Recreational Vehicle Travel with Children

Are you thinking of hitting the open road in a recreational vehicle with children? Taking a road trip with children in a recreational vehicle can be a wonderful experience for all involved if you plan properly. On the other hand, if it is planned poorly, it can be a long tortuous journey that everyone just can't wait for it to end. To take a trip in a recreational vehicle with children you will need to make plans for on the road, where to stay, and what to do. Each of these is an important consideration in your pre-trip planning and deserves your attention before it becomes a problem. But, after all the planning is done and the preparations are made the number one rule of travel with children is-Be Flexible!

Planning for your time on the road in the recreational vehicle is different for different ages of children. If you have a wide age range you will need to consider all of the ages in your planning. For small children and infants who may not be thrilled with the change of environment, bring familiar toys, blankets, food, and supplies-especially night time helps for sleeping. For children that are preschool age and early grade school, they may be thrilled with all of the new adventures of a recreational vehicle home on wheels. For them, bring some new toys, games, and other car activities to keep them busy when they get tired of sitting. Bring plenty of healthy snacks to tide them over when mealtimes are late. For older children and teens let them bring books, music, a personal stereo, and other items which will keep them entertained.

Try to maintain a schedule in the recreational vehicle that is as close to your schedule when you are at home as possible, with similar meal times, naps, and bedtimes. If you have a nightly routine, then you should plan to have all of the things you need to do the nightly routine. Try to serve familiar food, bring favorite books and stuffed animals, and you might even want to pack a night light to put in the recreational vehicle if they sleep with one at home.

In your pre-trip planning try to research for campgrounds and recreational vehicle parks that cater to families with children. Some have family programs and activities included in the cost of staying, or for a small additional fee. They may also have brochures and online links to local activities and sights on their website. You can find this kind of information in many family magazines and online. The recreational vehicle park or campground should be safe and in a good area.

Children of nearly any age will be more excited about a recreational vehicle trip if they have a part in planning it. They may even want to do some research on their own to find out more about the areas you will be visiting. Let them make some decisions about what your activities will be. Some ideas beyond the amusement parks are national and state parks and monuments, recreational vehicle camping, beach combing, and even a trip to where Mom or Dad grew up. Many National Parks offer Junior Ranger programs that allow children to do activities as they go through the park and then they get a prize when they are done.

One of the most important things that you can do on a trip in a recreational vehicle with children is to relax and just enjoy the time you have together. The basic needs as far as food, shelter, water, and warmth are taken care of, but it is up to you to make the investment in the relationships.