Yes we are going to use the tv when camping that was part of the reason for stepping up from a tent the grand kids love their cartoons before bed and as far as the playstation goes tell em lets go outside and play or were goin to the hatchery or take the boat out or whatever they drop the game and are itchin to go The key to me is be ready to put down the brew and get up and do things with the kids or grandkids Besides what's next We gonna Boycott tha a/c Or the microwave I don't think so I got it lets stop using the power jacks and awnings I mean toys are toys aren't they
Well, I'm a teacher, so when we camp, I bring "stuff" for the kids to do.
Yes, we have a tv (we are even thinking of getting another one for our bedroom)...and we used to have one in the van.
It has saved us on rainy days. It has also saved us in bad weather (when we turn on the tv for advanced storm warnings - and yes, we have a NOAA radio also).
So....in order to have the tv on, here's our stipulations:
1) If it's sunny, no one's in the camper, unless Mom's preparing a meal or someone wants a nap or is sick.
2) For every tv show or dvd you want to watch, you do that much reading, hiking, or doing book work from Summer Bridge or something.
3) Same goes for Nintendo DS, Playstation, PSP, email or cell phones (we have three teens).
HOWEVER, many times, when I'm really strict on this, my kids will sneak their cell phones on a bike ride or even VOLUNTEER to sleep in the tent outside so they can text all night.
So....if you want your kids with you, and you want to spend time as a family, you cannot deny them the world they now live in.
We just make sure to plan LOTS of fun activities (they often will choose playing cards or a game over electronics if we play for pennies or to see who can beat mom or dad) and allow them a limited time with their electronics.
I found that when I forbid it in total, they snuck it, and my bills were outrageous (roaming and texting is not pretty). And when that happened, I made them pay for it.
All in all, with as digital as my kids are, when we camp on our two-three week cross-country vacations, they are not bad, but every other day or so when we hit a wi-fi park, I have to let them check their email or get their electronics fix or I'll pay for it.
~Jill~
'06 Jayco 27BH
'08 Ford Expy EL (replaced the '01 GMC Savanna - may she rest in peace)
Middle School Teacher & 1 Hubby, 1 Teen Daughter, 1 Teen Son, and 1 Pre-Teen Son who drive us crazy
1 Sheltie Lots of energy and not a whole lot of time!
As I said previously, we allow TV's and DVD players but one thing that we haven't brought is video games. However, DH is a Nintendo DS fanatic so I am sure the DS will be coming with us this year. My youngest DS and his friends aren't that into video games; they would much rather be outdoors. But my oldest DS plays his XBox every waking hour (when he isn't working).
We do allow them unlimited cell phone access when we are camping. So far, it hasn't been an issue as they are always too busy with fishing, biking, etc.
Shannen (and hubby Rick)
2 sons, ages 15 and 19
2 dogs, "Duncan" (mini schnauzer) and "Libby" (lhasapoo)
1996 GMC Yukon
1986 Kit Road Ranger 234
1965 Chevrolet Bel Air
1948 Plymouth 2-door sedan
2005 Honda Foreman 500
MomsL8 wrote: Well, I'm a teacher, so when we camp, I bring "stuff" for the kids to do.
My DW and I are both teachers and we also bring "stuff" for our kids to do. But, before we were teachers we brought "stuff" for our kids to do. All the friends & family we camp with are not teachers and they usually bring even more "stuff" for their kids to do. I'm not sure I understand the point you were making connecting "teachers" to "stuff". Will you explain? I'm not being a smarty pants, here (although I certainly can be ). I genuinely want to know what you meant. Thanks.
Chris
68 Me & DW
93 DD
03 DD
06 F150 Screw 6.5' Bed, 4x4, 5.4, 3.73
04 Tahoe 23RB-GL Honda EU2000 Parallel Cables "I hope you like Guinness, Sir. I find it a refreshing substitute for...food." Col. Jack O'Neill, Stargate SG-1.
