MySwag.org The Off-road Camper Trailer Forum
General => General Discussion => Topic started by: Socks on June 23, 2013, 09:41:54 PM
-
We have decided it will be easier for us if the kids use swags rather than setting up bunks and stretchers in the annexe.
However my 10 year old son is going to be a reluctant swag user. I can feel it - mothers instinct! He doesn't like the dark and is already concerned that it'll be dark when camping. He hasn't done a lot of camping in his short life and when he did it was in a tent in a caravan park.
Any tips for how to ease him into this and have him a happy camper would be appreciated. I'm sure some of you have younger kids than mine using swags &/or reluctant campers.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
-
if he doesn't like it, then don't force him or it will put him off even more and off camping.
Why not use a camp stretcher? We use 2 for both our kids, I wouldn't like to try them in swags...
-
I don't have kids but what about some camp outs in the lounge where the swag would not be zipped up and his own torch for camping or some type of battery night light that might help with the dark worry. But like lost said not forcing him to like the swag. Good luck
-
Try and borrow a swag first?
Can't blame you for wanting the ease of setup of a swag, our kids use them.
You don't have to set up a swag so it's fully enclosed and dark as such, they can use them just as a flat swag first.
At times our kids just use their swag mattresses and a sleeping bag inside the camper and leave the canvas part at home!
-
Thing is lost he decides he doesn't like something before he even tries it. Hes not good at giving things a go. And he needs to learn to try stuff i.y.k.w.i.m
Wile he hasn't camped a lot he is keen to camp and has loved it in the past so hence why I'm looking for ideas to ease him happily into the swag concept
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
-
Hi socks
I'd give the kids a lounge room camp out with torches and damper and any other camping things you can think of. Making everything normal before you even leave the house.
good luck Dan.
-
Can't blame you for wanting the ease of setup of a swag, our kids use them.
Thanks Danny
How old are your kids and do they like them?
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
-
It's weird, one of my sons sleeps with the light on every night at home, 8 yrs old. However sleeps happily in his swag. I was surprised to be honest. A couple of things that I do.
Make sure he has his head torch in there and it's working, show him how to keep it in the same pocket.
Always put the zips in the same place.
He had a few nights in it in his bedroom, opened up when he first got it.
Let him bring a couple of teddies with him.
Use the same pillow he has at home.
He also has his iPod in there with him.
No problems at all. In fact it's the one place he tends to sleep in !
-
Hi socks
I'd give the kids a lounge room camp out with torches and damper and any other camping things you can think of. Making everything normal before you even leave the house.
good luck Dan.
Great idea
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
-
Swag night in the lounge room, then swag night in the backyard and make sure he has a big arse light sabre LED torch
-
Thanks Heath. Some great ideas there
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
-
Thanks Danny
How old are your kids and do they like them?
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
Our kids that use the swags are 10 yo girl and 16 yo boy. Our 18yo boy uses a mattress and sleeping bag on the rare times he camps with us.
-
Our little miss 5 likes a light on at night at home, but for camping she settles for those thin coloured glow sticks that can be connected together... A pack of twenty is only a few dollars and they throw just enough light inside the camper, outside a few cheap solar garden lights lighten up the camp area .
-
I agree with others, set it up at home and make it fun, invite some friends over and make it a swag night. make sure he has a good light and anything else that will make him feel comfy.
When actually camping keep him very close to you, that way he still has some security knowing that you are right there should he feel the need.
-
l made an LED strip light with only 4 lights on it for just such a Swagger . Seems to work well just enough light to be safe by , empowers them as it had a switch to turn it off . Worth a try :cheers:
-
As per above, swag sleep at home, then in your annex like u normally do when camping, then when he is used to it move in out after a few camps or when he is ready to.
-
As all other suggestions, start at home then outside and then into the bush. Also get some glow sticks/bracelets, the kids love them and they light up the tent/swag all night long once activated, will give him a nice glow in the swag
GG
-
Agree with all above comments. My son who was out in his swag for the first time last weekend had a little "freak out" in his new swag, he then jumped into mine and slept like a baby so not sure what was going on...
Swannie
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
-
As all the above has said then go one step further back again. Take him to a camping store and let him play around in them with your other kids.
Try and make it fun that he has his own little area.
I have trouble keeping my kids out of them at the shops or when mine is set up.
Note - tell the shop assistant what you are up to so they don't just think your kids are running feral. Most will be more than happy to help out.
Or be like me. I let the other half and kids have the camper and I'm happy to sleep outside in my swag. Ahh the tranquility.
-
As all other suggestions, start at home then outside and then into the bush. Also get some glow sticks/bracelets, the kids love them and they light up the tent/swag all night long once activated, will give him a nice glow in the swag
GG
The glowsticks are a top idea. The cheap bracelets are great as they can be threaded onto the zippers - makes the camo bivvy easy to find after a 3am pit stop! For youngens they make the swag zippers easy to find with a soft glow in the swag.
