Pitching the tent, single handed

[ImFree2doasiwant]

With 2 smallish children. Any tips?
I've just watched a YouTube video of a man pitching the same tent alone in less than 9 minutes. I will have a practice pitch. 2 things I'm wondering (having seen both ways on youtube)

Peg out the groundsheet first, or not?

Thread all 3 poles (tunnel tent) through first before putting the ends in, or not(the other way erected the middle one first.)

Depends on the tent, to be honest! What model/make is it?

I had a quite straight forward tent when DC were smaller and all DD had to do was hold a pole occasionally whilst I flew round putting pegs in.. Once it's mainly pegged down, you can adjust and get it looking better.

Recently upgraded to a bigger one which does need more assistance but luckily, DC are also now bigger so can help more (not that they do!)

I will say though that there is pretty much always someone on the site who will help pitch in if they see you struggling, although perhaps less likely in these times?

Sorry... not really answered the question. In my experience, poles in first, peg down, ground sheet and inner bedrooms etc afterwards!

If you're doing it on you own peg some of it down before putting the poles in or you may struggle with it blowing away. Don't worry about them being in the right place as they're only holding it for you and you can move them to the right spot once you've got a few more in.

Thanks, its a vango, icarus 500. Did it a couple of times last year with help

I’ve got tent like this. Easier to do poles first so you can lift ground sheet and up and wiggle when you try and get end pin up the pole. If it’s all tight into the ground you are not going to have much give. Unless it’s blowing a Gale and you need some stability while you are doing it. But a child on each corner may be enough.

ground sheet first - with my tent. I am neurotic about protecting my tent, though.

Get a smaller pop up tent and zip them in close by (you can use the fly screen ) with toys and snacks so you can hear them.

It always worked.

Once you have the main pods up
In your big tent then can transfer into the bigger one and zip them in whilst you peg everything down.

Then once you are pegged down you can inflate the beds with them helping.

Where there's a will there's a way!

As a single parent, I took my kids camping quite a few times.

First you need a tent that’s easy to put up. Definitely practise at home first. Put the poles in first, then peg from the back. If your kids are big enough, get them to help hold it up while you peg.

Don’t feel embarrassed about accepting/asking others for help if you’re stuck. There are usually plenty of people willing to lend a hand in a campsite.

My other piece of camping advice is stay with your tent if there’s a storm due, don’t be tempted to escape the weather elsewhere....I learnt this the hard way and came back to a collapsed tent 😱

Peg four corners, middle pole in first and up is definitely the easiest way - I have an Iris 600 (bigger version of your's) and do it on my own. Look for the cross camping method on YouTube.

Thanks all, I'm not too worried about the DC ,more that they won't be much help!

@ademanlu I will look it up, thank you!

With tunnel tents, get it up loosely pegged, then start at one end and peg firmly, pulling tight. Work your way down the tent to the next pole walking it out from the one you’ve just pegged.