ohiotubagal
Ohio
New Member
Joined: 07/09/2008
View Profile
 Offline
|
Now that we've been on several camping trips in different campsites, I've noticed a trend. People seem to be very comfortable letting their children, even young children (4,5,6 years old) ride their bikes around or wander to various campsites unsupervised. Our girls are very outgoing and love to meet new friends, which we love, but sometimes things get out of hand.
On our latest trip, there was a family next to us with 5 kids, ages 6 to 11ish. They came right over to our site and made themselves at home...playing with our kids' toys, trying to invite themselves inside (which I NEVER allow) and even going through our basement storage, searching for toys. I always tell kids they have to ask their parents before they can play at our site, and I don't allow our kids to play at another site unless I've met the parents and I can see them the whole time.
How do you handle this kind of situation? Sometimes we just want privacy so we can spend some family time, and I don't want to be rude. I'm still getting used to the "campground atmosphere", since I didn't grow up going camping.
Any thoughts would be appreciated!
Mish
1 DH (he does the driving)
2 6 yr. old DDs
2005 Coachman Freedom 30.5 ft
|
SteveandLayne
Bradford, TX
Senior Member
Joined: 11/16/2004
View Profile
|
I think the behavior you've described is very rude. I've asked kids from other campsites to not come through our campsite before when they would walk right in the middle of adult conversation. This has gotten me barked at by the parents who have been just as rude. Unfortunately, you probably can't teach them manners if their parents haven't, but you can tell them you want to spend time with your family and that they need to go on home. But to look in your compartments and take toys???? That would definitely make a trip really unpleasant by the time DH got through with them....
Steve and Layne Wilhoite
550 Ford Star Hauler
36' Elite Suites
10' Motorcycle trailer or 06 Bug
|
gixxergreg
Marshall, MI
Full Member
Joined: 06/28/2007
View Profile
Offline
|
I can empathize with you, I am sitting at my campfire right now and was thinking about the kids we had to deal with today.... I am more disappointed in their parents than in them.... They should have been raised to be more respectful of others belongings.
Every now and then it just takes a good swift kick in the.... aahhhh... guess you can't really do that... I tell them to leave my stuff alone and if my kids want to play, they will come find them... and then use a garden hose to run them off your lot lol
|
chuck369
ms.
Full Member
Joined: 11/05/2007
View Profile
Offline
|
when we took our children camping they were not allowed to go in another person's camper and we did not allow another child in ours the camper is for sleeping and eating not playing if they cannot understand they can go back to their camper they could play or talk on the outside
that worked for us from 1963-2008
charlie
|
The Garrells
Cheraw, SC
Senior Member
Joined: 02/26/2004
View Profile
Offline
|
We completely understand where you are coming from. We don't have children with us (ours are grown and gone), and it is very rude. I know we have kids walking through and riding through our campsite very often. It has happened almost every time we have been camping. I just don't get why all campers don't understand the rules of camping etiquette.
Mike & Terri
2005 Jayco Eagle 278FBS
2006 Chevy Silverado 2500HD, Vortec 6.0L V8 300 HP engine, 4.10 rear axle, 167" wheelbase
Equil-i-zer brand hitch
Prodigy brake control
McKesh mirrors
View our camper here
|
|
|
mainecamping
Maine
Full Member
Joined: 07/09/2005
View Profile
Offline
|
You are perfectly correct in your thinking - we would never ever even think of letting our kids wander and "make themselves at home" at someone else's campsite. Kind of scary - aren't these parents worried about their kids?
2000 Suburban 1500
2004 Dutchmen 19 Sport Lite Hybrid
|
JTMO
Novato, CA
Senior Member
Joined: 10/26/2003
View Profile
Offline
|
The parents are products of a permissive time in history, and now pass on that attitude to their children. Fortunately, the majority are NOT this way, including mine.
Cedar Creek 27LRLS 7359 dry with extensive options/7700+ loaded.
2003 Expedition 5.4 FX4 with factory Tow 3.73 Bilstein shocks. GCVWR 14500, Tow rating with no cargo 8650
Equalizer Hitch, Prodigy, Barker Electric jack. Coachnet ERS
Rallies=8
My travel albums
|
Opie431
Bellevue, MI
Senior Member
Joined: 06/19/2004
View Profile
|
I have been thinking about making a "Danger, Keep Out" sign.
We had two boys stop and tell us about how great blackberries taste toasted on a stick over the fire. We loved it.They were polite and left as soon as they told us their great discovery.
We still have not tried roasting blackberries however.
|
Teacher's Pet
SD.. Fulltimers. Goshen IN summers
Senior Member
Joined: 01/27/2003
View Profile
Offline
|
AS fulltimer's our favorite time of year is just around the corner.
School!
At least we don't have to put up with the lack of parenting during the week, most of the time.
'06 Phaeton 40' QSH
'03 Ford Sport Trac
Scottiemom's Pet
Husband to Dale
2 Traveling Scotties
RV.net Rallies 11, Other Rallies 9, Escapades 5
2005 F/T Class
Our Travel Blog
Where are we?
|
Pawz4me
North Carolina
Senior Member
Joined: 06/05/2007
View Profile
|
These kids invaded your site and started rummaging through your stuff. I really don't think they're likely to be the type to be easily offended or to take subtle hints. I think a simple and straight-forward "You all need to go back to your RV now because our family has some stuff to do" is just fine. If they don't get that, then I'd make it even simpler . . . "It's time for you to go!"
Me and the DH 
Two boys and two dogs (and two cats who prefer to stay home)
2008 Forest River Georgetown 350DS (bunkhouse model)
2001 Honda CR-V
|
|
|
