Or have I been doing camping 'wrong'?

[Starupinthelightningsky]

I have always camped, usually in small campsites with very cheap, light gear as I have a small car and am usually on my own with two under sevens.
I camp generally due to the price; we can go away lots for £20 quid a night, kids aren't bothered by food at all and I don't enjoy going for meals. We just wake up, eat some breakfast and go out for the day, come back at 8/9pm, heat some water for a pot noodle and go to sleep.
The more people I speak to, the more I realise that maybe camping itself is what you're meant to enjoy and that some don't go off the campsites much, at least not everyday.
No judgement here but what are you supposed to do all day? Drink? Sit in camping chairs? Is there enough to do for small children? Is it because I don't have another adult there, is that the key? I can just imagine I'd be expected to play pretend all day, or worse, play off ground touch for hours?
Also, people who can afford to go self catering but camp? Why?? I mean I do enjoy the fact we can pack up and move on but some days (weather) usually I would choose a beautiful holiday home over a small four man tent.
Sorry if this sounds judgey, just feel like the curtain has been lifted and maybe I've been missing out!

A bit of both. We camp as a base because like you we can't afford the self catering accommodation. However recently I have realised that this "up and out" regime that we seem to have fallen into isn't all it's cracked up to be! So now i try to factor in the odd lazy morning where we just hang about on site, and it's actually really nice. Or alternatively, shoot off in the morning but then get back earlier for a bit of afternoon lazing. Lazing doesn't come naturally to me, so I have to consciously plan it in!

Some families like to stay on site. Some like days out.
Hotel , camping or self catering. I prefer one day out and about followed by one day relaxing close to accommodation.So, one busy day alternated by one quiet day.
Each to their own, whatever works for you.

Count me in the, you can’t do camping wrong, group.

I do think there is different kinds of camping but none of them are wrong. In my teens we used to do drive up camping at a state park which had more traditional activities, like canoeing and hiking. We would mostly stick close to the campsite with goofy activities planned. But also lots of time for naps, reading, and cards. We’d go into the little town town occasionally. For us meals were the big draw… home cooked over the fire good food. (Please do something better than pot noodles, almost everything can be prepped at home then finished off at the campsite with very little effort).

I just don’t understand why people are worried that they are doing something wrong just because they are doing it differently.

We go camping to the same place every year because its cheap and we enjoy it, we tend to stay on site because the site is massive, has a lake for swimming, woods for walks/tree climbing, a huge play area, a bike pump track, a small arcade and a lovely restaurant. Its not far from home so the local attractions we do frequently but only visit the attraction where the campsite is, when we camp so it's a novelty for the kids to be there.

We will also hang around the tent at least one day and the kids run wild, have water fights with other campsite kids etc whilst we read a book, have a bbq, whatever.

I used to camp before I got too decrepit.

I never used to spend all day/evening on the site though. It was always a base for going walking, to the beach, sightseeing, etc and we'd clear off after breakfast, stay out all day and have dinner out, and go back late in the evening.

No kids though.

We have a touring caravan and when our kids were younger, we always chose campsites with stuff on for them to do so we could spend a few days just on the site- so over a 2 week period we'd probably stay on site for 5 or 6 days. It was cheaper than going out every day, and it was nice not to have to get a ton of stuff ready to cart around all day or sit in traffic trying to get somewhere. And to just chill! Kids in the pool, me reading a book, hubby dozing......
I spend my working day rushing around places, its nice not to do it all the time on holiday