To think that a child who has never been camping is not necessarily from a ‘deprived’ background

[Urbandweller]

DD’s school organised a camping trip for Y5. DD is younger and didn’t attend but her class teacher went to chaperone. I was chatting with her about it today and she said she was so glad the school was able to organise the trip as so many of the Y5 kids had never been camping and would never otherwise get the chance to go. It was clear that she felt sorry for the children who hadn’t been before and was shaking her head sorrowfully, saying many of them are the same poor kids who have never been to the beach and this is one of the saddest aspects of deprivation...

AIBU to not see the link between camping and deprivation? We’ve never taken DD because it’s my idea of hell, nothing to do with lack of funds!

I never went camping as a child. My parents are not holiday people. We only ever went away to visit family really. A caravan in Ayr once. My mother LOATHED it! We weren't deprived but we weren't well off.

I think the teacher means more in the sense of a holiday. Lots of children have never been on holiday. I'm a secondary teacher and I've led lots of school trips where they have never been more than a few miles from home. I would assume she thinks of camping as a "basic" holiday that should be accessible to most kids but obviously it's not.

I took 40 kids camping to the beach () and the ones who had never been before were mostly all from less financially secure homes. Camping is cheaper than going abroad/hotels but it still costs a fair bit and requires time, patience, planning, equipment, confidence etc. That's pretty tough to sort if your folks work several jobs or have chaotic stuff in their lives and have never been before.

@ZZTopGuitarSolo

The fact you describe someone who treats their children in this way as a friend is disturbing.

Reread my posts a bit more slowly. She's not a friend. She's a relative. That was literally the first thing I said about her.

I agree that her approach to having and raising children is appalling - I'm not sure where you've got the idea that I don't. You seem to be arguing with things I haven't said.

Right. So you are saying that the issue is your relative not looking after her children properly, not deprivation as a result of poverty.

I wasn't "arguing with things you haven't said" but your defence of the implication of your post, given the OP you were responding to, was that somehow your relative's children are deprived by society,, rather than being deprived as a result of having shitty parents. Is anybody doing anything to either give those children a decent childhood or move them to homes where that will be provided? If not, that is the tragedy. Not a lack of camping.

@Susannahmoody

Oh god I can't stand all this faux horreur, I need a suite at the Marriot ffs, no camping for little ol me, hell to the no

Get over yourselves.

Well. Camping sucks and I can't see many adults picking it over the Marriot given a choice. Would you?

A little bit of inverse snobbery in your post, perhaps, which adds nothing to the discussion other than vitriol as far as I can see.

Camping with a child alone when you don’t have a car is fucking hard but had great time only cos meet other single parents but one time it was fucking terrifying as tis was night gails and rain floods came.

Getting older and camping with next child was fucking joyless and we only made back garden the 2nd time 4am dragged kid and wrestled double air bed out tent to sleep in front room, as someone trying to get in back gates.

I’m with my elder it’s 5* or nothing now. Does child care who never been theme park get head tilt pity because one kid never been

Yabu, if you read between the lines, it is aimed at children who can't afford any type of holiday. Camping holiday is seen as cheap, but for some people who attend food banks, they have other priorities than scrimp and save for a holiday.

The kid that done camping in garden with has done beavers camp trip whilst yay joy fun was had all the kids had face like smacked arsed when picked them up. They was tired & miserable.

Oh poor here none of kids would choose camping over 5. They only ever asked about 5 holidays.

We survived the hell of butlins tots holiday twice that more hardcore than camping

Camping is not cheap if you don’t have equipment ie tent.

As someone who is in poverty and recently was using food banks it’s really fucking offensive the way keep referring to poor and camping

*Wallpapering
Camping is not cheap if you don’t have equipment ie tent.

As someone who is in poverty and recently was using food banks it’s really fucking offensive the way keep referring to poor and camping*

I agree.

@Urbandweller

I have personally found that teachers who grew up in the Home Counties/outside London and work in areas of high deprivation sometimes have a slightly patronising attitude towards the “poor kids” they teach. There seems to be an assumption that these kids are missing out because they don’t take part in outdoor activities like sleeping in a draughty tent in the middle of a freezing field or other “enriching” experiences.

Most childhood experiences are just part and parcel of the environment they live in. Does anyone think a child growing up in a rural area is missing out because they haven’t taken the tube through central London?!

What a weird post.

Do you think there's no deprivation in the home counties?

And yes, we organise trips to central London on the tube so that we give them that experience.

The teacher is trying to provide an opportunity for anyone who wants it. The more experiences a child has, of all types, the more they can grow to understand the world and themselves.

