Kids mess

[ripas]

Yep we probably take too much stuff camping.  With four kids and their bikes, crafts and clothes our Jayco quickly becomes ... Less than ideal for my OCD traits

We have tried clear plastic tubs under the rear bed but this doesn't seem to be overly successful.  We are thinking about purchasing a Gazebo and a hub (http://search.bcf.com.au/search?w=wanderer%20gazebo) for all the kids stuff - the hub can become their zone  and it will all be in one area. We can then use the gazebo as an alternate eating area.

Any feedback from anyone using a gazebo and dome or similar setup? Also open to other ideas on managing the kids  mess.....

Oh by the way this is a base camp type setup - typically five days in one spot.  For touring we will cut back to essentials only so cutting back on the issues.

[ATC]

We take a 3x3 Gazebo, great for shelter & eating when there is a bit of rain.

Make sure you buy some stronger guy ropes and good pegs so it doesn't become a 30kg kite.

We also have side walls for it, but they are just a PITA to put up.
Don't have a better solution there, if it's raining / windy we just sit a bit further in.

Just remember that most gazebo's are not like a good tent.
They do break so many moving parts made from plastic.
Some brands do sell replacement parts, others are a through away.

Depends on hot much you want to spend....

[edz]

If what your taking is to hard to handle there is only one thing for it CUL CULL CULL, with our two girls it was a bare minimum of a few small toys books etc, for those times when its wet or not making their own fun exploring etc ...

[Malcolm Tugless]

The most effective way to circumvent kids clutter would be, um ... contraception ... I'm not helping am I ? 




Seriously though, when camping with little tackers we minimised the amount of toys and such that they took away.

Camping was/is a chance to leave the humdrum behind, its not about transporting all the junk from home. Kids are quite ingenious when it comes to inventing fun, their imagination is all thats required.

For sure take the bikes and a ball or two, books, some paper and pencils, a couple of games for all the family to enjoy together ... oh and an endless supply of bandaids and cuddles.

[tk421]

We tent camp (oztent and tagalong) but also take a Oztrail Deluxe Gazebo 3x3m  for longer stays. The tent does give us a biggish central room, but the gazebo extends it out which is good for wet weather. We also have the side walls 2xsolid, 2x fly mesh.  Securing it in windy weather is the hardest part - extra pegs and ropes are a must. 

I don't find the walls a hassle to put up. Its a couple of zips and clips and they're done. We usually use one or two as a sunshade/windbreak anyway and just roll them up when not required

Because we don't have a trailer, with our kids we limit them to medium duffle bag for clothes and one shared small backpack for toys.  They're pretty good at going off and making their own fun - a stick will become a gun, sword, a horse and effective brother beater.  Rocks become pets with a little bit of permanent marker, or cars, or UFO's,  etc etc. 

If you have more space you just tend to fill it. We go camping with another family and its insane what they bring - takes them a day just to pack the ute- 3xscooters, 3xbikes, 3 different types of nerf guns each, Lightsabers, ninja swords, Star wars toys & the list goes on. And half the time they're never used. I just couldn't do it.

[Bird]

If what your taking is to hard to handle there is only one thing for it CUL CULL CULL, with our two girls it was a bare minimum of a few small toys books etc, for those times when its wet or not making their own fun exploring etc ...

What he said.

Let them experience the wilderness, not what they can waste hour after hour on at home...

[Goose]

For our 2 kids we take their school bags and pack all their clothes and books into them. Each day when they get dressed/undressed clothes go everywhere but we just stuff everything back into the school bag and leave the bag on their bed.

With 4 kids but the mess is always going to be against you one way or another.

I'd say only take things that the 4 of them can use together or share, if the ages/genders make that appropriate. And look into culling the bikes from 4 down to 2, making them share turns or something like that. The pack-up of bikes is always fiddly for me but then again having less bikes will cause some fights no doubt.

[Rodt]

We have the 3 x 3 gazebo with the tent insert. Takes bugger all time to set up and this is basically the girls' bedroom. We either butt it up against the trailer tent or let it stand  on it's own somewhere. Fits two messy teenage girls but gets all their crap away from me

Rod

[ripas]

That's exactly what I wanted to hear Rod.

It's not about the amount of stuff they take (not a lot) it's about managing the mess they make.

[Memem284]

We got ours into their own tents as soon as we could. All their mess was confined there and was their responsibility - even better,  I didn't have to see it. They were then responsible for set up and pack up.

[Bird]

It's not about the amount of stuff they take (not a lot)

strange, I thought that's what your first sentence said.

[nab]

What we used to do is give them a small box and tell them they can bring whatever fits in it, nothing else. Makes them realise (sort of, they re 5 & 3, 1yo has dirt to eat) they can only take so much and when they are finished you know that you can just stuff it back into the box it came in! They now have there own storage place in the camper and they are so proud to keep it tidy!

[jimc1]

We do the box thing for my 3 young kids. They each get a 15 - 20 litre tub, that their clothed go into and any room left, they can fill with whatever they decide to take. It cuts down the amount of stuff and its the kids responsibility to keep all their stuff in their boxes. The littlest one gets a slightly larger tub, but we tend to go thought more changes of clothes with her due to toilet accidents.
 
I am slowly working on my wife's requirements. She can pack light for the kids, but that does not tend to apply to her. Oh well...happy wife = happy life.
 
This light packing excludes kayak 5 x PFD's, 5 x bike helmets, 3 x boogie boards and cricket bat/ball.
 
We have car seat organisers hanging on our seats filled with pencils and other arty things. We also pack UNO and a easy single player strategy game and HUGE bag of smarties as prizes for or nightly quiz.