Tim
-
Also, what about the style of swag?? There are plenty around now that have hoops or ropes so the weight of the canvas is not laying on top of him and he'll have stacks of room. This might help with any claustrophobic dramas.
-
With the nieces before the Wilpena Pound trip we actually let them set the swags up in the back yard and wet them down themselves. This then became a great game of one being in the swag seeing if the water came in whilst the other one tried to drown her sister and swag and the back yard in general with the hose (at least they would not leak with the wetting they got)
The girls were showed how to set up and roll them back up and their job at each camp was to make their bed so to speak and pack it up, they seemed to like the fact that they had a dedicated job to do each day
If this then became an ownership thing I do not know, but they loved sleeping in them to the point we had to get a texta to write their names on them as the fight that went on one day cause one thought they were in their sisters one (OMG Trent so icky according to the youngest) and vice versa was a doozy.
-
Love the idea of the solar lights near each swag! Will definitely be getting a couple :)
The glow sticks could work too :)
We've already purchased the swags and they are the type that are rounded on the top so don't sit directly over the kids. Will let the 3 kids do some backyard swag nights once the weather is better.
The ownership idea is also a great idea. Hopefully that'll give him a reason to want to make this work also
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
-
l made an LED strip light with only 4 lights on it for just such a Swagger . Seems to work well just enough light to be safe by , empowers them as it had a switch to turn it off . Worth a try :cheers:
That would be me and I use it every camping trip! :cheers:
My six year old has had enough of being in the camper and wants his own pop up tent. I am happy to let him try but the wife thinks Azaria's dingo will be at every campsite we go to. However my 8 yr old would be in our bed every night if he could.
I guess it is a matter of doing things when THEY feel comfortable doing so and not pushing them into it.
-
Just remind the missus that you're south of the dingo fence John. The boy's will be OK.
I think my daughter had 3 trips away in the camper before she decided she was too 'cool' to sleep in the same tent as the 'oldies'. I don't care personally, just as long as I can keep her interested in coming with us for as long as possible. I just hope I've been able to give her some memories from her childhood that will last as long as some of mine.
Cheers Marchy
-
Just remind the missus that you're south of the dingo fence John. The boy's will be OK.
I think my daughter had 3 trips away in the camper before she decided she was too 'cool' to sleep in the same tent as the 'oldies'. I don't care personally, just as long as I can keep her interested in coming with us for as long as possible. I just hope I've been able to give her some memories from her childhood that will last as long as some of mine.
:cup:
:cheers:
-
Don't worry about Dingos & kids in swags . Generally there tasty little treats but ,,A Bugger to Peal ... ??? >:D
-
I don't own kids but I have a few mates' kids I go camping with. There are some good ideas/comments here and an interesting contrast between kids' own decision making and getting them to do as they are damn-well told! ;D
-
My sons 8 and he loves the swag.
I suggested it once a couple of years ago and was met with resistance.....
Dark, scared etc. My son also makes up his mind before he tries something. Sometimes his mum makes it up for him........
SOoooooooooooooo.....
I used it one night and told him he was way too young and it was for dad only.
Needless to say as soon as he wasn't allowed, of course he wanted to....
So with a bit of persuasion he "convinced" me he was old enough. I gave in to him but told him it was ok to be scared or want to come out, but he's hooked.
Its now a pain when we don't swag as he wants to.
Good old reverse psychology.
I also keep telling myself I don't drink anymore................
Cheers
Brian
-
I don't own kids but I have a few mates' kids I go camping with. There are some good ideas/comments here and an interesting contrast between kids' own decision making and getting them to do as they are damn-well told! ;D
I don't own kids ??? Lol
And yes totally agree about balancing his needs and the need for him to do as he is told
Oh and Brian I love a bit of reverse psychology - might give it a go
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
-
Can't say I've seen a kid that hasn't liked the swag, most of the kids I've been around have been dying to come on a camping trip and since the adults and older kids used swags that was what they wanted to use as well. All country kids though, not city slickers, I suppose that would make a difference.
The backyard camp sounds like the way to go, try and get a few kids around his age that are comfortable in a swag around for it as well. "Peer Pressure" can work wonders in getting most kids to try new things. Not suitable for some children of course as they all have different motivations, temperaments and such.
-
our two are a bit young yet to swag it, but we've been telling them for sometime that is where their future lies. they're keen, but what has helped is seeing friends older son using one. Both boys look up to him, so that I think has given the swag idea a positive spin
-
You could always say to "reluctant" what my parents said ... "If you don't like it you can sleep on the dirt with no blankets and your tears for company". Worked well for us and we never complained about much of anything. As I recall, we got this same response to a lot of things in our youth - I appear to be well rounded and completely sane ... still love my camping and my parents. ;D We never had fancy swags or half the fancy things kids these days have and we made it through to adult hood just fine.
