What's the etiquette about kids entering other people's tents/caravans/awnings while camping?

[RubberDuck]

Haven't really come across this as an issue before especially as I always stress to the dses (aged 7 and 4) that they should stay in sight and not enter other people's units (partly from a safety point of view and partly because I feel it's private space where you have to be invited).

However, this weekend's trip we seemed to be invaded by kids continually entering our awning to find either our kids or something interesting to play with. I was quite taken aback with how uncomfortable I found it (maybe this should be in AIBU )

Okay, partly our fault for camping RIGHT by the playground and it did have its benefits - was nice to feel that our kids (or was it just our well-stocked toy cupboard!!) were popular, but at the same time I'm really not up to receiving "visitors" two seconds after I unzipped the awning after getting up .

Now in general, we kind of bumbled along with good humour (okay, I may have been a bit waspish towards the kid who walked through our awning and into the camper itself to have a look at the layout, waking me up from a doze on the sofa bit) and just politely hinted that the kids would come out after meals/that they might like to ask ds2 if he minded them playing with his beloved lightsaber BEFORE they removed it from the zipped up cupboard shelf in the awning. I tried asking my kids to tell their friends not to come in and that the dses would get out anything they wanted to play with, but it didn't seem that successful - especially as most of the visits happened when mine were off playing and oblivious.

Would like to know the general etiquette for future reference. Should I just accept that there is no privacy while camping and learn to live with it? Or do I just have to accept that subtlety isn't the best policy and go for a firmer approach?

[FluffyMummy123]

Message withdrawn

[Twiglett]

no that's out of order ... tell them to bugger off as cod says

[FluffyMummy123]

Message withdrawn

[forevercleaning]

follow them back to their tent, and help yourself to some of their toys, remarking to their parents on the way back that their dc's have just 'popped in to help themselves at your tent' so hope they dont mind if you do the same!

[WingsofaAngel]

We have a rule our two aren't allowed in other peoples tents/awnings and they aren't allowed in our awning.
Although one was very insistent and had to be told to go away.

[piratecat]

i think yuo have to tell your own kids your rules, and then tell unwanted visitors to go and play outside the tent/awning.

Kids will push it, get overexcited and not even remember even what thier own parents have told them (if indeed they have been told any rules).

Def park up away from the climbing frame. i would have been annoyed too, I get like that in my own home when the dc's from next door enter the building, for a wee/drink/nose!!

[barnstaple]

I always told dd that other people's tents were like their homes/houses and you should only go in if invited (and also check with me or dh first anyway). Fairly surprised your tent was invaded like that, haven't ever come across anything like that. Would have told them to go away.

[Twiglett]

it is up to the tent-owner to lay down the law .. you can't expect excited kids to remember the rules their parents gave them .. no parent should have any qualms explaining to children that they are not allowed to enter their tent

[ivykaty44]

I always ask a child if their parents know where they are before they are allowed in - this way it makes the child think about the rules from their opwn mummy/daddy

Then send them of to tell mummy they are at xxx camper - usually don't see them then for half an hour

camping is about being friendly and I like my dd's having people to play with.

[RubberDuck]

"camping is about being friendly" - yes I agree with that and I didn't want to be the shouty ogre person. At the same time, I'm rather enjoying the fact that the dses CAN play with other children with a little less supervision and I can have a little adult space again with a book and a cuppa!

Am so relieved that it was just us being a soft touch though. Was worried everyone would pile in saying airily "oh we always have all the children from around the site piling into our camper at all hours... you're just being unsociable if you don't". I'm 'ornery and like to keep a little corner I can escape to

[Twiglett]

camping is about being friendly ... indeed it is

and a tent is your only privacy so not public ground

children should respect this and when they forget should be gently reminded that they are not allowed in unless invited

[Iota]

I must be a hatched-faced scarey woman as I've never had this problem whilst camping

[RubberDuck]

Well to be fair, I think we brought it on our own heads by camping so close to the playground - lesson learned! Didn't really cross our minds, just thought "Great! The kids can play on the climbing frame without having to cross any of the roads and with us being able to gaze out of the awning from afar"

Naive Is Us

[RubberDuck]

And should have further twigged while setting up having lovely lady at the swings say something along the lines of "oh we had that pitch last year" and had that sort of wild eyed "we're still in therapy from it too" look...

[pointydog]

It's your holiday! You need to relax. Shoo 'em off.

If it's dry, the kids play outside.

It it's wet, you go out on a trip.

Well, that's what we do.

[RubberDuck]

[milkybarsrus]

Bloody cheek! I certainly wouldn't allow any kiddies in my awning/tent/van. The parents are probably having a good laugh at you while they sip a glass of wine and enjoy the peace! My rules are that my kids are NOT allowed into other peoples tents and they're new friends are NOT allowed in mine. This is not only for space and privacy, but also for their protection and safety, afterall, you don't know these people from adam. It's just that you are more relaxed on holiday and think nothing can happen, when it could. Our first time camping was a nightmare for the same reason as rubberducks. we turned into a creche for loads of kids, even trying to eat our brekfast outside was like a free for all, with kids literally standing and waiting at the table asking when WE could play and could they wait inside???I learnt alot since then. Being freindly doesn't mean anything goes, and its your holiday afterall. BE FIRM, BE STRONG, AND TELL THEM TO CLEAR OFF TO THE PARK! Your'e kids can meet them there with a bag of sweets or fruit, that way you won't look such an old witch to everyone!!!

[Milliways]

It's different for us - 50 of us went together so kids permanently in someone elses tent

I wouldn't let them go in a strangers tent though - or want them in mine!

We did pick up some stray kids - attracted by the huge games of cricket/rounders etc going on, but they didn't come into the tents.

[Scramble]

Difficult in bad weather, but in good weather the general expectation is to play outside. DC's have to let PIL know where they are and would be discouraged from invading others vans, but often they are invited and if they have children my childrens age I wouldn't have and safety worries.

[Beetroot]

I cannnot bare it if other kids come into my tent,

stay out and play outside but do not enter

[bigTillyMint]

Don't take any toys!

We never do, apart from bikes and a football, and the kids just go off and play with other kids. Anyway, I don't mind our DC BRINGING children into the tent to play - it's great for them to make new friends. If I get fed up with them, I just tell them all to go and find something else to do!

[iamdingdong]

oh I can't bear it, we had this last summer and were the outcasts in our patch of field because we didn't like all the kids just wandering in and out with their pet ferrets its the worst thing about camping