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Hi campers

Have booked a trip to scotland next week, and now the other half cant make it due to work,   its been a bit of a trouble time for me and I really need a break and been looking forward to getting away, however I could do with some tips on how to survive 5 days on my own with a 10yr & 3yr, my main concern is putting the tent up,

Any survival tips would be greatly recieved!!!

We always arrive about lunchtime and park the kids with a picnic while we pitch the tent, which keeps them quiet for a bit.  My 2 year sometimes has to be restrained in his pushchair, with his sister there for entertainment and a quick push around the site, and they seem happy enough to amuse themselves for a while.  They even seemed to enjoy it when they were stuck in the car the whole time because of a downpour. I'll admit I haven't done it one my own as we have a massive tent, but the same principal would apply.

Have fun!

Jane

The ten year old should be able to be a pretty good help - my ten year old daughter is - so get him/her involved holding poles etc.    Get your three year old to "help" by passing tent pegs etc.
As others have said - ask other campers to help - the vast majority will be happy to lend a hand.
I have always worked on the golden rule of getting the tent up, the sleeping stuff ready, and the cooker set up - then the fun starts.   When my two were younger I would get this far, then we would take a break, and do somethign different - look around the site/go the paly area/go to the shops.  These days once we are at this stage I chase them to the play area so that I can have a brew in peace, and a read - I will them tackle the fiddly bits, such as putting stuff in the cupboard, setting the loo up, and generally faffing around.

Make sure you have stuff for them to do when you need them by your tent - with any luck you 10 year old will disappear to the play area for hours (if there is one on site) leaving you with just the little one to worry about.   However there will be time when you need them to be by the tent - so cheap colouring books, something to read DSs etc are all great for this.

I camp alone with my grandchildren 4 and 8 , plus I am disabled. We manage to put up the tent on our own, the girls are great, and they love to help. Also saying that other campers are very helpful, and we always get offers of help, which is very nice. To be honest the kids dont fall out with me like hubby, plus if it dont go right the first time we have a laugh (unlike when hubby id doing it).

Go and enjoy your break away with the children.

We have all helped many times with single campers to put tents up. It's fun and you get a close up and personal view of a different tent,( I suffer from tent envy) and make new friends.

 One time the dude hadn't even opened the new tent box! We were reading the instructions and trying to make sense of them.Y'all know how that is!!

Campers help campers, it's the camping way.

I find the kids more helpful alone then when Richard is with us - also setting up/taking down is far less stressful.

Set firm ground rules from the start - it is easier to relax them than tighten them.

First time I went on my own, it was a choice of go on my own with a very young six year old and a three year old, or loose the holiday.  No choice I went and had a ball.

I wish we were going on our own today instead of sitting here waiting for himself to finish work!!!!

Good luck, let us know how you get on and put some piccy's on!

Hi Guys,

Thanks for all your replys, such great advice, and I feel alot more confident about it, sorry I have not thanked you sooner but I have had afew days away with my little girl (on my own) which was great, I think I am going to contact the site and ask for help, also get my 10yr to help as he has done in the past, we r due to go Weds, but my OH says he maybe ready to go Thursday, but I am still not happy to give a day of my holiday up,

Thanks again for all your tips!!