Some children may never have been on a holiday of any sort. Some may have always wanted to go camping but never been due to finances. Some may never have been camping because parents are unable to take them. Some will really love camping. Some will really hate camping. They can find out by trying it.

It's sad you're using this to judge the teacher and assume that she's being patronizing. It's a lot of work to organise something like this (and that extra work won't be compensated). When parents act like you, it makes teachers feel like we oughtn't have bothered. Hopefully, you've not made these sorts of comments to the school or teacher.

We once camped at a camp site about 10 miles from home. I hated it. It was cold and uncomfortable. In the middle of the night I got up, went home, slept in my bed, had a shower and a nice proper coffee and then went back.

I think the teacher was probably referring to children who had perhaps never been on any sort of trip away and whose families possibly wouldn't be able to afford to go away.

Personally, camping isn't my thing so we have never been but my son is far from deprived.

@Ozanj

She is probably only talking about specific kids who are on FSM or cared for. She won’t be meaning anything beyond that.

Agree. I doubt she is so out of touch that she thinks any child who hasn't camped is deprived. I dont think its as literal a comment as that.

She probably meant trips/holidays in general - that includes camping.

I never went as a child and did come from a deprived home. No money, no car, equipment needed is quite expensive. We now have a bell tent which feels like we are Glamping every time. Kids absolute love the sense of freedom, roaring fires, toasting marshmallows, we invested in lovely comfy electric air beds. It’s maybe not for everyone but for those that haven’t tried it, your kids will love it.

The people who find it ‘sad’ and think childhood is the poorer for not going camping….

😂😂😂😂😂😂

That’s brilliant. Morons.

Does she have kids op? I'd actually love to know her background, ie is she one of those 'get out to nature, no tv' mums, or perhaps she was never brought as a child. It's that or she has things check box of life experiences kids should have. Someone said above about kids never having seen the sea and that would probably be something I'd be more wanting to correct, but that's because we live in the Midlands of Ireland so it's a huge thing for us to get to the beach and we all grab every second of it!!

We went camping BECAUSE we were deprived! It was a cheap holiday. I do have fond memories. But they can stay in the past.

We've done a couple of camping trips but they're shit! The taking down of the tent on the last day is depressing as fuck.

I'm not deprived as an adult and we won't be doing it ever again.

Camping is not cheap money wise. But rich in giving a happy childhood experience. I remember the first night we took out children when they were young, they were so excited, and they have always loved it ever since. It’s the combination of being together, no tele, and fresh air and the company of each other. We still go every year, the kids are older, live away, but still won’t miss a week spent away together for the world. Don’t knock it until you have tried it. … properly with a nice tent, nice beds and good cooking equipment and electric hookup! I think camping is a privilege, especially if their parents can’t afford to go on holiday or refuse to go camping! Try it and see!

We went camping BECAUSE we were deprived!

Many families struggle to feed themselves and clothe their children.
I question whether you actually know what poverty means.

I dislike camping, but DS and DH love it so we go sometimes. It's lovely for (most) kids, but I don't think DC who've never been are necessarily deprived. The teacher probably meant holidays in general.

Yes I think if you read between the lines she’s not saying that they just haven’t been camping, they have also never been to the beach. I do think that’s very sad and a possible indication of deprivation.

My tent was £60 (Tesco 2018) stove was £10, gas canisters 4 for £10. Sleeping bags £10 each, camping beds were £8 singles, £14 double, pump £8 (works off car). You could use bedding from home, I often do. Yes I admit you need a car but most people outside of London have one because public transport is rubbish. I don't take a torch, one in my phone

But many people don't even have that £100 odd spare. And that's the absolute basics. Realistically you need much much more especially for a family of 4 or 5. Also you think 'most people outside of London' have a car? Wow!

I can't camp any more because my arthritis makes it impossible for me to put up a tent and do all the other fiddly things it involves.

I feel deprived.

But if a kid was desperate to go a parent can find someone to borrow a tent from, take picnic food and just go for one night somewhere nearby? It would actually save money on electricity etc when out of the house! I was extremely broke for many years but can't understand your comment, it seems a bit OTT.

This is the point so many people seem to be missing though. Some dc in low income families will have parents that will make this effort - not all children have this. Some kids are living in homes where the parent can't or won't even make a hot meal for various reasons including health reasons, drink, drugs, general chaotic lifestyles. Camping does take an awful lot of effort and that's never going to happen for these children. Many will get no holidays at all, or even a day trip out outside of school.