View Full Version : Small Kids at the Bushmoot- what are your entertainment essentials?
Its getting close to Bushmoot time :cool: and I'm starting to think about packing.
We're bringing our 2 anklebiters (2 and 4) and I'm just wondering what do you take to keep your kids entertained? What is essential gear for your family?
Any hints and tips are greatly appreciated
Cheers Ness :)
Mesquite
06-07-2011, 21:15
What is essential gear for your family?..
Rope and long bungees :rolleyes:
Eating Lots and lots of chiilli flavoured beef jerky and the winner is the one who can stay the longest from drinking something.
Hope you get some serious answers as well as the joke ones Ness. They're gonna love that adventure.
From general 1-night overnighters camping I would say bring their cuddly toys (limit to one per kid), lots of spare clothes, wellies, warm weather gear etc. Comfortable kids are happier kids. Lots of wet wipes!
Enough fingerfood that they like (sweets, fruit they like cookies).. and drinks!
Books, footballs, toys to play in the sand/ mud. If you're close to your car maybe CDs with children songs. Especially the 2 yo needs to be kept entertained.
Mine are 4, 3.5 almost 1. The middle one is usually content just coming along watching (if he's fed and watered). The eldest is like a duracell, never stopping.
It will be great for the kids!
:lmao: :lmao: :lmao:
I think they'll both be wearing T-shirts with their names and GPS Trackers attached :sigh:
The description of the site sounds like kid heaven. Just looking for others experiences.
They're both well used to a few nights camping/ glamping. Never been quite sofar with them though or camped for that many days. It'll be absolutely brilliant!
Ness :)
resnikov
06-07-2011, 22:17
Mine are 5 & 3 and will have fav soft toy, pens and paper, ball and a few other outside toys.
Mesquite
06-07-2011, 22:20
The description of the site sounds like kid heaven. Just looking for others experiences.
It is... lots of places to explore, trees to climb and and pirate ship to 'sail' :).
One word of advice though... the sea is a long way across the dunes so it might be a bit too much treking there across the dunes
mountainm
06-07-2011, 22:24
I'm not going - but if I was then I'd pack a stomp rocket for the kids
So glad to hear that it seems that there will be quite a few toddlars there! My little girl who will be very nearly two is a very social little girl and would love to meet others to play..
So how far is the sea then? Hoping to spend a day there with little-un.
Mesquite
07-07-2011, 08:38
So how far is the sea then? Hoping to spend a day there with little-un.
It's about 1.25 miles from the moot site to the beach... but bear in mind this is up and down over sand dunes which isn't the best surface for push chairs to travel over :rolleyes:
Anyone else wishing they were going now? My calendar is full around that week, not to mention the logistics of getting from Normandy France via Kent then across to south Wales and back again.
Going to have to make sure I plan for next years moot well in advance. I'm kicking myself now for chickening out again
Hey Ness why not google outside children games, or seek out games that scouts or cubs used to play? I'm betting a lot of those won't need bags of accessories to get the game into full swing. Y'know old school type games.
One thing I can highly reccommend is a treasure hunt. Take the kids on a walk with a lit of tiems they need to find along the way. A leaf with rounded edges, a spikey leaf, an acorn, a leather cowboy hat with a leather BCUK patch on it, a hair from John Fenna's beard (plucked of course) Things like that. You may need to carry some of the itmes with you to salt the ground ahead of them if certain things can't be found like acorns etc.
However it sounds to me though that the kids will be spending a lot of time getting to know other kids and not need that much amusing input from you.
All the best and ummmm should you make another batch of chilli beef jerky, then keep your international customer in mind, pretty please. Ta.
John Fenna
07-07-2011, 08:43
Anyone else wishing they were going now? My calendar is full around that week, not to mention the logistics of getting from Normandy France via Kent then across to south Wales and back again.
Going to have to make sure I plan for next years moot well in advance. I'm kicking myself now for chickening out again
Hey Ness why not google outside children games, or seek out games that scouts or cubs used to play? I'm betting a lot of those won't need bags of accessories to get the game into full swing. Y'know old school type games.
