by Joe Jeffrey
Follow these simple tips for pitching up without a hitch
Caravanning with youngsters, whether your own kids or grandchildren, can be a fun and memorable way of spending a family holiday. However, like any other family activity it requires careful planning to avoid disaster. With this in mind, those friendly people at Coachman Caravans have provided some top tips to ensure everyone has a great time.
1. Choose the right caravan
When buying a caravan, it’s important that you pick a van that suits the needs of your family. When choosing one, have in mind where everyone will sleep. Ideally it’s a great idea to have a separate area for the kids to sleep in, so that you can close the door and have somewhere to relax after they’ve gone to bed.
2. Get an awning
When there are lots of you in a small space, tempers can get frayed. An easy way to overcome this is to have an awning. This way you’ve got plenty of room to store things like bikes and shoes, as well as having space for a large table you can all fit round for meals. An added bonus is that the kids will enjoy sleeping in it when they get older.
3. Limit toys
You don’t want to be falling over toys and treading on Lego during the night, so have a bag of special holiday toys that stay in the caravan. Colouring books, jigsaws, magnetic writing boards and card games are all good ways of keeping the kids occupied and don’t take up much space. Rotating what’s in the box every couple of months will make sure they don’t get bored too. But don’t take too many toys, as you’ll be too busy sightseeing and exploring to need them.
4. Be prepared for rainy days
Wouldn’t it be great to have guaranteed sunny weather for May half term? But as we live in the UK, we have to be realistic and realise it might rain! Always take waterproofs and wellies with you so that you can get outside even when it’s wet weather.
5. Do your research
Make sure you do a bit of research on family friendly caravan sites before booking your pitch. Sometimes it’s nice to stay on a quiet site with no electric hook up or facilities, but if you’re caravanning with small children you’ll probably appreciate having a few creature comforts close by. Many sites have toilet and shower blocks, swimming pools, play areas and children’s clubs all included in the price of your nightly stay, so you’ll never be short of something to do – even if the weather isn’t great.
If you could offer one piece of advice to those looking to set off with the caravan – and kids – in tow, what would it be? Let us know in the comments below.
