How do you get kids into camp if they don't want to

[swimmom32]

OP when we cruised my kids were 15 and 11 and they thought they would go however we got there and neither of them were too interested Now my 11 yr old daughter is very social and outgoing but just had no Interest..the older ones in the Teen Club most of the kids already new each other but I have to tell you though they So much loved the shows and going with us and spending the evening with DH and I we were ok that they decided not to go to the "kids club and teen club" I have to say it was still one of our best family vacations...Im not anticipating them to go again in November when we sail on the liberty and well we are ok with it :) Let me say I wouldnt force it...or make a deal out of it if they dont want to go

[jjtimes6]

I completely agree with the "get them to orientation" group. You can read my reviews to see how my kids reacted. One missed orientation the first day and her cruise was almost ruined. Now they can't wait to cruise and meet new friends. They almost never go to official club events, just to the orientation, where they meet people, and connect with their group for the week. I had to force them to go to orientation on their first cruise at ages 13, 16, and 17, and they thanked me later!

[Joeys3girlz]

After camp orientations, I hand my three daughters highlighters and tell them to choose the activities they wish to participate in for the week. It's their choice to chose from what is available. They know they can choose as much as they want or as little. It works for our family as they usually stick to their "menu of activities." [My middle daughter (pre-teen) will highlight almost everything for Circle C!] The rest of the time we are all together. ;)

[imnance]

bribe them. say if you spend 2 hours in camp then we will do so and so that you wanted to do

 

Really? That's how you deal with your kids?

 

Child, if you brush your teeth, I'll give you candy.

 

Child, if you do your homework, I'll let you play the Wii til 3am on school nights.

 

Child, if you don't bludgeon Mommy in her sleep, I'll support your lazy, good for nothing behind til I work myself to death at which point you can inherit everything I have worked all my life for and pi** it away on Twinkies and porn.

 

Yay!!!! for bribing your kids. :rolleyes:

 

Act like you're the parent.

 

Tell, don't ask.

 

 

What a novel idea. Imagine if all parents actually acted like parents.

[Warm Breezes]

Really? That's how you deal with your kids?

 

Child, if you brush your teeth, I'll give you candy.

 

Child, if you do your homework, I'll let you play the Wii til 3am on school nights.

 

Child, if you don't bludgeon Mommy in her sleep, I'll support your lazy, good for nothing behind til I work myself to death at which point you can inherit everything I have worked all my life for and pi** it away on Twinkies and porn.

 

Yay!!!! for bribing your kids. :rolleyes:

 

 

What a novel idea. Imagine if all parents actually acted like parents.

 

It's a vacation for Pete's sake....Why spoil their vacation if they really don't want to go? There is plenty for them to do without going to the kids club if they really don't want to go. I know from experience. I pick and choose what I battle with my kids over...this is definately something I wouldn't even think worthy an argument. If they don't want to go, so what? It's not a big deal for them to hang out together. Being a parent doesn't mean you have to be a dictator :rolleyes:.

[zonabelle]

Oh if only more parents were actually parents. Dr. Spock ruined how many generations now? :)

[CanadianTwosome]

I'm with the 'go to orientation' group. Our daughter is an only child, so she's always really enjoyed going to the children's groups, because it's always the easiest place to get together with other kids. Orientation is the first evening, when 'most' of the kids are going to be there. After that, a good portion is likely to decide they'd rather be doing something else, and the opportunity to have met them may be gone. Can you meet them at the pool or elsewhere on the ship? Yes, of course... if you're the kind of outgoing kid who will approach a group of strange children and ask to join...

 

I've always looked at orientation in exactly the same way I look at new foods. Once my daughter has tried them - and I mean a full mouth full with chewing and swallowing - then I am happy to hear her opinion and respect it. If she hasn't tried it, her opinion is moot. Each ship we've been on has been different as far as the kids' club experience has gone, even though they were all on the same line. Every ship has great facilities these days, but it's really all about the people - the counsellors and the other kids. If the counsellors are sub-par, it can be a less than stellar experience, and if the other kids are incompatible for some reason, obviously it's not going to be fun. But with great counsellors and fun kids, it can be the highlight of a kid's cruise. They'll never know if they don't try, though, and that one inarguable fact has kept my daughter interested in orientation for five cruises, ages 8 - 12. (and she's looking forward to the next one)

 

Really, it's not that difficult a concept. Simply remind them that everything they've ever enjoyed in their lives was once new to them and they had to try it before they found out they liked it. The same can be said for things they don't like, of course, but the point is that they cannot know if they don't give themselves the opportunity to find out. :)

[lillian marie]

My son didn't want to go to camp but after his first session he loved it. He even danced with a little girl on the last night and I never thought he'd do that. My girls really enjoyed it too and I've already booked a cruise with the kids on a 7 day in 2012 because they wanted to cruise again so much.

