From my earlier posts you may have realized that the hubby and I have a blended family. By many standards today, we have a large brood - five children between the two of us. We have taken our kids everywhere from the time they were born (my ex and I used to take our children everywhere as well) - restaurants, movies, camping, shopping, on airplanes - you name it, we've probably taken our kids! We had sets of rules for each place we would take our kids 'restaurant manners' or 'shopping manners' and they generally consisted of a few age appropriate expectations (you don't want to inundate a child of any age with a laundry list of do's and don'ts!) . When one of the kids would decide to act outside these guidelines, we'd simply say 'oh, THAT isn't restaurant (or wherever we were) manners!' and they would generally stop the behavior. Sometimes they wouldn't. Perhaps they were tired, or not feeling well, or simply acting their age. In that event, we would either take turns with the child outside while the other parent finished the event (movie, eat, etc). OR we would simply leave and go home. Our kids always knew that they would have great adventures, but that there was a level of expectation, and they usually lived up to that. Just expect a behavior from your kids and they generally will tow the line (and also learn that if they don't live up to that behavioral expectation that home and bed quickly follow!). This is our own personal philosophy in raising kids, agree with it or not it makes no difference to me because we have the most well behaved kids (three of whom are amazing adults now!). We are not perfect parents and we do not have perfect kids, but we did our best to fill our kids lives with fun and adventure while not impacting those around us.
Which brings me to the topic of this particular article. We have noticed lately that it is the thing for parents to completely ignore their precious children's behaviors. We have sat through meals at restaurants while children (not babies, but children) scream the entire time. Or run around, bumping into servers and other patrons. Or throwing food. And mum and dad do nothing.
We have also noticed this behavior while camping. So I have put together a little list of basic 'camping with kids' behaviors that parents should enforce - and if you expect this behavior, and model it, your children will usually comply.
Do not let your kids hop on their bikes and ride around the campground yelling to their siblings/campmates at 6am. Most of us are still sleeping. Kids can be entertained around the picnic table (or rv table!) with a game, or breakfast, or crayons...or in the case of an rv - put in a movie! The rest of us who either have children who have been taught that there is a time before which you do not yell like a banshee or whose kids are past that stage should not have to endure early morning wake ups because you are not parenting your children.
While the campgrounds and rv sites are public, each site in itself becomes the 'yard' for the family camping there. Teach your children that it is NOT ok for them to run through everyone's site. They can run through yours. They can run on the public paths. But they should never run through someone else's 'yard'. You wouldn't want me to walk my dog through your site and let him take a nice big poop by your picnic table would you? Well, I don't want your kids running through my 'yard' while I eat or relax by the fire.
One last thing (see? my 'camping manners' list is really small, just like all my other 'manners' lists always were!).... teach your kids these wonderful, AMAZING phrases: "Please", "Thank you", and "Excuse me". Teach them to use them whenever they are in a public place (actually, I hope you are teaching them to use them at home too!). When a kid accidentally bumps into me, all is well when they say 'excuse me' or 'I'm sorry!". Kids are going to be kids. They are going to have melt downs. They are going to make mistakes. They are going to play loud, and giggle, and laugh, and have a great time - and camping is a great place for them to do all of this. But it is also important to teach them that even when camping, simple basic 'camping manners' are a way that everyone in the park can enjoy their trip!
Happy Trails!
Jaye
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