play with stick and leaves or whatever else and ignore the toys. Since all the kids were playing with the toys, I'm sure some parents were grateful you brought them, even if they didn't say anything.

Silly

There's no way my DD would ever find herself on a campground unless she was kidnapped by Smokey the Bear, but yes I would bring toys in that situation. What is a child supposed to do in the woods for 4 hours? I don't know what I would do in the woods for 4 hours and I'm 32.

Re: Silly "Is it us or them" thing...

Totally a personal decision.

I've gone camping most my life. Ive met new kids, gone on walks, spotted toads, gathered firewood, gathered pine cones, helped cook food, played by the water, pitched tents, played with flashlights, went on swing sets, shared watermelons, had spitting contests (with watermelon seeds... though these no longer exist), told stories, gotten very, very dirty.

I never pack toys for the kids. DS at 3 years old toasted marshmallows for hours at a friend's wedding with adults. My 3 kids (7, 5 & 2) will self entertain especially outdoors. The kids play in our backyard with worms, flowers, sticks, mud and climbing trees for hours. Recently, we got the app that tells you what constellations or planets you are looking at, which is really awesome for the older ones. I fall into the camp of bringing toys may take away from what they could discover.

HOWEVER, my family does not all think this way. They like to be sure their kids will be entertained... and that's OK too.

Silly

I would have brought a few toys probably bubbles and a ball or two but honestly when I take dd to the park,hiking or to the beach we do not bring tons of stuff- I am a huge advocate of letting kids play out doors without a ton of toys--my daughter has never had an issue entertaining herself especially when there are other children for her to play with