Kids love new places, new things, new people and new experiences. One of the best ways to introduce more novelty into their world and expand their horizons is to take them traveling. They’ll learn all about places they’re visiting and historical sites they see, which helps to broaden their minds and make them more well-rounded people.
A great way for families to travel frequently on a budget is with an Airstream RV. These versatile vehicles offer you all the amenities and comforts of home in a compact package, allowing you to head out into the great wide open without worrying about where you’ll stay each night.
But if you’ve never traveled or camped with your kids in an RV before, the prospect can seem somewhat daunting. After all, it’s a small space and long hours on the road can mean kids become bored and restless. Stave off that boredom and head them off at the pass by planning for their wants and needs on the road. This guide by Airstream of Montana will help you do just that! Visit our Missoula location if you have any questions.
Give Them Entertainment
If you don’t have something for kids to do, they will get bored, which can make them feel upset and restless. Long hours on the road strapped under a seat belt mean that boredom can set in even faster, making everyone miserable. Provide entertainment options for your kids so they have a way to engage their minds and hands while you drive. Allow them to choose some favorite books, movies and toys to pack along, but limit them to only a few of each to cut down on clutter.
Letting kids pick some of their favorite songs for road trip music will also help them to feel more in control of their environment. Giving them some screen time is sure to please them as well, and there are countless games, coloring apps and videos that you can load onto devices. You can use this strategy sparingly and intersperse it with drawing, reading or simple, portable craft projects like friendship bracelets.
One great way to keep kids entertained while also encouraging them to engage with the outside world is to offer them a travel journal with lots of colorful pens and stickers so they can draw and write about each place you go, or stick in postcards of where they’ve been. This lets them build memories of their trips to look back on or share with friends back home.
Provide Secure Sleeping Arrangements
Sleep becomes even more important when you’re traveling, as long days walking through cities, hiking up mountains, swimming in rivers and generally having a great time will be fatiguing, particularly for children. Make sure that each child has their own space for sleep with plenty of blankets and pillows. Use sleeping bags on fold-out beds instead of sheets and blankets to make it easy to fold up in the morning. Keep the temperature regulated and the lights dim to encourage restful sleep, but offer a small LED night light for young children who might be afraid of the dark.
Maintain Routines
While some people swap to ‘vacation mode’ and choose to vary their eating and sleeping times on trips, this will be more difficult for younger campers to do without upset. Lack of sleep and irregular meal times will make kids moody. Stick to a bedtime schedule close to the one you keep at home, have meals and snacks at your usual times and ensure kids are taking any medicines and performing daily hygiene tasks aboard the Airstream just like they would at home.
Be firm about bedtime, but allow kids to wind down with some activities like board games or watching videos in their pajamas for a half-hour first. This routine also means you and your partner will have time to relax and unwind too, so you can be ready for tomorrow’s adventures.
With some patience and preparation, you can make traveling in an Airstream RV with your kids a wonderful experience. If you’re still looking for the perfect family-friendly rig, come into our Missoula location to see our full selection of Airstream RVs for sale. We welcome our customers coming from the cities of Kalispell and Bozeman, MT.