Kit_e
-
Great ideas here. My kids are still a bit young for swags (or maybe I'm not ready LOL) but when they are, I will remember to use some of these :D
-
You could always say to "reluctant" what my parents said ... "If you don't like it you can sleep on the dirt with no blankets and your tears for company".
Kit_e
Love it!
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
-
You could always say to "reluctant" what my parents said ... "If you don't like it you can sleep on the dirt with no blankets and your tears for company". Worked well for us and we never complained about much of anything. As I recall, we got this same response to a lot of things in our youth - I appear to be well rounded and completely sane ... still love my camping and my parents. ;D We never had fancy swags or half the fancy things kids these days have and we made it through to adult hood just fine.
Kit_e
You forgot to mention walking 10 miles to school through 6 feet of snow and eating hot gravel for breakfast...
-
I only hop in my swag if I have a gut full of booze other wise I wont go there. I hate the idea of having my feet restricted not able to have them out in the open, same with sleeping bags, if I wanted a cocoon I would have been a caterpillar hate them, the only reason I don't like going to work is I have to wear socks. As a kid i refused to sleep in a sleeping bag had to open it up or just throw it straight on top of me as a blanket, is your kid old enough to drink ? if not as mentioned try but don't force may be something you mite not be able to crack until the 18th birthday
-
Another vote for glowsticks, & if the sleeping bag is an issue make it up as a bed with sheets and doona from his bed at home
-
Perfect timing with this thread, we are looking at swags for the kids, but I have a sneaky feeling that it will be me outside. Still should be good around the fire, I'm always the first up and out anyway
-
This is the swag we have got them so there is plenty of room inside for him. I never liked the look of the flat type and wouldn't sleep in them but this seems a good option as the head end is higher.
Will definately also get some of the glow ticks and maybe the solar lights too for outside.
Then there's just that balance between him doing what he is told and being comfortable with sleeping there (home swag sleepouts are also in the agenda). He has 2 siblings that won't have an issue so we are also hoping a little bit of peer pressure will help
-
You forgot to mention walking 10 miles to school through 6 feet of snow and eating hot gravel for breakfast...
You lucky bugger.
Our gravel was cold......
-
You lucky bigger.
Our gravel was cold......
and we were barefooted in the snow.
-
And if it was cold we would sit around a candle and if it was realy cold dad would lite it ;D
-
I don't own kids ??? Lol
And yes totally agree about balancing his needs and the need for him to do as he is told
Oh and Brian I love a bit of reverse psychology - might give it a go
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
I don't own kids Lol
Spoken like a true non child owner ;D
-
I thought that would get some giggles ;D
-
One of the three is mine and he WILL do as he is told like it or (as said before) " he can sleep on the dirt with his tears for company" cause that's just how I roll. !!!!!!
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
-
I'm so glad everyone took it as it was meant ... Not sure whether the olds would have let us sleep in the dirt, but, as kids, we weren't going to test the theory. ;D
Kit_e
-
When we got our kids their swags they couldn't wait to sleep in them, so we all camped out in the yard one day to test them out.
I'd say definitely let him get familiarized at home, weather it's inside and outside. Having a torch in there and his favourite sleeping toy will help.
He will probably see it as a small version of a tent anyway (being the hoop style). I don't think it would be as dark as he might think, unless you shut him in there with all the flaps completely closed.
If none of that works just make him share a tent with someone who farts a lot, might change his mind :)
-
(http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/07/03/uqyna2ud.jpg)
The kids have decided to try the swags out tonight... Fingers crossed
Swannie
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
-
The kids have decided to try the swags out tonight... Fingers crossed
Swannie
Let us know how they go
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
-
Biggest challenge is trying to get the 2 year old out to put her to bed!!!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
-
(http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/07/03/uqyna2ud.jpg)
The kids have decided to try the swags out tonight... Fingers crossed
Swannie
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Swannie Are they going to do as Dad dose ??? Huge fire & a skin full of Grog as l recall :cheers:
-
Swannie Are they going to do as Dad dose ??? Huge fire & a skin full of Grog as l recall :cheers:
Mate, they were actually just talking about you. They wanted to know when we were going back to Mitchell's crossing with that "dodgy man" ;)
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
-
Swannie Are they going to do as Dad dose ??? Huge fire & a skin full of Grog as l recall :cheers:
Nice looking camper. I like how you put the wooden tv stand with the tv on the side. Looks like a real room.
-
Nice looking camper. I like how you put the wooden tv stand with the tv on the side. Looks like a real room.
You idiot :)
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
-
You idiot :)
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
So you mean it's not inside your camper ???? Shit looks so real
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
-
Hey weso, it could be mistaken for my Jayco.... ;)
Well the boys slept in it fine, no carry on or tears. They had the canvas tops open a little so I will make sure they have it open a little when we are out bush.
In hindsight should have got the normal B&W Coolabah for me as the XL is HUGE!!!