We've done both ways. Used to be tent campers (no TV), then moved up to a pop up, still no TV. We had fires every night and played board games and told stories etc. Made up a lot of fun things to do. Now we have an RV with a TV and DVD player and laptops. We still do fun things during the day, we still have campfires, but occasionally we will watch DVDs or websurf. I like being able to check the weather and look up attractions etc, as well as keep in touch. Seems like I always need info when I can't get it, LOL.
MomsL8 wrote: Well, I'm a teacher, so when we camp, I bring "stuff" for the kids to do.
My DW and I are both teachers and we also bring "stuff" for our kids to do.
Homework! LOL Sorry - I should have been more specific; stuff is in quotes because it's not just stuff to do, yanno, it's proverbial teacher "stuff" to do! :-)
Every summer, even though my kids hate it, I make them do pages from Summer Bridge or now that they're in secondary school, we do pages from Real-World Algebra. I also have a book of science experiements, etc... that we work from.
When we do our cross-country trips, too, the kids have to participate in the Jr. Ranger programs, too. I think from our historical diversions side trips, they love history, so we usually don't have to beg them to go on tours and those types of expeditions. We also usually go on some sort of sporting type of excursion, too. Generally, I have not had to prohibit electronics when those types of offerings are available.
My kids are usually pretty outdoorsy also most of the time, but occasionally, when they are getting too dependent on electronics (like on a sunny day or after being on the internet for an hour or watching two movies in a row), I shoo them out and use the "stuff" as a parameter for getting more electronics time.
The older the kids get the less they sometimes want to go fishing and hiking and that - the only time my teens will forgo electronics is when we do camp somewhere new.
If it's our favorite spot that we go to a lot - the novelty wears off after a couple of days, and then the begging to call friends or text or IM or whathaveyou starts.
If you need a TV bring it. BUT, I think you are missing a great opportunity to spend some quality family time when it rains.
TV before bed??? We are always too exhausted to think about watching TV before bed. Literally everyone is sleeping within minutes of crawling in bed.
The hardest thing about breaking away from TV (anywhere, home, hotels etc) is breaking routine. You have the perfect opportunity while camping, you are in a place with little routine.
I actually am disappointed when it doesn't rain or something that makes us stay in. Because that is game time. And game time starts at infant and never ends, there is no age dependencies. My children are 15 (girl) and 12 (boy), and they still love to camp because they enjoy the family time too. We have graduated to playing some really cool games. We play cribbage (for many years now) and other card games, Payday, Life, Yahtzee, and a bunch of not so popular games that I somehow got. I think we played 5 new games one evening. One we found was Rummikub (sp?) which is Rummi played with plastic pieces that look like thin dominos, we had a blast. Some games aren't so good, we actually just had a blast reading the Taboo cards and not actually playing the real game.
We love it!! Please don't miss that opportunity to interact with your family as a whole, sitting around a small table. After a couple times everyone would rather do that then watch TV....I GAURANTEE IT!!! I bet it bleeds into your home life too!!
Oh, this year we are doing a 2 week trip to D.C. and Virginia Beach. And I just found out my daughters online high school course runs through those 2 weeks, so I'm going to have to bring the laptop for her to do homework every day. And I'll probably bring a TV, just because we are on a sight seeing vacation not really a "camping" vacation, even though we are using our camper. I doubt the TV will be used much though, probably weather/news since we will be sight seeing around D.C. so much.
I haven't read all 6 pages yet, but here are my thoughts.
I felt just like the original poster... Leave the TV at home. I too, relented and we have a small TV/DVD combo. I was fully prepared to outlaw the TV use if I thought it is being abused, but am happy to report there has been no need.
My kids' favorite show is Sticks in the Campfire. My son also likes What Bugs Can I Catch?
We have watched The Incredibles on occasion, but only after dark, and we rarely get all the way through before sacking out.
Offline
). I genuinely want to know what you meant. Thanks..jpg)
