Caravanning with children. What's worth remembering?
In the introduction we deliberately focused on caravans rather than campers. The first ones are most often used by families with children. Why? Firstly, living with younger ones is predominantly stationary. We walk a certain route to the campsite in order to stay there for at least ten days. Traveling and sightseeing that involve frequent changes of location will eventually tire both parents and children. Secondly, we have a ready-made vehicle with which we can explore the area around the camp. Thirdly and finally, a caravan is definitely better suited for families in terms of the number of beds available and the space that motorhomes don't have.
However, one thing is for sure: children will quickly fall in love with caravanning. Outdoor recreation, the opportunity to spend carefree time in a beautiful place (sea, lake, mountains), additional entertainment at the campsite and, of course, the company of other children. Our children really need the latter after almost a year of distance learning and staying mostly at home.
The trailer gives children their own space, arranged and prepared according to their rules, characterized by stability and immutability. This is completely different from hotel rooms. This is another argument in favor of going on vacation with your own “home on wheels”.
There are many guides to traveling with a caravan available online. Topics discussed include properly securing a motorhome or properly securing a trailer to a hook, which has a huge impact on our safety and the safety of others. This time we want to draw attention to the correct preparation of the trip in terms of traveling with children, especially if you are doing it for the first time. An appropriate plan drawn up in advance will allow you to have a worry-free holiday, both in terms of the route and your stay at the campsite.
It's mostly about a floor plan tailored to our family. It is vans that make it possible to accommodate, for example, three children in separate beds, so that each of them can sleep peacefully and safely. Larger blocks can also be equipped with separate children's lounges, where our children can freely spend time together even in the rain. When looking for a trailer, it's worth looking out for those that offer permanent beds for children, without the need to fold them out and thereby give up seating space. Safety issues are also important: Do the top beds have nets to prevent them from falling out? Is it easy to get in and out of bed?
Wild caravans are not recommended for family trips, especially those with small children. Camping not only provides additional entertainment, but also ensures the safety of our stay. It's also convenient. The sites have water, electricity and sewer so we don't have to worry about overflowing tanks or lack of electricity. The sanitary conditions are convenient for everyone - large, spacious showers and full toilets will be appreciated by both adults and children. It is worth paying attention to the additions: family bathrooms adapted for children (mostly abroad, we have not seen such in Poland), the presence of changing tables for babies.
Campsites are also attractions for children. A children's playground is necessary, but it is worth inquiring about the relevant certificates. Large campgrounds invest a lot of money into the security of their infrastructure. Being in such an institution, we can be almost sure that nothing will happen to our child while using, for example, a slide or a swing. Playrooms designed for very young children also have well-protected walls and corners. Let's take it a step further: a good campsite will also invest in certified glass that won't hurt a child if they fall into it. And we know very well that such situations can happen.
In case of camping, you should also remember to reserve a place. This may seem contrary to the spirit of caravanning, but anyone who travels with children will agree that the worst thing when you arrive after a long journey is to hear: there is no room.
No, you don't have to take your whole house with you in your caravan. First of all: Most toys/accessories will not be used by you or your children. Secondly: carrying capacity, which is significantly limited in vans. A motorhome can easily become overweight, which will affect the route, fuel consumption and safety. So how can you convince kids that they only need to take what they need? Let your child use one storage space. He can pack his favorite toys and stuffed animals in it. This will be his/her space. What doesn't fit in the glove compartment stays at home.
This is obvious, but we often forget about it. Children must carry identification documents with them, especially when crossing the border. In the current situation, it is also worth checking under what conditions a child can enter a particular country. Is a test required? If so, which one?
The fastest time the words “when will we be there” appeared on our 6-year-old’s lips was about 15 minutes after leaving the house. In the future, sometimes driving 1000 (or more) kilometers, we perfectly understand the anger, irritation and helplessness (or even all at once) of parents. What to do? There are many ways. First of all, a long route should be planned in stages. Maybe it's worth stopping along the way to your destination, for example at additional attractions? Large cities, water parks, amusement parks are just the basic options. If you're willing, driving overnight is a very good idea, as long as the kids are actually asleep (our 9-year-old will never fall asleep in the car, no matter how long the route). Instead of screens (which we also use to escape in crisis situations), we often listen to audiobooks or play games together (“I see…”, guess colors, car brands).
Let's also not forget about breaks. On average, we should stop every three hours to stretch our proverbial bones. Remember that in a caravan during such a break we can prepare a nutritious, healthy meal in just a few minutes. Let's take advantage of the presence of a “home on wheels” on a hook.
