5 Tips for Caravanning with Children
It can be difficult to know what to do with your children during the summer holidays, but one of the best ways to get them out of the house and to explore nature is to take them on a caravanning holiday. It’s a great way for them to get some fresh air and enjoy all of the outdoor activities that are on offer, from rock climbing to cycling. However, taking children on holiday is not an easy task, so here are a few tips for caravanning with your kids this summer:
1. Make sure you’ve chosen the right vehicle
Before you even think about going on your caravanning holiday, you need to first make sure that you’ve bought, or hired, a caravan that’s right for your family needs. If you’re a family of five, with three children, then a caravan that sleeps up to three people won’t be suitable.
Think about the space you’ll need, specifically in the mornings and evenings, and choose a caravan that seamlessly meets your requirements. It might be that you’d prefer a caravan with an awning to protect your children from the summer sun, for example, but not every caravan comes with one of those, so choose wisely.
2. Bring an awning or a parasol
We’ve just touched on caravans with awnings as a practical way of keeping your children out of the sun, but they’re often quite narrow, leaving only a slither of shade to sit in. If you bring your own equipment, whether it be an awning or a parasol of your own, you’ll be able to protect your children from the sun no matter where they are in the vicinity of your caravan.
Making sure your kids always have somewhere shady to go in is imperative, but make sure you’re applying a generous amount of sun cream to their entire body, doing this before getting them dressed for the day. You must also keep topping their sun cream up throughout the day for ultimate protection.
3. Don’t bring lots of toys & games
It might seem like an easy option to bring all of their toys and to make sure you have some games to play, but this is counterintuitive. Firstly, you’ve got to think about the amount of space you’ll have in your caravan. There simply won’t be enough room for your children to bring lots of toys.
Secondly, the whole point of a caravanning holiday is to get outdoors and do some fun activities. Bringing toys and games only encourages you to stay indoors and not venture outside of your caravan. Save space and enjoy the surrounding area by not bringing lots of toys and games with you on your caravanning holiday.
4. Always have a plan B if it rains
Rain is almost inevitable in the UK, so make sure you have a back up plan of activities to do if the weather decides to turn. This is where playing with one or two toys will come in handy or where bringing out a board game will help. You can stay indoors until the rain passes and then venture outside again to jump in puddles and make mud pies with the kids.
5. Do your research
Before committing to a caravanning holiday, you need to do your research. There are plenty of things you’ll need to look into before going caravanning with your children, some of which might not have to be researched if you were going for an adults-only holiday. Things you should research if you’re wanting to take your children on a caravanning holiday includes the following:
- The type of caravan you want to stay in
- The size of the caravan you want to stay in
- Whether the caravan comes with an awning (if not, you’ll have to bring your own)
- Whether the caravan site allows children
- Activities you can do in the nearby area
- Is it possible to walk to landmarks, restaurants, museums and other places of interest?
- How much will it cost overall, factoring in spending and food money
- Does the caravan site charge you to keep your car there?
- How is the caravan powered?
- Will you have to use communal showers and toilets?
Regal Furnishings are highly-qualified and fully-trained to upholster a wide range of different transport options, including: caravans, motorhomes, static caravans, boats, campervans and horseboxes. No matter the age or state of your vehicle, we can always be counted upon to breathe new life into your soft furnishings. For more information about our upholstery services, get in touch with a member of our friendly, professional team today – we’re always pleased to hear from you.