Who goes camping with a 2-year-old and a 4-year-old?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Cut out the victim blaming, jerk.

Huh? Who is the victim here? The jerk?

There's a story in the news about a father who was murdered in his tent while camping with his 2 and 4 year old daughters who apparently witnessed his death.

That's terrible

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's wrong with you?

It's not my idea of fun, but it's not strange. I wish I was more outdoorsy and enjoyed camping more.

Oh come on, if the kids were eight and ten this would make perfect sense. But one is barely walking and the other is learning ABCs. It's a little strange and it's hard enough to keep crap out of toddler/baby hands in a house. In a freaking park?! No way. I'd be worried about everything - mushrooms, snakes, foot-high water.

The outdoors at a campsite is the same outdoors as your yard or a park. Do you let your kids play outside at all before the age of 8?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's wrong with you?

It's not my idea of fun, but it's not strange. I wish I was more outdoorsy and enjoyed camping more.

Oh come on, if the kids were eight and ten this would make perfect sense. But one is barely walking and the other is learning ABCs. It's a little strange and it's hard enough to keep crap out of toddler/baby hands in a house. In a freaking park?! No way. I'd be worried about everything - mushrooms, snakes, foot-high water.

Did you have developmentally delayed kids? These kids are two and four- perfect for camping. Two year olds are not “barely walking” and most kids learn their ABC’s well before 4 (not sure how that milestone relates to camping anyway).

Most kids love camping. I have been camping with mine since they were about six months.

[Anonymous]

You sound like my friend who is terrified of nature and literally called me sobbing because she had a squirrel in her garage.

Seriously, people, nature is fine and most toddlers have a ton of fun camping and are pretty independent, unless you have helicoptered that out of them. I went camping solo last year with my 1-year-old twins. They had fun setting up the tent and sleeping all together instead of being in separate rooms. They ate normal food like they do at home, except that they got to cook marshmallows on a fire which was a huge higlight for them. I really don’t see the big deal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You sound like my friend who is terrified of nature and literally called me sobbing because she had a squirrel in her garage.

Seriously, people, nature is fine and most toddlers have a ton of fun camping and are pretty independent, unless you have helicoptered that out of them. I went camping solo last year with my 1-year-old twins. They had fun setting up the tent and sleeping all together instead of being in separate rooms. They ate normal food like they do at home, except that they got to cook marshmallows on a fire which was a huge higlight for them. I really don’t see the big deal.

+1 Taking my first born camping was a revelation for me. He was just turning 2 and we were apartment dwellers at the time, and I felt like I was constantly telling him not to do things ("don't touch this" and "don't go there") Being in the campsite was amazing. He could wander around and touch everything and just play happily in the dirt marveling at the bugs and flowers. I don't love camping, but it's great for my kids, so I do it.

[Anonymous]

I know several families who camp with kids that age and younger, including babies. My parents took me overnight backpacking - as in, hiked in and out - until I was 12 or 18 months.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't even care that they're girls, would you think a parent and two toddlers camping alone is strange?

A four-year-old is not a toddler. A four-year-old is a child who will be in kindergarten in a year.

[Anonymous]

We've taken our children camping since they were infants. It's fine, and tons of fun. And, I agree with the previous poster and said they will sleep well after being outside all day. Bring sunscreen, bug spray, and have fun!

[Anonymous]

As a single parent - I have traveled and yes, camped with my daughter many times. I can't say we camped when she was two but not that long after. What am I supposed to do - stay home because I'm single?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's wrong with you?

It's not my idea of fun, but it's not strange. I wish I was more outdoorsy and enjoyed camping more.

Oh come on, if the kids were eight and ten this would make perfect sense. But one is barely walking and the other is learning ABCs. It's a little strange and it's hard enough to keep crap out of toddler/baby hands in a house. In a freaking park?! No way. I'd be worried about everything - mushrooms, snakes, foot-high water.

Okay that is you. Maybe the parent OP is talking about feels differently.

[Anonymous]

2 is a bit young. I've done 4 year olds.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't even care that they're girls, would you think a parent and two toddlers camping alone is strange?

The dad took the kids camping by himself because he wanted to give his wife time alone to study for an exam she was taking the next day. It sounds like they were an outdoorsy family, so the kids had probably been camping before.

[Anonymous]

My four year old niece is going on a canoe/camping trip with her parents in July. She's psyched!

[Anonymous]

We camped this past weekend with my now-7 year old (who has been camping since she was 3).

The family across from us had a 3 year old and a baby in arms. I was impressed. They seemed to be having a fine time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a single parent - I have traveled and yes, camped with my daughter many times. I can't say we camped when she was two but not that long after. What am I supposed to do - stay home because I'm single?

No, but if you had two kids and those kids were 2 and 4, do you think you would do tbis? All the power to you if the answer is yes, but I think it would be very hard to do everything needed at a campsite and safely wrangle two little kids.

Also, staying home isn't the only other option. You could always go with other people that would provide some additional adult (or even older kid) hands.