[1frayfan]

tell the 13 yr old there will be girls his age there. 12-13 is when you start wanting girls

 

 

oh my, this is SOO true!! I am dealing with a 13yr old boy now! LOL!:eek:

[angiegal]

For my kids, camp orientation is kind of like the muster drill, it's something that they just have to do. I'm not saying that every kid should have to do it, but my kids do. The first cruise, they didn't want to do it, but they did. Now, one of the first questions they ask when we board is, "What time is orientation?" My 15 yr. old DS meets his cruise friends for the week and he would not see us again until we left the ship if he had it his way- not acceptable in my book, BTW. My 12 yr. old DD meets some friends and picks one or two things she wants to do a day. Other than that, she reads on deck, hangs out with me, plays mini golf with dad, etc.

[angiegal]

For my kids, camp orientation is kind of like the muster drill, it's something that they just have to do. I'm not saying that every kid should have to do it, but my kids do. The first cruise, they didn't want to do it, but they did. Now, one of the first questions they ask when we board is, "What time is orientation?" My 15 yr. old DS meets his cruise friends for the week and he would not see us again until we left the ship if he had it his way- not acceptable in my book, BTW. My 12 yr. old DD meets some friends and picks one or two things she wants to do a day. Other than that, she reads on deck, hangs out with me, plays mini golf with dad, etc.

[tef43]

Why is this even a point of discussion? :confused:

 

You *tell* them they are going to camp.

[pnjkeith]

I have 2 kids ages 11 and 13. So they would be separated. They don't want to go into camp. And I'm fine with that. But....I really believe they would enjoy spending time in the camps......

 

I would probably miss them as its a family vacation.....but my reason for getting them into camp is for their benefit.

 

Any suggestions besides putting a sack over their head and carrying them over my back?

 

A belt might help!

[jmwg49]

Some kids are just not social butterflies and this type of situation is well out of their comfort zone. Some vacation to be forced out of your comfort zone.

 

 

I agree with this statement 100%...my kids are 14 and 16 and HATED the whole idea of the camps. They have their own friends at home, and have no problems making friends, but aren't very social. This is just the way they are. Rather than stressing myself out about them spending THEIR vacation the way I WANT THEM TO...they do their own thing and enjoy doing so. If my kids choose to sit in the cabin and watch tv, fine. If they choose to order room service rather than standing in a lineup for food, fine. It is their vacation too. It took me alot to learn this lesson, and I would not stress out again about the way they enjoy their vacation...kids club, or not.

[SG81]

oh my, this is SOO true!! I am dealing with a 13yr old boy now! LOL!:eek:

 

it only gets better! :D

[Warm Breezes]

Some kids are just not social butterflies and this type of situation is well out of their comfort zone. Some vacation to be forced out of your comfort zone.

 

 

I agree with this statement 100%...my kids are 14 and 16 and HATED the whole idea of the camps. They have their own friends at home, and have no problems making friends, but aren't very social. This is just the way they are. Rather than stressing myself out about them spending THEIR vacation the way I WANT THEM TO...they do their own thing and enjoy doing so. If my kids choose to sit in the cabin and watch tv, fine. If they choose to order room service rather than standing in a lineup for food, fine. It is their vacation too. It took me alot to learn this lesson, and I would not stress out again about the way they enjoy their vacation...kids club, or not.

 

My kids don't fall far from the tree. DH and I have a few close friends, but we are uncomfortable going to activities where we are expected to socialize with total strangers. We would rather just hang out together. That's the way our kids are. I can totally sympathize with them and know how I would feel if I were in there shoes...forced to go to a club full of strangers when I would rather be hanging out with someone I know and have fun with (their sibling). I really can't blame them for not wanting to go...I'm the same way:o. As parents you know your children best. If you think they will enjoy it, ask them to try it. If you know they will be miserable...why ruin their vacation.

[DebJ14]

Act like you're the parent.

 

Tell, don't ask.

 

This was always our method. They did not have a choice - except to stay home with Grandma and miss the cruise.

[Disneycruisers]

 

Very well said!

[alligirl78]

Really? That's how you deal with your kids?

 

Child, if you brush your teeth, I'll give you candy.

 

Child, if you do your homework, I'll let you play the Wii til 3am on school nights.

 

Child, if you don't bludgeon Mommy in her sleep, I'll support your lazy, good for nothing behind til I work myself to death at which point you can inherit everything I have worked all my life for and pi** it away on Twinkies and porn.

 

Yay!!!! for bribing your kids. :rolleyes:

 

 

 

 

What a novel idea. Imagine if all parents actually acted like parents.

