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camping with kids, Full-time Rving, Fulltime rving with kids, roadschooling, RV Life, RVing with kids
Camping has always been something families do together. However, until recently, living and traveling in an RV fulltime was something that was primarily done by retirees. Now thanks to the internet, more and more young people are able to find mobile work and take their families on the road.
This is great of course, as it means children have the opportunity to see the world and learn from fantastic experiences. It also gives families a chance to really connect and get to know one another as they all live in their tiny home-on-wheels. That said, RVing fulltime with kids also comes with number of challenges.
Here are my tips for successfully living in an RV with kids.
Choose Your Rig Wisely
The first step is finding the right rig for your family. Size does matter to an extent, but what really matters more is the floor plan of the RV you choose.
While you’re shopping, be sure to consider how your day-to-day life might go. Where will everyone sleep? Are you willing to set up and take down beds each day? Is the fridge big enough? Is there enough floor space in the kitchen? Where will you all sit down for meals?
These are the kinds questions that will help you find the ideal floor plan for you.
Sort Out Schooling
Obviously, if you’re going to be traveling fulltime, you will have to do some sort of homeschooling or roadschooling. That said, there are several styles of homeschooling you may want to consider.
From public school online to super relaxed unschooling, there is something for everyone in the world of homeschooling. Do your research, figure out what works for your family, and keep in mind that nothing is permanent and you can always change your mind.
Minimize and Organize
In our society, kids come with a lot of stuff. From toys and games to ridiculous amounts of clothing, the average American child has far too many things to store in the small space of an RV. For this reason, you will need to minimize your belongings by quite a lot.
Once you’ve gotten rid of as much as possible, be sure to create a solid organization system. I love IKEA for this purpose and have found lots of awesome storage solutions there.
Seek Out Family-Friendly Stops
If you’ll be traveling with kids you will clearly want to seek out family-friendly campgrounds. Sometimes it can be hard to tell on the surface exactly what is kid-friendly and what isn’t, so be sure to read reviews in order to get a feel for the place. Some reliably family-friendly campground chains include Thousand Trails and Jellystone.
Set Boundaries
When you move into your RV, be sure to set very clear boundaries for the kids from the beginning. For instance, our son is not allowed to leave our campsite without permission. He also isn’t allowed in anyone else’s RV without us. Setting these clear and unchanging boundaries will help keep your kids safe while you see the world.
Find Friends
Everyone needs friends, but this is especially true for kids who are always on the lookout for someone to play with. We actually find lots of friends at campground pools and playgrounds, but we found it much easier to make lasting relationships once we joined Fulltime Families and attended some of their events.
We now run into our Fulltime Families friends on a regular basis, and we always make a point of hanging out with them.
Get Out and About
RV homes are quite small. For this reason, it’s important to get out of the RV and stretch while all giving each other some space.
While heading outside and exploring the campground is effective much of the time, you’ll probably want to make sure to go on fun outings on a fairly regular basis as well. This will get you all out of the RV and campground and help ensure you’re making the most of your travel lifestyle.
Besides, seeing museums, national parks, and animal based attractions is a great way to expand upon your homeschooling!
Have Backup
Traveling fulltime is a little bit scary no matter what. However, taking on this challenge with kids in tow is especially nerve-wracking. Be sure to secure good fulltimer’s insurance, at least one reliable source of income, and RV-specific roadside assistance (such as Coach-Net) before hitting the road.
Are you RVing fulltime with little ones? We’d love to hear your tips as well! Share them in the comments below.
About the Author:
Chelsea has the amazing opportunity to take part in full-time RV living and traveling with her tiny tribe. She homeschools her five-year-old son as they travel, and takes full advantage of their unique situation by using the entire world as her son’s classroom. A group of total Disney fanatics, Chelsea and her family often find themselves in the Orlando area in order to visit the Disney parks, but they have also visited over 25 of the 50 states with plans to see many more along the way. No matter where her travels take her, Chelsea enjoys riding bikes, gazing at beautiful sunsets, finding new coffee shops, Irish dancing, and sitting around a campfire with her family.
You can join her adventures through her blog, Wonder Wherever We Wander.
Jay F. ~ “Very professional handling of my break down. Good communication throughout the ordeal. It’s nice to know someone’s there to help when you need them.”
When was the last time you went RVing without reservations? Many people feel uncomfortable not knowing where they will park their home for the night, but if you can handle a bit of uncertainty, the rewards can bring out the best the RVing lifestyle has to offer: comfort, spontaneity and adventure. Think you’re ready for the excitement? Here’s how to build it into your next trip.
We all love grilling in the summer time and everyone has their favorite grill at home whether it’s a ceramic model like the Big Green Egg, simple charcoal like a Weber Kettle, or wood pellet version. However, getting a grill that will fit conveniently in an RV is a little more of a challenge.
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There is absolutely no denying the fact that RV bathrooms are tiny. While this does make sense considering the size of the overall space, it can make some things a bit more difficult than they need to be. For instance, getting ready each morning might be a smidge more challenging. What’s more, storing all of your toiletries and other bathroom necessities in such a small space can seem absolutely impossible at times.
Despite the fact that RVs are gas guzzlers, one of the best things about RV living and travel is the fact that it is a relatively eco-friendly way of seeing the world. The often-limited supply of water means less water waste, and the smaller living space makes purchasing every souvenir along the way a lot less tempting.
When you’re heading out for a weekend trip, stocking up on food is no big deal. RV refrigerators are big enough to hold 3 or 4 days’ worth of food, while dry goods for the weekend will easily fit in the pantry. On top of all that, many campgrounds have stores offering basic necessities, so even if something does run out, there’s nothing to worry about.
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Safety pins, paper clips, and rubber bands are all things you likely use from time to time. However, it is also likely that you often have trouble finding them when you need them most.
Equally as useful—but perhaps a bit more difficult to install—are the small under-table drawers found at many RV supply stores. These little drawers are typically made of plastic, are run on tracks, and are made to hold items such as remote controls, pens, and pads of paper. Because they are under the table, they are easy to reach but don’t get in the way of other activities.
Use Scotch Command Strips to attach plastic file holders to the insides of cabinet doors. These nifty little storage boxes can be used to hold papers, boxes of foil and baggies, or anything else that fits. Just be sure to keep it lightweight in case the Command Strips fail during a particularly bumpy ride.