Tips for a reluctant 10 year old swag user

[sol]

     

           

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.

             

             

[speewa158]

Don't worry about Dingos & kids in swags . Generally there tasty little treats but ,,A Bugger to Peal ...    

[GeeTee]

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! 

[briann532]

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

[Socks]

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! 

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


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[johnyd]

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.

[db]

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

[Kit_e_kat9]

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.     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

[kiwi_camper]

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

[Socks]

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!

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[db]

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.     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...

[fishfinder]

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

[britts]

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

[richardl]

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

[Socks]

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

[briann532]

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......

[MDS69]

You lucky bigger.
Our gravel was cold......

and we were barefooted in the snow.

[gibbo301]

And if it was cold we would sit around a candle and if it was realy cold dad would lite it 

[SteveandViv]

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


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I don't own kids  Lol

Spoken like a true non child owner 

[GeeTee]

I thought that would get some giggles 

[weso]

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. !!!!!!


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[Kit_e_kat9]

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.   

Kit_e

[Pebble]

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

[Swannie]

The kids have decided to try the swags out tonight... Fingers crossed

Swannie


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[Socks]

The kids have decided to try the swags out tonight... Fingers crossed

Swannie

Let us know how they go

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