Am I laid-back enough for caravanning?

[Faband40]

We have just bought our first caravan, And I am feeling a mixture of excitement & trepidation! I have a nearly 4yr old & a 7yr old & because of all the wonderful things people have told me about children and caravanning such as having a little more freedom, hooking up with new friends quickly, being outdoors & active It sounded the perfect scenario.

However, I am now getting a bit wobbly as I am a bit of an anxious parent and am wondering if I will be able to relax and just let the children knock around with other children that I don't really know & whose parents I won't know. Obviously at home playdates & clubs are arranged with children & parents I know well.

I worry when dogs I don't know come near my son, who adores animals and will just want to fuss over them. I am concerned that I will constantly worry about their safety. I am wondering if I am of a laid -back enough nature to embrace caravanning when so much will be out of my control. (bizarrely my DH has just confessed to thinking the same thing about himself) Or will it help me become the chilled out parent I wish I could be? I know parents never fully switch off once they have children, but it would be so nice to be able to take it down a level on holiday.

Any advice, tips, rules for the children gratefully received.

I don't think dogs are allowed to wander freely on sites so you should be ok there. You could enclose an area round your van using windbreaks to keep them penned in.

I do know what you mean, I was a bit when we started caravanning last year and on our second site we had a free roaming 6 year old in our van for half an hour without anyone wondering where she was....

There are things you can do. maybe get a pitch near the play area if there is one, then you can keep a careful eye as you will naturally be nearby.

And there is nothing to say you cant still set rules. Mine are 8 and 5 and they have to be where I can see them or if they are say going to the shop then I have to be told about it. No going into someone elses van without me knowing and checking its ok with the owners. Stay together. NO hanging round the toilet block (why oh why)

I have no qualms in dragging them back to the caravan if they break these rules and they know it

Though to be honest most of the time they have brefriended children in the group of vans near us and they play near us on the grass in view.
Thats the beauty of the outside living. Even when its quite chilly the kids are playing out side and forgetting the cold, swapping toys etc

Occasionally into someone elses van but I dont let them do that for long as I feel the other parents prob want space too!

As they get older and prove their trustworthiness I may relax further. May

It will be fine. I love watching them now

Thanks so much sleepwouldbenice, thanks for tips re rules. I am really excited about our first trip, we're just going locally for a weekend initially, and I suppose we'll feel our way through it from there. Until they're older I might insist they do not go in other peoples vans, and stay within a certain perimeter where I can see them. I certainly wouldn't want to pen them in as suggested by deste!!! As I want our caravanning experience to be about freedom & adventure.

Am also hoping that this way of holidaying will make us all more relaxed and Chilled out as except for my laid back DS myself, DH and DD are naturally quite driven, completely on it people, who so need to unwind! I think caravan + wine + fresh air is the way forward! Happy caravanning!

I too have a 4 and 7yo and usually am quite highly strung! Holidays in our caravan are fab. It makes me switch off, I can't fuss over the housework, washing, ironing etc and have plenty more time to spend with DCs. They love the freedom of the caravan and sites, though we don't let them wander as much as some other children.
Our favourite sites are small - the CL ones are good - as they tend to have a huge area to play, but always within sight. HTH x

Thanks Millimat, that's really reassuring. Showing my ignorance, but what are CL sites?x

I second what Milimat says, join the caravan club and make use of their certificated locations (CL.s) they are much cheaper than other sites too (around £10 per night).You could also try caravan club rallying, where all the other people on the pop up site are members of the same rally centre and often know each other. Rallies usually have loads of kids activities arranged.

If all else fails go to a site with good security eg. conway touring park (which has locked barriers at the entrance).

At 4 you will have to keep a close eye on him though, a child got killed at Park coppice CC site last year on a micro scooter (got hit with a moving car) and there is always a risk from cess pits and EHU points.

I guess you wouldn't leave a child unsupervised on a beach so a campsite is no different really......

Laid back. I thought you had to be super organised!?

trelew.co.uk Here is a typical CL.

They really are worth joining the Caravan Club for!

Thanks Serin, that campsite looks beautiful! You're right, a 4 year old (especially a 4 yr old boy!) does still need a close eye kept on him! That's awful about the child on the micro scooter. Thanks for responding.x