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Quote: Originally posted by mrmnmrsg on 29/6/2010

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I thought camping was supposed to be  a chilled and relaxed  thing to do, kids can have fun too, ear plugs might be another thing for you to pack, everyone's entitled to their own fun and kids are kids, take a chill pill, sit back let everyone enjoy,might have been a good idea to go out, join in and be goalie   lol

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Quote: Originally posted by Camping nutcase on 29/6/2010

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Steve - can I join you in the bad parents corner - because that is exactly what I would do if I thought that mine had annoyed other campers.

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Have to say I tend to agree with Lockie and I happen to think that kicking balls around peoples tents and cars is unacceptable at ANY time of the day quite frankly. ( I've had footballs winging past my head and on into my tent while I've been sat eating my breakfast in the morning and its just not on - you wouldn't expect that at home from the neighbours kids so why should I have to accept this sort of behaviour when I'm supposed to be on a well earned break? ). 

As is kids running round playing hop skip over your guy ropes, crowding together and shouting round the toilet blocks, sidling up to peer in your tent or touch the dogs without asking and basically being un-supervised by parents who couldn't give a stuff as long as the kids are 'occupied'...only they call it letting the kids enjoy an old fashioned lifestyle and having 'freedom' - its not... its teaching kids to have no respect for others.  I had that old fashioned childhood, going off bicycling, playing with pals in the brook or the fields, or round the estate...but we were not allowed to go into other peoples houses, shout and scream in the street, play ball against anyones house or anything else and woe betide we did !  Unfortunately, it happens often on campsites.  Some people think free reign means anywhere and pitch boundaries are simply not respected in any shape or form.  I think this goes back to the 'is camping middle class' thread elsewhere on here.

Over the years we've had to put up with this sort of thing and it gets my goat.  I've had small children of my own when camping...they have a fab time playing...but not at the expense of someone elses' enjoyment of their holiday. If things get out of hand we got for a walk, the park, play ball ( well away from tents )...but we absolutely catagorically would never let our kids be a nuisance ( or be perceived to be a nuisance ) to anyone else who has earned their holiday just as much as we have.

We had similar issues this weeken with a group of 10 tents that pitched together.  All dad's and their kids - no mums in sight.  The pitched by noon on Saturday, started drinking right away and the kids were left feral until 10.30.  The biggest issue I had was that they were up and out yelling in the woods again as 6.30 on Sunday when none of the adults appeared until gone 8.  Must have been 20 kids in their group.

At the other end of the field was a 40th birthday.  They were laughing and chatting around the campfire all night with no problems.  But why would they decide to start playing guitar and singing at 11.40 ?  Seiously, if you're going to sing (drunkenly and out of tune) the hits of the eighties, why would you only start at nearly midnight ?

Quote: Originally posted by Fat Bum on 29/6/2010

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It's not the kids you should be blaming for playing noisily or in the wrong places etc it's their parents for letting them. I'm sure that sometimes if the kids were there without the parents they would actually behave better and play ball in the right place (ie the games field) for fear of being told off by someone in authority but if the parents allow them to play near to other units they are going to think that is OK.

I have had real trouble with my boys on occasions when they wanted to play with a ball outside the caravan and I wouldn't let them and told them to go to the games field "but those kids over there are allowed to" they said "so why can't we?" and I have had to explain that just because someone else is doing something it isn't necessarily right even if their parents allow it.

So please don't blame the kids, it's not really their fault if they have parents who let them do whatever they want wherever they want!

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It sums up our first camping trip last weekend,I wanted to provide a lot more freedom that they would normally have and to respect others.

It is our standards as parents and we are responsible to set boundries for our children, regardless of the actions other selfish parents.

Quote: Originally posted by dawsoctor on 29/6/2010

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Is it me or are people new to camping lowering the standard,more experienced campers seem to behave better me thinks

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It must be you, like I said in my previous post we are new to camping so I guess we must be lowering standards?

The more "experienced" campers on the site we went to made the most noise.

I guess some people are rude and selfish experienced or not and that does not only include camping.

OK, thanks for all your comments, some useful food for thought

I think we should call this a day now and leave this thread be, before it degenerates any further.

Cheers  Ratty

Quote: Originally posted by buzzard wisperer on 29/6/2010

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Great age for giving you grey hairs.... My 16yr old boy just went "camping" last night at the peace camp in parliament square....When I asked why he wanted to go he said to stop wars...hard to argue with but I spent a restless night worrying....
Have to say he is very considerate young man in every other way.

Bx

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I think that's great, he obviously has a tremendous social conscience, and that's a credit to you, imo.