Hi from the PNW

mandalin64 · Post by **mandalin64** » Wed Feb 02, 2011 9:31 pm

Hi everyone, I'm a first timer, longtime admirer of the playa and its culture. I have 2 little ones, ages 5 and 2, that I am hoping to bring with me. Any suggestions? Individual camping? Theme camps? I'm not sure which approach is best, and I'd much rather go it alone the first year to scope it out - but I don't have much options, as they are so young. Anyway, I can't wait to enjoy the art, share the love, and love life and our world even more.

Peace,

FIGJAM · Post by **FIGJAM** » Wed Feb 02, 2011 9:37 pm

Howdy! Look up kidsville.

oneeyeddick · Post by **oneeyeddick** » Wed Feb 02, 2011 9:37 pm

Go down to Fairoaks lane in Lacy, and play in the water.

BM is no place for a 2 and 5 year olds, IMO.

Come back when your children are ready for it, or don't.

mandalin64 · Post by **mandalin64** » Wed Feb 02, 2011 9:40 pm

[quote="oneeyeddick"]Go down to Fairoaks lane in Lacy, and play in the water.

BM is no place for a 2 and 5 year olds, IMO.

Come back when your children are ready for it, or don't.[/quote]

I've heard many people camping at Kidsville that had a great time with their young'uns....

mandalin64 · Post by **mandalin64** » Wed Feb 02, 2011 9:42 pm

[quote="FIGJAM"]Howdy! Look up kidsville. :)[/quote]

THANKS! I did, it looks awesome... I just don't know what I'm up against bringing kids that small, and I didn't see a whole lot of info on their page. I'd be interested in seeing if they can stay with family during that week, but I don't want to deprive them of experiencing a wonderful, loving, and unique cultural event! Right??

oneeyeddick · Post by **oneeyeddick** » Wed Feb 02, 2011 9:45 pm

you bring your kids to kiddsville, you will stay there with them....protecting them.....just like the rest do.

anyhoot, do what you will, Lookout for the pervs..... there are a 'pleny of them , no matter what anyone says abvout it!

Post by **Elderberry** » Wed Feb 02, 2011 9:58 pm

Hey there, welcome to eplaya!

JK

TomServo · Post by **TomServo** » Thu Feb 03, 2011 1:43 am

oneeyeddick wrote:Go down to Fairoaks lane in Lacy, and play in the water.

BM is no place for a 2 and 5 year olds, IMO.

Come back when your children are ready for it, or don't.

Its everyone's playground! Kids at the first burn made a Burning Dog. Welcome to eplaya mandalin! I think the kids will handle the climate better than us old farts.

Post by **Savannah** » Thu Feb 03, 2011 12:33 pm

I'd be interested in seeing if they can stay with family during that week, but I don't want to deprive them of experiencing a wonderful, loving, and unique cultural event! Right??

mandalin, you would not be depriving kids aged 2 and 5 of anything if you experienced your first burn by yourself. It would probably be a massive blur to the 2 year old in particular.

Since it's a possibility to have the children stay with family, I hope you consider experiencing your first burn on your own, as this would make you far better equipped to make future burns more comfortable & positive for them, and maybe talking to people from Kidsville about what their camp is like (and/or stopping by to talk to their leadership, although I don't know how that is handled if you don't have children with you). In any subsequent burns you would have a much better idea of what you were in for. It's a fun environment, but it is also physically and emotionally tricky out there. Children do go, but the numbers are not huge.

I know plenty of awesome parents who burn, and do not bring the kids, but return restored, relieved and happy--and that's good for everyone.

I'm sure it's a very personal decision for you, and I note that you would rather go it alone, so I am just urging you not to think of it as depriving them of anything.

eta: if you go up to "profile" and look under "preferences" you can enable your BBCode so that quoting text etc works in your posts.

C.f.M. · Post by **C.f.M.** » Thu Feb 03, 2011 12:39 pm

Single, child-free people still need to experience the burn on their own before they can try to help anyone else, much less children (and at such completely dependent ages), know what they'll need.

Read through the thread on whether or not children should be allowed at Burning Man to get an idea of what you're in for.

mandalin64 · Post by **mandalin64** » Thu Feb 03, 2011 8:30 pm

Savannah wrote: I know plenty of awesome parents who burn, and do not bring the kids, but return restored, relieved and happy--and that's good for everyone.

