With a 4 y/o child...and even the 7 y/o.. I would want to make sure [b]I have control of them leaving the tent[/b] (ie. one tent instead of 2)

The brand names are more expensive, but both known brands like Eureka ,and less known brands make 2 and 3 room tents.

Cabela's has a 2 room tent in their Master Fall Catalog for $199 and a 3room tent for $269 .

I am sure if you wait a little you can get a 2 room tent at Sportsman's Guide for around $120.

Check both websites and see what prices they are going for now.                                                                                                                                             [url]  www.cabelas.com[/url]                                                                                                                                      

What you buy really depends on the comfort level you expect and how long you plan to camp and where. A pop-up house cost more than a occasional weekend and one week tent.  You can get as aloborate as side walls and stoves or as simple as insert the stick and stand it up.

I boat mainly and spend most outdoor nights on her, but camp around four weekends a year in a tent.  We use a nylon two tent 9X12 with attached two man pup. Forgot the brand but bought it at Wally World for under $100. The nylon tents all appear to be about the same for keeping the weather out since it is the same nylon material just remember to set it up once and seal the seams.

We put our sons bags in the pup with tunnel. The tunnel is about two feet long and a crawl through. The 9X12 acts as the day room but at night it's off to their own tent but still close enough my wife can peep in on them through the tunnel or if it rains or they get scared they don't have to go outside. Takes about 20 minutes to set both up after the first time.  The new stuff is so fast compared to the old metal where does this go. Sticks are all attached by line or chain and all the same size. Just slip in and pop this on and your done.

We use inflatable airmattress, singles for the boys, and full size for us. 30 seconds inflate and deflate so you can deflate during the day which comes in handy on a rainy day.  Coleman 20 degree bags that zip together and can be used as single or double.  We use  Colman battery lamp which has a soft light and great for reading.  Gets cold in the mountains and often you don't spend the whole night by the fire.  Coleman cataytic heater, no CO, and battery CO detector, just for safety, for winter camping. Venting is important since you could have O2 depletion. Coleman gas stuff outside, stove & lantern. I like a single burner lantern, the doubles put out two much light. Igloo Marine Cooler. We found they hold the ice much longer. The white color reflects the heat of the sun plus they are designed to set on. We also have one of those suitcase picnic tables, <$50, for the more rural trips with no tables. A must is an old fashion coffee percolator always makes me wonder why we ever went to drip.

If you shop right you can get all the gear for under $400.

Packing is a different world.  We use a 6
x7 mountain tent three man with rain flap.  Rain flap can be used as temporary shelter during a unexpected squal. Candle lantern, ground mats, and -20 mummies. Internal support pack packs. External racks look good but the internals just feel better. We go cheap on the stove by using a sterno pop up. We use lot's of freeze dried foods even on the boat which is good for we didn't plan to spend the night but here we are.  After you learn a few tricks the stuff can be quite good.

Good mag light is a must for those gotta go pees in the middle of the night.  We use both a three cell and the little double AA's for each of us.

Don't freak, I didn't go out and buy all this stuff at one time. We kind of got it all over time but that shoud cover the possibilites.

Of course, if all else fails a good knife and some know how and you can do alright.

If you're a typical three season camper you can get by on the cheap. Get a multi-room tent for now and in a couple of years you'll have worn it out, gotten bored with it, or out grown it.

They are much more difficult to set up then one room tents - lots of moving parts. They also need one big piece of flat real estate.