One thing I can highly reccommend is a treasure hunt. Take the kids on a walk with a lit of tiems they need to find along the way. A leaf with rounded edges, a spikey leaf, an acorn, a leather cowboy hat with a leather BCUK patch on it, a hair from John Fenna's beard (plucked of course) Things like that. You may need to carry some of the itmes with you to salt the ground ahead of them if certain things can't be found like acorns etc.
However it sounds to me though that the kids will be spending a lot of time getting to know other kids and not need that much amusing input from you.
All the best and ummmm should you make another batch of chilli beef jerky, then keep your international customer in mind, pretty please. Ta.
Trip, trap, trip, trap....this Troll loves children......chilli jerked, casseroled, BBQed or plain boilled...and his beard is inviolate and will stay that way!
It's about 1.25 miles from the moot site to the beach... but bear in mind this is up and down over sand dunes which isn't the best surface for push chairs to travel over :rolleyes:
Not taking a push chair! Won't fit in car, Thinking of taking a simple plastic sled though, reckon that may work on the dunes?
Mesquite
07-07-2011, 08:45
Trip, trap, trip, trap....this Troll loves children......chilli jerked, casseroled, BBQed or plain boilled...and his beard is inviolate and will stay that way!
Challenge nos 2 for the moot perhaps? :lmao::lmao:
My little Rhiannon Is trained to spear Trolls..
Graham_S
07-07-2011, 09:01
To be honest, They'll probably find a stick and some sand and sort themselves out...
Another thought,
Name badges (with their parents name on them too) for small children?
might be handy when they wander off and get lost.
My little Rhiannon Is trained to spear Trolls..
Oooooh skewered troll's a delicacy I hear. Kebabed John Fenna.. yeah I can see that picture already LOL!
Nice name Rhiannon, that's also my youngest daughter's name. Goddess of the horse.
Party games sounds like they're already forming - Drew's hat and John's beard, what's next I wonder?
John Fenna
07-07-2011, 09:24
Oooooh skewered troll's a delicacy I hear. Kebabed John Fenna.. yeah I can see that picture already LOL!
Nice name Rhiannon, that's also my youngest daughter's name. Goddess of the horse.
Party games sounds like they're already forming - Drew's hat and John's beard, what's next I wonder?
It only counts if The Troll is wearing Drews hat when you pluck the sacred hair from the Trolls beard.... :D
Mesquite
07-07-2011, 09:26
It only counts if The Troll is wearing Drews hat when you pluck the sacred hair from the Trolls beard.... :D
That can be arranged... :rofl:
Our two are coming too (6 and 8) so it sounds like there will be plenty of playmates, and my 8 year old loves mothering smaller children. I'll be taking some extra tarps / hammocks etc to make dens with, and balls etc to kick about. I think there will be plenty for them to do!
Snozz
John Fenna
07-07-2011, 09:34
That can be arranged... :rofl:
I thought that might get some interest! :D
Back to reality - there are some good entertainments for the little ones - Drew tells stories, Capn Badger organises some great events...it all depends on what the kiddies want...I would have been happy with a stick, some sand and a couple of worms to chew on.....
Actually - I often still am!
Mesquite
07-07-2011, 09:42
Our two are coming too (6 and 8) so it sounds like there will be plenty of playmates, and my 8 year old loves mothering smaller children. I'll be taking some extra tarps / hammocks etc to make dens with, and balls etc to kick about. I think there will be plenty for them to do!
Good idea... another suggestion along those lines is have a big builders tarp that you can pitch to provide a dry play area in times of inclement weather.
The thing to do with the beach is head towards it and then if you don't make it don't worry, just settle where you are and play in the sand, or you can drive to a number of beaches, the walk there is lovely.
There will be other kids about so they'll have fun with them and we'll do a few activities for the kids as well, the thing to keep in mind is that if you're willing to sacrifice your time to be with them then they'll be happy and you'll be relaxed. Some of this depends on the weather, if it's dry then they play a lot outside, if it's wet...they play a lot outside :D They also need more covered space which there's usually enough of, mud maps, plant pictures etc can all be played wtih and there's showers so you can get the kids clean.
Dark Horse Dave
07-07-2011, 10:36
I think my kids were about 4 & 7 at our first moot. I think we did bring some of their toys along, but they were ignored in favour of sand and sticks!
John Fenna
07-07-2011, 11:16
It might well be an idea to pitch none too far from the central Admin area and ablutions block ....just to avoid accidents!
