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

[Anonymous]

What a bizarre "debate" this is. Objectively there is nothing wrong with taking small children camping ... I mean, literally nothing at all. Whether or not you would choose to do it, OP, is your call. Whether or not someone else would choose do to it, OP, is THEIR call. You are really stretching for things to be indignant about if you find this to be one of them.

[Anonymous]

Agree that it’s odd to latch onto that part of the story. The article states that the mom needed to study, so the dad took the kids away for the weekend. I could totally see DH doing this, and we have 3 girls, including a 14-month-old. They would love an overnight camping adventure with Daddy. I understand if you’re not into camping, but is it that bizarre that a family that DOES camp might sometimes take the kids with just one parent for one night?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Good for them. It sounds hard (the 2 year old) but we have family and friends that did this as well. I think its great they are enjoying nature and getting quality time together rather than sitting in front of a TV/ipad

But how do you keep young kids entertained? Do you bring a whole bin of toys? There's no playground? "Hiking" only lasts for a whopping 30 min before their legs get tired? Dirty hands, but no potable water? Going stir crazy being confined to the camping space? Sit around with wiggly 2 and 4 yr old and play cards, have great conversations, and sit still and enjoy the sounds of nature...um, yea right?

You might as well just play and spend the whole day your backyard.

The kids do the things kids did before toys, playgrounds, and tv were invented.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Good for them. It sounds hard (the 2 year old) but we have family and friends that did this as well. I think its great they are enjoying nature and getting quality time together rather than sitting in front of a TV/ipad

But how do you keep young kids entertained? Do you bring a whole bin of toys? There's no playground? "Hiking" only lasts for a whopping 30 min before their legs get tired? Dirty hands, but no potable water? Going stir crazy being confined to the camping space? Sit around with wiggly 2 and 4 yr old and play cards, have great conversations, and sit still and enjoy the sounds of nature...um, yea right?

You might as well just play and spend the whole day your backyard.

How do you keep yourself entertained when you go camping?

+1 I started camping with my firstborn when they were 2ish (we actually took my 2nd born when she was 5 months). Kids don't get bored camping unless it rains and they're stuck in the tent. They find things to do that are fascinating with nature (like playing with a caterpillar or catching fireflies.) They go on long hikes and then pass out because they're so tired from the fresh air when it's time to sleep. It's nice to see.

[Anonymous]

We camped all the time when my oldest was an infant and toddler. My husband worked festivals so while we were both technically there, he had very limited availability to help. We stopped camping as much when our 2nd was ~1yo and first was 3.5yo because 2nd child was too much of a handful for me. We've recently started camping again and the kids just love it. Biggest concern is keeping them out of the poison ivy ... they don't react to it but even secondary transfer can send me to the hospital.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Good for them. It sounds hard (the 2 year old) but we have family and friends that did this as well. I think its great they are enjoying nature and getting quality time together rather than sitting in front of a TV/ipad

But how do you keep young kids entertained? Do you bring a whole bin of toys? There's no playground? "Hiking" only lasts for a whopping 30 min before their legs get tired? Dirty hands, but no potable water? Going stir crazy being confined to the camping space? Sit around with wiggly 2 and 4 yr old and play cards, have great conversations, and sit still and enjoy the sounds of nature...um, yea right?

You might as well just play and spend the whole day your backyard.

The kids do the things kids did before toys, playgrounds, and tv were invented.

It mostly involves bugs. And when they're slightly older, fire.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Good for them. It sounds hard (the 2 year old) but we have family and friends that did this as well. I think its great they are enjoying nature and getting quality time together rather than sitting in front of a TV/ipad

But how do you keep young kids entertained? Do you bring a whole bin of toys? There's no playground? "Hiking" only lasts for a whopping 30 min before their legs get tired? Dirty hands, but no potable water? Going stir crazy being confined to the camping space? Sit around with wiggly 2 and 4 yr old and play cards, have great conversations, and sit still and enjoy the sounds of nature...um, yea right?

You might as well just play and spend the whole day your backyard.

The kids do the things kids did before toys, playgrounds, and tv were invented.

It mostly involves bugs. And when they're slightly older, fire.

For my kids, it's bugs + dirt and sticks and rocks.

[Anonymous]

I took a 16 month old beach camping for 10 days. We brought his pack and play. He loved it. Taking your children on vacation is a normal thing to do. How horrible that this tragedy happened to this family!

And -- why would you care if the 2 and 4 year olds were boys or girls? 2 year old boys are inherently more masculine and hearty than a 2 year old girl? You can't be serious.

[Anonymous]

We have, but with both parents. By a year old, all of our kids had been camping. It's not that big of a deal.

It does sound like a 'forensic files' episode where they start to wonder about spousal involvement, though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have, but with both parents. By a year old, all of our kids had been camping. It's not that big of a deal.

It does sound like a 'forensic files' episode where they start to wonder about spousal involvement, though.

Huh? So you think the wife drove out to the camp site and shot her husband to death and left, leaving her two young kids with his body? Ok

[Anonymous]

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

He loved. His wife... Who was finishing medical school.

[Anonymous]

huh? lots of people do. this isn't weird or even unusual. now, I would consider it impressive if someone took a 2 and 4 year old backcountry camping for 3 weeks. And I had a friend who took her newborn camping at about 8 weeks (along with her DH and older kids). That seemed kinda crazy, even with help. but a night or two at a drive-up campsite with 2 kids who can both walk and talk? No big deal. (And FWIW, I'm doing it later this summer with my 3 and 5yo. It will be our first such outing with the 3yo but we're not particularly outdoorsy people.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have, but with both parents. By a year old, all of our kids had been camping. It's not that big of a deal.

It does sound like a 'forensic files' episode where they start to wonder about spousal involvement, though.

Huh? So you think the wife drove out to the camp site and shot her husband to death and left, leaving her two young kids with his body? Ok

No, I don't think that. But I was binge watching forensic files and snapped yesterday and saw this episode a few times.

[Anonymous]

Daily Mail commenters said there were two adult chairs and two children’s chairs set at the scene. The poor wife is being blamed and it’s believed she was home studying.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Good for them. It sounds hard (the 2 year old) but we have family and friends that did this as well. I think its great they are enjoying nature and getting quality time together rather than sitting in front of a TV/ipad

But how do you keep young kids entertained? Do you bring a whole bin of toys? There's no playground? "Hiking" only lasts for a whopping 30 min before their legs get tired? Dirty hands, but no potable water? Going stir crazy being confined to the camping space? Sit around with wiggly 2 and 4 yr old and play cards, have great conversations, and sit still and enjoy the sounds of nature...um, yea right?

You might as well just play and spend the whole day your backyard.

What a sad statement this is on your experience with nature and your kids' development.