If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it 1,000 times; “It’s never too early to start RVing”. When we pull into RV parks and campgrounds around the state and across America, I’m always happy to see kids running, jumping and exploring. I always think to myself, “this is the future of RVing”…and I’m glad to see that there are more and more parents and grandparents out there who understand that, without introducing our children and grandchildren to the RV lifestyle, it COULD disappear.
It seems these days that a child’s world is dominated by all things electronic, from video games to computers, from smart phones to television, our children are more at risk of living a sedentary lifestyle than ever before. It’s easy to get lost in games and DVDs and not realize that the world outside is as equally interesting and entertaining. I guess that’s just the way the world is these days and there’s not much we can do with the exception of putting children in a new environment and “teching down”. That might mean, in some cases, literally prying that game controller out of their hands and kicking them outside!
OK, this is where I get to stand up on my soapbox and preach to the choir: When we were kids, you had to go outside to “find” fun. Video games required finding a handful of quarters and making your way to an Arcade. Both relatively difficult tasks. However, today, it’s as easy as flipping a couple of “ON” switches and before you can blink, they are zombified in front of the warm glow of a colossal time waster. Let’s face it, because of this, I think that, what I referred to as “finding fun” is now something that needs to be taught…and the RV lifestyle is the perfect teacher.
Of course, your RV is probably equipped with a TV, and no doubt a computer and probably a video game system (if you take kids on the road with you), and that’s fine, but when your are on vacation, you should be pushing your kids to go outside. If you have to, leave some of those laziness-inducing attention grabbers at the house. You’ll find that many RV parks are kid friendly and have activities and recreation areas for kids of all sizes. You should never hear. “I’m bored” when RVing. Even if there aren’t planned park activities, just look around, there’s a world of Nature just waiting to be discovered. In a one 1 hr. hike, you can see and learn more than you ever could in an hour of being a couch potato.
- Teach them about Nature conservation.
- Teach them about animal and plant life.
- Teach them about animal tracks and which animals they belong to.
- Teach them how to build a campfire (check with your park host, or Ranger first about this).
- Teach them the history of where you are camping, undoubtedly, RVers weren’t the first at the spot you are visiting.
- Teach them about the RV they are staying in and show them the differences between different types.
- Teach them everything you’ve been taught, so they can, in turn, teach their children.
Kids are like sponges. Let them get their hands dirty every once in a while. You’ll be amazed that with just the slightest bit of direction, you can actually turn every RV trip into a very rewarding learning experience. After all, if you make it fun, it hardly feels like learning, right? That’s always how I felt about it anyway. After all, if it was fun, it couldn’t be a chore, right?. Challenge them to put down whatever is keeping them inside the RV and send them on an adventure outside.
All of us RVer’s, regardless if you are a “first-timer”, or a seasoned vet, have to remember that it is our children who will pick up our love of the outdoors and communing with nature. They will be the ones who keep the legacy of adventure seekers alive when they take their own children camping. What they learn now will hopefully stay with them as they grow. Obviously, one of the best ways to keep your kids interested in the outdoors is going RVing. You have all of the comforts of home with the ability to go any where you want, any time you want. How many new sights and sounds can you deliver to your doorstep by hitting the road and going RVing? I’ll tell you now, it’s more than you be able to see in a lifetime, so why not teach your kids how to see them in theirs?
Not sure how to get started? First, head over to Fun Town RV, we can help you pick the perfect RV for you and your family. From motorhomes, travel trailers, fifth-wheels and pop ups, there is, quite literally an RV for everyone at Fun Town RV. Now all you have to do is pack up and hit the road. Now is the perfect time to take the opportunity to get your kids involved in the whole process, from packing to unpacking and everything in-between. You might find that they might actually take an active interest in RVing sooner than later. It’s also the perfect time to explain to them that, when RVing, you are going to “tech down” and leave some of the modern electronics home.
If you need more ideas about how to get your kids interested in RVing and the RV lifestyle there are kid oriented RV sites that you can check for ideas. Of course, as usual, if you have any ideas of your own, leave them in the comments section below. Now get off your computer, grab the kids and grand kids and GO RVING!
