Bringing a 6 yeal old girl to Burning Man

playawedding · Post by **playawedding** » Tue Nov 23, 2004 12:29 pm

I am having my wedding at Burning Man next year and my sister, who is more conservative, is freaked out about bringing her 6 year old and very sheltered daughter. I have to respect that. Do any of you have any experience prepping a 6 year old or perhaps creating child appropriate boundaries for a young one's experience at burning man? Thanks for any advice you have to give.

Thanks,
amanda

GuinivereElise · Post by **GuinivereElise** » Tue Nov 23, 2004 12:39 pm

there was an entire thread devoted to this very topic. perhaps a search would find it?

burningflyer · Post by **burningflyer** » Tue Nov 23, 2004 12:51 pm

If she and mommy can handle things like a cute little doll house on the playa that invites you in to see . . . a harry man working his junk.

http://burningman.mechaber.com/2004/burners/0044.html

Badger · Post by **Badger** » Tue Nov 23, 2004 3:01 pm

There are practical considerations that should be taken into account in bringing a six year old. As mentioned they've been elaborated on over in another thread.

Probably more than anything you need to prep the mom - especially if she's generally conservative. Let he know what she's getting into if she she has issues with nudity, loud noise, somewhat outrageous behavior and sensory overload. BTW, I'm hoping that in inviting your family that its with the intention that they get involved in BRC in a way that extends beyond just attending your wedding.

Rian Jackson · Post by **Rian Jackson** » Tue Nov 23, 2004 3:13 pm

burningflyer wrote:If she and mommy can handle things like a cute little doll house on the playa that invites you in to see . . . a harry man working his junk.

http://burningman.mechaber.com/2004/burners/0044.html

Rob??

YerNotDaBossOMe · Post by **YerNotDaBossOMe** » Tue Nov 23, 2004 3:54 pm

Badger must be serious. He chanced his avatar and everything.

tisha2 · Post by **tisha2** » Tue Nov 23, 2004 4:33 pm

ah - here it is:

http://eplaya.burningman.org/viewtopic. ... light=kids

a lot of great points were made. check it out.

DROWNINGTHEMIND · Post by **DROWNINGTHEMIND** » Tue Nov 23, 2004 9:52 pm

[quote="playawedding"]I am having my wedding at Burning Man next year and my sister, who is more conservative, is freaked out about bringing her 6 year old and very sheltered daughter. I have to respect that. Do any of you have any experience prepping a 6 year old or perhaps creating child appropriate boundaries for a young one's experience at burning man? Thanks for any advice you have to give.

Thanks,
amanda[/quote]

I've been to burning man three times, once with two kids.
I dont think its the best idea to bring kids that young to burning man period, especially a very sheltered one. the best choice would be to leave her with a relative, but if you must bring her....just keep a close eye on her, keep her away from the adult areas, and read the other info everyone else has already posted.

Isotopia · Post by **Isotopia** » Wed Nov 24, 2004 9:18 am

I dont think its the best idea to bring kids that young to burning man period, especially a very sheltered one.

I guess I'd argue the opposite. I think it's be a great idea - an eye opener - for a sheltered child to be brought to the playa (assuming appropriate supervision). In some ways I think it's be just as good to bring the mom along assuming she wouldn't have a mental melt-down given all the stuff she'd have to get over.

shitmouse · Post by **shitmouse** » Wed Nov 24, 2004 3:59 pm

i have to agree with ISO.
bringing the child will enable her to be a part of an amazing thing, especially to such the young and creative mind.

on the other hand, i'd almost have to recommend her mom (uptighty-pants) staying home. that's a recipe for bad just waiting to happen. the heat, the *strange* people, all the colors,.... no doubt a hissy-melt-down WILL happen and sour up your experience. -(on the sadistic side, it'll be great lessons in learning to cope).
-b

Apollonaris Zeus · Post by **Apollonaris Zeus** » Wed Nov 24, 2004 6:26 pm

shitmouse wrote:i have to agree with ISO.
bringing the child will enable her to be a part of an amazing thing, especially to such the young and creative mind.

on the other hand, i'd almost have to recommend her mom (uptighty-pants) staying home.

Bring the KId leave the parent at home!

A II Z

RebA! · Post by **RebA!** » Wed Nov 24, 2004 10:34 pm

shitmouse wrote: no doubt a hissy-melt-down WILL happen and sour up your experience. -(on the sadistic side, it'll be great lessons in learning to cope).
-b

it would be even better if we could watch the enusing meltdown. It would be like performance art!

shitmouse · Post by **shitmouse** » Mon Nov 29, 2004 2:15 pm

RebA! wrote:
shitmouse wrote: no doubt a hissy-melt-down WILL happen and sour up your experience. -(on the sadistic side, it'll be great lessons in learning to cope).
-b
it would be even better if we could watch the enusing meltdown. It would be like performance art!

hahaha! just look for the person that hasn't moved in 6 days, with that "deer in the headlights" look.
-(sorry, i *am* the collective asshole).
-b

sparkletarte · Post by **sparkletarte** » Mon Nov 29, 2004 3:06 pm

The girl isn't your daughter. Does the sister want to go, or is it only that she is concered about her daughter? Sounds like you'd be forcing the issue- your sister doesn't want to miss your wedding, and yet she don't want to go to BM. It would be different if she wanted to go or at least was open to it.

If you went to BM against your better wishes simply because someone made you go would you be happy about that? Aren't weddings stressful enough without creating more drama?

shitmouse · Post by **shitmouse** » Mon Nov 29, 2004 3:34 pm

oh, congrats on getting married on the playa btw.
great place to be glued for eternity.
cheers,
-b

swampdog · Post by **swampdog** » Tue Nov 30, 2004 4:33 pm

I've got 3 girls, ages 5, 8, 11. They are a little sheltered, and I'm not eager to take them to BM for at least several years for several reasons. One, I would feel the need to be 100% child watching while I was there, which would limit my own experience pretty severely. Not to protect them from nudity/sexual content (altho my 11 year old, heading into puberty and very body conscious, would be deeply embarassed and/or grossed out). And, while I would expect them to be safe around thousands of burners, the chance that the five yr old would wander off and spend hours trying to find us is just too scary to me.

Also very important, they would HATE HATE HATE spending a week in the heat, dust, and discomfort of BM. Did I say "HATE" yet? They would hate it. Not only would they need babysitting, they would complain every step of the way.

Long and short of it - it's depends very much on the child's personality, patience, maturity. Even an enthusiastic burner like myself has to know each childs limitations and make a judgment whether that child is ready for the experience. It's really asking a lot of a person reluctant in the first place to bring along a child.

Bringing a 6 yeal old girl to Burning Man

Bringing a 6 yeal old girl to Burning Man

If you’re asking the question then you know the answer

Re: If you’re asking the question then you know the answer

Re: Bringing a 6 yeal old girl to Burning Man

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my kids