 

Hey..I like Twinkies! But seriously, my job "bribes" me to come to work and in real life, we all have to compromise and negotiate.

 

OP--My 2 DS's, ages 6 & 9, were convinced they wouldn't like Camp Carnival. I told them they had to try it once. And if they didn't like it, they didn't have to go back. It's their vacation too.

 

My kids went occassionally, for the times they wanted, and I picked them up when they were done. We still had TONS of awesome family time still and the kids were never forced to go to camp.

 

But I'm also the slacker parent who let them eat ice cream for breakfast if they wanted..half the time they chose omelets. Amazing what you can do when you allow kids to learn how tomake good choices.

[momonthego17]

Maybe one of you parents will know the answer to my question: I want to take my DH to the Steakhouse ($30/person) the first night of the cruise. First we would take our DD's (9 & 11) to dinner on the Lido deck then take them to orientation for Camp Carnival. I printed out an activity schedule for Camp Carnival 9-11 years and it states that "a parent/guardian must be present until 10:00pm". When we have cruised on RCI we were able to leave the girls there after checking them in around 8:30. I know that babysitting fees apply after 10:00pm.

 

Any thoughts on this? Thanks for your help in advance!

[michelle1836]

I have 2 kids ages 11 and 13. So they would be separated. They don't want to go into camp. And I'm fine with that. But....I really believe they would enjoy spending time in the camps......

 

I would probably miss them as its a family vacation.....but my reason for getting them into camp is for their benefit.

 

Any suggestions besides putting a sack over their head and carrying them over my back?

 

cattle prod??

 

just kidding. is your 11 year old a girl or boy? someone else cruising with us has a 10 year old daughter. maybe they can hang out together?

[chersolo]

I had a similar "problem" with my two boys last week. They are 12 and 14. Although they were both in the same camp, they were adamant that they did not want to go! So, the first night I went with them to orientation and we sat and listened to everything. I went ahead and signed them up so they could go "just in case" they wanted to. They never went, but they always had the option open if they wanted to go. They ended up staying with me (and my husband) every day. It was actually very nice. We went to all the shows, including the family-friendly comedian. We had dinner together every night and sat by the pool or whatever every day. They even enjoyed the trivia games, we worked as a team. It was nice because the boys chose to stay with us so I think we had more fun. I'm not sure if that makes sense. What I'm trying to say is that if I hadn't signed them up for Circle C then they would have felt like we were forcing them to hang out with us. Since it was their choice, they never had a bad attitude about it. There was no whining or complaining, etc... or maybe they were just afraid I'd throw them overboard!

[zqvol]

I have 2 kids ages 11 and 13. So they would be separated. They don't want to go into camp. And I'm fine with that. But....I really believe they would enjoy spending time in the camps......

 

I would probably miss them as its a family vacation.....but my reason for getting them into camp is for their benefit.

 

Any suggestions besides putting a sack over their head and carrying them over my back?

 

 

Time to step up to the plate and tell them how it is going to be. You are the parent, but in order to maintain harmony, why not compromise? Make a deal that you all go to the orientation the first night and that they give it a try. If after one day they don't like it they don't have to go back, but if they do, well jokingly tell them they can't go back.

 

In all seriousness don't make a big deal out of it, and it will work out better than you think. (BTW work on the 11 year old alone, the 13 year old is where the problem lies.)

[Sargent_Schultz]

They can do as they are told or next vacation send them packing to grandma's.

[T. Advisor King]

This is an interesting situation. It is not as simple as just getting them to go because they’re sure to like it. There have been many posts from parents whose kids didn’t enjoy it.

bribe them. say if you spend 2 hours in camp then we will do so and so that you wanted to do.

I agree. I’m not sure I’d make the minimum 2 hours (maybe 1 – if they don’t like it after an hour, they probably won’t ever enjoy it). And I agree the “bribe” shouldn’t be “I’ll buy you something”, it is more along the line of allowing them to pick the next activity.

Naturally, I’m reluctant to bribe a child, but if you don’t want to “force” them and you’re not inclined to cajole them, it is quick and effective in those limited situations where it makes sense. And this is one of them.

Act like you're the parent.

Tell, don't ask.

You seem to be confusing this situation with one such as making your kid go to the dentist. There are many times to “be the boss”, but this isn’t one of them. What would be the purpose of ruining your kids vacation, just because you want to prove that you have the power and are in charge? Would you really make your child go to something he/she wouldn’t enjoy?

It is one thing to make a choice for your child between a healthy activity and an unhealthy activity. It is something completely different to force them into a “fun” activity that isn’t fun at all.

This is how kids learn to be bullies.