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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

513 replies

Urbandweller · 16/07/2021 20:57

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!

OP posts:
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6
PlateSpinnerJuggler · 17/07/2021 17:00

Thought of camping to me - 🤢
Don't worry they've druck mocktails on the beach in Greece instead 🤣

ineedaholidayandwine · 17/07/2021 17:00

My daughter has had some amazing holidays and is far from deprived but she has never been camping and i will never take her, i hate it!

Fimofriend · 17/07/2021 17:02

What an idiot. We stopped going camping because we bought a cottage by a lake in a forest. My daughter has never been camping. The poor, poor child.

tartanblanketdog · 17/07/2021 17:09

I took my kids camping because they were privileged. I wanted them to be able to camp so they could enjoy some of the amazing experiences we've had whilst we have been travelling around the world, I wanted them not to be scared of getting dirty or a bit uncomfortable, of walking in the rain, of not being pampered in a 5 star hotel - I wanted them to embrace variety and adventure.

Lokdok · 17/07/2021 17:14

This isn’t about you. And here, the housing cap is 1000. You can’t rent 1 bedroom for that, let alone house a family! So yes people live in terrible poverty and overcrowding and many don’t have cars. But none of this is relevant to the OP. There are many kinds of deprivation, not all financial.

tartanblanketdog · 17/07/2021 17:21

@Lokdok

This isn’t about you. And here, the housing cap is 1000. You can’t rent 1 bedroom for that, let alone house a family! So yes people live in terrible poverty and overcrowding and many don’t have cars. But none of this is relevant to the OP. There are many kinds of deprivation, not all financial.
That is very true - financially secure but emotionally neglected is deprivation.
RIPwalter · 17/07/2021 17:22

We live on the side of a mountain in a national park and within 20 minutes drive of a beach. My DD is 3 and hasn't been camping yet because I'd rather sleep properly in our own beds than camp somewhere with midges, no black out blinds, soaking wet everything or overheated tent in the early morning, just for the sake of it.

She is definitely not deprived!

Pretzelcoatl · 17/07/2021 17:23

They’d be deprived if they never had the chance to find out if they liked the experience.

Starbar66 · 17/07/2021 17:32

YABVU. Lots of adults posting here hate camping. Their kids might love it (in my experience working with kids and teens many really do). The teacher was right that kids miss out on finding out if they like camping (as any other experience) if their parents don't, won't or can't take them. Hence it's great that they get the chance to try it some other way. Same applies to any experience where people can't afford something, or parents don't do something with their kids because they themselves don't like it. As a parent personally I've endured a fair few things I didn't enjoy so the kids could try it, but whichever, she has a point. Not sure why you're so riled about this...

Ifitquacks · 17/07/2021 17:36

@Starbar66

YABVU. Lots of adults posting here hate camping. Their kids might love it (in my experience working with kids and teens many really do). The teacher was right that kids miss out on finding out if they like camping (as any other experience) if their parents don't, won't or can't take them. Hence it's great that they get the chance to try it some other way. Same applies to any experience where people can't afford something, or parents don't do something with their kids because they themselves don't like it. As a parent personally I've endured a fair few things I didn't enjoy so the kids could try it, but whichever, she has a point. Not sure why you're so riled about this...
Ah well you’re far more virtuous than me. I have limited annual leave and limited funds so I’m not going to use it doing something I hate.
Starbar66 · 17/07/2021 17:38

I don't think it's a competition... not sure why you are so defensive

Ifitquacks · 17/07/2021 17:39

Confused just pointing out why adults who really dislike camping might choose not to use their valuable annual leave and holiday budget going camping.

budgiegirl · 17/07/2021 17:41

What an idiot. We stopped going camping because we bought a cottage by a lake in a forest. My daughter has never been camping. The poor, poor child

There are some very odd, and frankly ignorant, comments on this thread. I know you are being sarcastic, but of course your child is not deprived because they've not been camping. But that doesn't make the teacher an idiot because she has said/implied that some children don't get the opportunity to go camping because of deprivation. She's 100% correct - some don't. It doesn't mean that all children who haven't been camping are deprived.

I feel like many people are deliberately misunderstanding what the teacher was saying/implying.

Starbar66 · 17/07/2021 17:46

Totally quacks.. I didn't say people should do stuff they hate with their kids, including camping. Just noting that the point that it's then good if kids get to try stuff elsewhere. Plus I'm guessing we have all done stuff we don't enjoy so the kids can do it, or been to places we dislike or find boring, for them. Camping is one of many experiences like that. There's stuff.my kids haven't done because I'm not into it or can't afford it and I'd be glad if they got to do it some other way with other people.

PerciphonePuma · 17/07/2021 18:05

@Ozanj

She is probably only talking about specific kids who are on FSM or cared for. She won’t be meaning anything beyond that.
Excuse me, but just because a child is on FSM does NOT make them 'deprived!' FFS! My child gets it because of my disability but she is FARRRRRRRRR from deprived! Bloody spoilt rotten more like!
MolyHolyGuacamole · 17/07/2021 18:29

@HeyDemonsItsYaGirl

I'd consider myself deprived if I'd been made to go camping tbh
Exactly this 😂
RIPwalter · 17/07/2021 18:56

I'd consider myself sleep deprived if I took DD camping.

Even in a downstairs bedroom in a stonewalled cottage where the internal temperature has only reached 21C max today plus with a fan and black out blinds, sleep is a challenge for her!!

SleepingStandingUp · 17/07/2021 20:00

Its really worrying that so many people who you would assume are fairly intelligent cannot work out the difference between "choose not to" and "cannot choose to"

lllllllllll · 17/07/2021 20:10

Honestly, I would rather stay home than go camping.

lllllllllll · 17/07/2021 20:13

Also don’t understand the OP. Camping is the cheapest holiday there is - ergo surely it’s wealthy families who are more likely not to have been camping? Confused

SleepingStandingUp · 17/07/2021 20:43

@lllllllllll

Also don’t understand the OP. Camping is the cheapest holiday there is - ergo surely it’s wealthy families who are more likely not to have been camping? Confused
Its the difference between choosing not to and not being able to choose to do something
Wallpapering · 17/07/2021 21:06

So I guess we won’t be having a MN camping get together then Grin.

Which one of you had cottage and how many of us can it accommodate inside!

Confiscatedpopit · 17/07/2021 21:09

To be honest- I know my friends who struggle financially/ on benefits long term etc are the ones who I see camping with their children the most. Sorry if that’s blunt. I always think it’s great and shows a bit of initiative to show children a great time when money is probably an issue. Camping to me requires a lot of organisation and thought. I pay more to not deal with that. The only times it becomes ‘middle class’ are when it’s at these children’s’ festivals or going in the car to France and camping etc.

But I wouldn’t put it hand in hand with being deprived of they have never been. It’s not my thing so I wouldn’t take my own daughter. To me it’s a cheap holiday when you are struggling. I admire anyone who does it with their kids- it’s my idea of hell.

Not seeing the beach or countryside is different entirely. To me that does suggest deprivation.

Daisychainsandglitter · 17/07/2021 21:10

YANBU I hate camping and certainly won't be taking my DC on any camping holidays or trips.

tartanblanketdog · 17/07/2021 21:15

@lllllllllll

Honestly, I would rather stay home than go camping.
But that's not the way kids see it - it's about the kids not you.