advice from parents about camping

[ram_man]

So i like my son growing up simple and knowing how to do things the old fashion way before computers and gizmos. He does know how to use a lot of tech stuff for his age though. That got me thinking. We are going camping in a month and it'll be at a state park. He will still be 3 yrs old he turns 4 in july. My mom was very much a worry wart when I was a kid so I didn't get to go hunting young and stuff and as a kid i was kind of a baby Imo. I did grow out of it though.
This seems kind of complex for the question but that's ok I guess. Would you guys let your 3 yr old have his own tent or would you get a big enough family tent. He wants to use his own tent but I kind of think he shouldn't. I worry about someone snatching him in the night. Is my worry unrealistic or well justified? I don't want to be the parent who babies their kids but on the other hand making it to adulthood in one piece is a plus.
I will be giving him my first fishing pole on the trip. I am excited to hand that down. I'm glad I was able to keep it in decent shape all those years. Thanks everyone. Have a good night.

 

[dishdude]

3 years old? He stays in the family tent. There isn't even anything to think about there.

 

[bvance554]

Family tent! He'd be in your tent before you fell asleep anyhow.

 

[tomcat27]

Family tent. There's human predators, animals, even bugs.

 

[crazyoildude]

your tent he is 4... Hope your wife don't see that question..lol
Keep your guns safe from him also but keep them ready just in case you have to use them

 

[JHZR2]

We used to camp a lot and always just had a family tent.

 

[ram_man]

Well if he had his own he would be next to us. Lol the reason I asked is because I mean he has his own room now and sleeps in his own room so wanted to make sure I wasn't being over protective. I guess I'll need to get a bigger tent. I have a 4 person tent but it's more like a 2 person tent comfortably. It's really neat to have a son. I obviously love both my kids but sons are alot of fun.

 

[djb]

You are supposed to wait six weeks before taking an infant out. But we wanted to be conservative, so we waited six and a half weeks before camping.

I still think that three or four is way too young to be in their own tent. Expect sometime between six and ten, and then with a friend their own age while you are in a tent a few feet away.

 

[typ901]

Definitely family tent. Drape a sheet between you two, pin it to the tent frame and he can pretend its his own space.

 

[Nick R]

3 years old? Family tent imo. Maybe at like, 9 or 10 be given their own.

I'm no parent myself, but at 3 seems just way too young to be on their own. JMO though.

 

[crinkles]

Family tent. No guessing where he might wander off to. We have a humongous 3 room tent. Yet to use it though.

 

[The_Jeff]

Kid's going to freak out about everything waking up in a strange place. Do you want him wandering off to the bathroom 100 yards away?

 

[NHHEMI]

It scares me that anyone would even begin to think a 3 year old should have their own tent. I am not a parent but I know better than to do that.

My family used to camp all the time when I was growing up. I was in the tent or camper with my parents until I was like 9-10 years old. At that time I was allowed in the tent with the older kids. Think I was at least 12 before I could be on my own.

 

[SF0059]

Originally Posted By: typ901
Definitely family tent. Drape a sheet between you two, pin it to the tent frame and he can pretend its his own space.


This is exactly what I was going to say. The safety of the family tent while giving him his own "tent". Sounds like fun!

 

[GutsyGecko]

Buy him his own tent that you can zip to yours in a way that he has to go THROUGH your tent to get into his.

 

[ram_man]

Originally Posted By: GutsyGecko
Buy him his own tent that you can zip to yours in a way that he has to go THROUGH your tent to get into his.


I've seen those before . I need to find one.

One thing i will say is he wouldn't wonder off. Alot of things is dependant on the child's maturity and he is 3 but he is much more mature than most 3 yr olds. I don't worry about what he would do I worry about someone else doing something.
While I'm at home with him I have pretended to fall asleep just to see what he would do. He always either goes in his room and plays or quietly watches tv. Never tries to destroy things or anything.

Funny how we live in a different time. My grandpa had his first gun at 4 yrs old and would go in the woods regularly for fun. Now things are very different

 

[johnachak]

Get a good size family tent. He's too young to be on his own just from the noise / creepiness factors. He'd probably end up in your tent anyway. Have a great trip and cudos on the fishing rig. I am looking forward to teaching my grand chldren to fish. It was fun with my kids, but the grand children should be even more fun since I am retired and waaaay more relaxed.

 

[R80RS]

At 3 years old he needs an adult in the tent with him, whether it's a family tent or a 2 man tent that you share with him.

 

[NHHEMI]

A "mature" 3 year old is still 3 years old. Period.

4 years old with a gun? Wow.

 

[rjundi]

Never a three year old let alone 5 year alone in a tent alone. They can wander......In our area bears are an issue too.

It is interesting you worry about snatching(so unlikely) however don't think the obvious problem(wandering off).