Caravanning with kids - any tips?

[BHRipe]

It's looking less and less likely that we'll be able to take a holiday abroad this year so caravanning in the UK might be on the cards!

What are your top tips and considerations for a first-timer with kids of 3, 11 and 15??

Take a lot of games and books. Fond memories of endless rounds of Yahtzee whilst listening to the pounding Cornish rain on the caravan roof.

Portable dvd player..
Once all 3 dc came down with d&v and dh had to go off and buy one and some films as we were banished to the caravan as per site rules!!

Don't.

You may not be able to take a holiday until September or October anyway, and weather is unlikely to be good.
Unless you are hardy outdoor types who don't mind rain then stuck inside a metal box with three children sounds like hell.

Have a "staycation" instead- if things are open , then a week of outings to local attractions, takeways, minimal cooking for adults, spending money on nice food and treats, DVD nights, BBQs, camping in the garden.
Will also save you money for a holiday next year.

I have mixed memories of caravanning as a child. Great when it was dry and sunny; utterly miserable if wet & cold.
Good things we took with us ; BBQ, swing ball; badminton set: board games; books; playing cards. Mum & Dad took alcohol.
Everyone had a job - beds, water, tidying up to keep things running smoothly.
There were never enough dry towels...

Highly unlikey that a "portable DVD player" ( do they still make these things? )will occupy a 3, 11 and 15 year old at the same time.

If you have woodland, sweeping beaches, cycle trails, and everyone loves that kind of activity- then could be a fantastic holiday.

Personally I would rather have root canal work done.

Family films do actually work in our house!!

Windyatthebeach

I would love to know which films can entertain a 3 year old and a 15 year old.

Bit odd why anyone would question a family of different ages enjoying films together!!

Windyatthebeach

Bit odd why anyone would question a family of different ages enjoying films together!!

Maybe we are an odd family then.

I would love to have a list of the movies that can entertain everyone.

Our favourite campsites are those where u can ride bikes and scooters or have places to play in.

Are you experienced caravanners? Do you have one?

It is a fantastic holiday, specifically if you can pick your weather.

We loved our caravan and sold ours last year because children are older and it wasn't being used. I wish we still had it now. It's fabulous for family holidays.
Try and get a site that allows camp fires so they can toast marshmallows etc. For our family, a play area was a must as was decent toilets and showers but we learned quickly that some sites charge a fortune for nothing more than basic sites.
Have you got a caravan?

I've never understood the appeal of caravanning. You are holed up in a tiny box with rubbish beds, rubbish shower, rubbish kitchen equipment, smelly gas heater, no space to move or have time alone. You can read and play board games but you can do those at home, with the luxury of a real bathroom, kitchen, TV.

Go to a site that has a clubhouse, and a little shop or cafe etc. The older ones can be allowed to pop out on their own (11 + 15 year old together) to these places, while the three year old has a kids film?
Get wet weather gear, and use it. Go for rainy walks, being in heavy rain in good rain gear is really fun!
Take cards, and some counters, and bet/gamble. We have a mini roulette in our caravan, I am an all-or-nothing gambler, so I can teach my kids how quickly you can lose it all 😅

Thanks all, this is such good advice! We don't have a caravan but thinking of hiring one or a static. Although perhaps not given the government's announcement last night!!

Windy ... I would also love to know what films the whole family would enjoy .... . I can probably count on one hand the films I have enjoyed as a parent watching with my (now grown up) child. It’s hard enough choosing a film to watch with my DH as we have such different tastes.

Seriously re-think the caravanning idea, might be a real challenge with the age range of your DC.

We all love Night in the Museum films, Any of the jurassic Park series, Home Alone - both. Jumanji - both. My youngest has been watching full length films since 2yo.
Having lots of dc /older siblings is maybe different maybe (?)

I think it must be lovely if you can all enjoy the same sort of films, I mean that genuinely, I know this will come across as sarcasm but I really don’t meant it in that way ... but personally any of the films you mention would bore me rigid and I would struggle to sit through any of them ... just as my DC would not want to sit through the sort of films I like to watch.

Op I missed gov advice last night - was it about holidays?

We took games for bad weather, swing ball etc for good. Night time walks head torches from the £1 shop. Fires are good if you can have them, we tried to find sites that had stuff to do, one in Caernarfon has a river running through it that was fantastic kids spent the weekend in a blow up boat.
riversidecamping.co.uk/the-site/