Thank you for the encouragement, I will try to see if the family thing will work.. the hard part is that we live in WA state, and family is in CA or MO. A far way off from BM... Thanks for the advice!!!

mandalin64 · Post by **mandalin64** » Thu Feb 03, 2011 8:31 pm

TomServo wrote:
oneeyeddick wrote:Go down to Fairoaks lane in Lacy, and play in the water.

BM is no place for a 2 and 5 year olds, IMO.

Come back when your children are ready for it, or don't.
Its everyone's playground! Kids at the first burn made a Burning Dog. Welcome to eplaya mandalin! I think the kids will handle the climate better than us old farts.

Agreed. Seems like one eyed dick lives up to his name... sorry, but that was a bit harsh.

mandalin64 · Post by **mandalin64** » Thu Feb 03, 2011 8:31 pm

C.f.M. wrote:Single, child-free people still need to experience the burn on their own before they can try to help anyone else, much less children (and at such completely dependent ages), know what they'll need.

Read through the thread on whether or not children should be allowed at Burning Man to get an idea of what you're in for.

Off to do that now, thanks!!!

Post by **AntiM** » Fri Feb 04, 2011 8:49 am

A dear friend chose not to come with us last year as she didn't have anyone to look after her 2 year old in the default world. She had never attended and did not want to bring a child so young he could not communicate his needs to her. She even had a scholarship ticket, our established camp to fall back on, and transportation. She simply did not want to subject her baby boy to such a Great Unknown when she did not know how she would handle it herself.

I tend to agree.

ibdave · Post by **ibdave** » Fri Feb 04, 2011 9:13 am

AntiM wrote:A dear friend chose not to come with us last year as she didn't have anyone to look after her 2 year old in the default world. She had never attended and did not want to bring a child so young he could not communicate his needs to her. She even had a scholarship ticket, our established camp to fall back on, and transportation. She simply did not want to subject her baby boy to such a Great Unknown when she did not know how she would handle it herself.

I tend to agree.

what she said..

Clar-i-ty · Post by **Clar-i-ty** » Fri Feb 04, 2011 9:57 am

OK, so I attended my first Burn with kinders in tow. But they were like 7 and 4, had been camping before, and I myself had a lot of outdoor survival experience. Plus, I was fortunate enough to have a partner with me and to camp with some experienced Burners. I read everything I could and planned accordingly, and had a pretty awesome first Burn.

Now, please take into consideration some of the factors I have listed above.

1) My kids were older...old enough to occupy themselves in our camp.
2) I had a very secured camp with about 12 other people to help look out for them
3) I had a partner with me
4) My kids were already experienced campers
5) I myself had extensive outdoor survival experience.

All of these factors made for a great first experience. Consider your own factors, and challenges.

If you're a single parent, you already know how challenging that is. On the Playa, multiply that by about 1000. (I've done it as a single parent and even though my kids were experienced Burners by then it was still very, very hard.)

If you haven't been camping with your kids yet, consider that as well. You have to think differently when living outdoors...especially with kids. Who will watch them when you have to go to the port-a-jon? Are you still in diapers? How will you deal with that?

Are you yourself an experienced outdoor person. Do you know how to keep yourself hydrated and healthy in extreme conditions?

It's a big decision. Consider your factors, your experience and the experience you want to have. I only just finally got to attend the Burn without kids in 2009. Totally different Burn. I missed my kids, but really appreciated the time on my own as well.

I realize that coming from Washington this might seem like a waste, but also consider how many days you and your kids can really handle. Maybe you come for only a few days. Imagine the toughest, most extreme conditions and then imagine them with the needs of your kids. Then make a very informed, eyes wide open decision.

I only know what's good for me. You will know likewise.

Best,
Clarity

Dr Jet Sinister · Post by **Dr Jet Sinister** » Fri Feb 04, 2011 10:31 am

mandalin64 wrote:
oneeyeddick wrote:Go down to Fairoaks lane in Lacy, and play in the water.

BM is no place for a 2 and 5 year olds, IMO.

Come back when your children are ready for it, or don't.

Agreed. Seems like one eyed dick lives up to his name... sorry, but that was a bit harsh.

Not harsh at all, just brief and to the point. This event is really, truly, honestly, not for kids of that age. Being responsible for anyone other than yourself at BM sucks, especially for your first time! Think of it as an NC-17 movie.