I will be running some family stuff again. Usual family bowdrill and the quickie bow making that the kids and parents enjoyed last year. I have also made up Atlatl sets that do not necessarily require you to hold the dart. Great for little ones.
George
Our two are coming too (6 and 8) so it sounds like there will be plenty of playmates, and my 8 year old loves mothering smaller children. I'll be taking some extra tarps / hammocks etc to make dens with, and balls etc to kick about. I think there will be plenty for them to do!
Snozz
Perfect for little Rhiannon, she loves older kids!
roger-uk
07-07-2011, 12:01
Hi
You might find these useful for games:
http://www.netwoods.com/d-games.html
http://www.inquiry.net/outdoor/
These should get you started.
Roger
Glad to see that there will be quite a few wee ones :)
Name Badges are a brilliant idea. Will have a look to see if I can pick up a load for everyone.
Chilli Beef Jerky is definitely on the menu- shame you can't make it Aaron :p more for me :rolleyes:
Cheers
Ness :)
Yeah, Name badges would be great. Only worry is the pin on them. Good stickers may be better?
John Fenna
07-07-2011, 14:56
Glad to see that there will be quite a few wee ones :)
Name Badges are a brilliant idea. Will have a look to see if I can pick up a load for everyone.
Chilli Beef Jerky is definitely on the menu- shame you can't make it Aaron :p more for me :rolleyes:
Cheers
Ness :)
I will try some for him! :)
How about bracelet like in hospital? Far safer and not removable.
resnikov
07-07-2011, 15:05
Just use marker pens and wright the kids names on them. I know my kids draw on themsleves enough they would not mind :p
Mesquite
07-07-2011, 15:07
Just use marker pens and wright the kids names on them. I know my kids draw on themsleves enough they would not mind :p
Or make simple duct tape bracelets (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Duct-Tape-Child-Toddler-Safety-ID-Band-Bracelets-x-3-/190520434178?pt=UK_Baby_Baby_S afety_ET&var=&hash=item72173d77eb)for them...
Graham_S
07-07-2011, 15:17
Permanent pen on the forehead?
resnikov
07-07-2011, 15:20
Or make simple duct tape bracelets (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Duct-Tape-Child-Toddler-Safety-ID-Band-Bracelets-x-3-/190520434178?pt=UK_Baby_Baby_S afety_ET&var=&hash=item72173d77eb)for them...
They are rather cool, but cannot from the pics see how you fasten them.
John Fenna
07-07-2011, 15:26
They are rather cool, but cannot from the pics see how you fasten them.
The clue is in the bit that says " fastens with velcro" :D
mountainm
07-07-2011, 15:28
C'mon guys this is a bushcraft event - surely losing a small child is an opportunity for some tracking lessons?
resnikov
07-07-2011, 15:30
The clue is in the bit that says " fastens with velcro" :D
I knew i should have got my money back on the reading lessons I paid for :o
John Fenna
07-07-2011, 15:34
C'mon guys this is a bushcraft event - surely losing a small child is an opportunity for some tracking lessons?
Tracking ....or hunting? :D
Mesquite
07-07-2011, 15:36
Tracking ....or hunting? :D
Surely both are linked together ;)
Spikey DaPikey
07-07-2011, 18:49
Works for me.....
drewdunnrespect
08-07-2011, 10:23
me to spike
Have you guys met my children????.................y ou're combined tracking skills might very well be needed!!!! :rolleyes:
Plasticine, dominos, a drawing/painting box, a book of cat's cradles, cuddlies, puppets, men on parachutes for throwing off sand dunes, bucket and spade, glue sticks, double sided tape, book covering plastic (for trapping leaves or sand or twigs onto paper) paper (drawing, aeroplanes).
Will have 14, 11, 11, 9 and -0.5
N
Mancalleddave
25-07-2011, 19:11
It is... lots of places to explore, trees to climb and and pirate ship to 'sail' :).
One word of advice though... the sea is a long way across the dunes so it might be a bit too much treking there across the dunes
hey, you can get to the beach via a shortcut that follows the river down to the estuary. just go left from the public carpark of the dunes. Gets a bit swampy sometimes
Thanks Dave :)
Can't beat local knowledge!
Cheers
Ness :)