My dh and I used to caravan year round in our pre kids days. Sightseeing, long pub lunches, cosying up with a bottle of wine. ahhh those were the days. While the children were very small we stopped caravanning altogether. The kids are now 8 and 9 and we are back caravaning and trying to do it all year around.
But, it's not working. We tried two seperate weeeknds away in November and ran into several problems. Not many other kids on site for them to play with. Too cold for them to spend long on the play areas. Several wet spells kept us all cooped up inside. The mud! Dog filthy after every quick wee break, not to mention a good walk in the woods. After our last weekend away I had to do 10 loads of washing when we got home.
Our caravan and the storage costs seem steep if it's going to spend 6+ months of the year unused.
Has anyone found ways of making winter caravanning with kids work? We thought about Haven or something like that, but they seem to be closed out of season and are too far for us for a weekend.
We have a few sites that are open all year that have indoor swimming pool.We also take four bikes and this can easily fill a weekend.We also find sites that are handy for xmas shopping.Sometimes the kids are more receptive to school homework while we are in the van at weekends especially on bad weather days.We also find more families with children are using cl's and cs's,we found one near chester were the owner had set up a zip wire in the woods,the kids had a ball! Don't give up using the caravan in the winter,we swear by getting away in the fresh air and keeping the children away from the computer and dad from the laptop!
Our 2 boys are younger at 3 and 6 but during the Oct-Mar period we tend to spend more time out of the caravan during the day visiting places. For the reasons you have stated its not really practical to expect them to play around the site as they would in the 'summer' when play equipment is damp and there are less 'holiday friends' to make.
We also try and pick sites that have indoor pools (there are some nice ones around) so that passes the time nicely.
We are 'dog free' but regarding the mud we keep outdoor boots/shoes under the van in a plastic box/bag and use old newspaper inside the awning door to minimise the dirt.
Although we're holding off the daily requests from our 6 year old for a 'DS' I'm guessing most kids pass the time in the evening with video games and DVD's (yours are probably too old for Peppa Pig)
Haven are closed from 1st week in November until March or a few days before easter whichever comes sooner. We have caravanned in the snow with our girls when they were of a similar age to yours, but had the advantage of being able to leave the dog at home with my parents, and tryed to always use a hardstanding pitch to keep some of the mud out of the van. It can get expensive when you have to factor in entertainment for the kids when theres not much for them to do on the site. We always ended up taking them to a local cinema, sports centre, or playbarn on cold and wet days, and that usually tired them out for the evening, so after a few family board games from the 100game compodium we bought from toysrus to keep in the caravan, they were usually ready to go to bed and settle for the night, leaving us to enjoy our wine and nibbles in peace. It did help to have a fully enclosed end bedroom for them though, i can imagine it wouldnt be so easy trying to do this if you had something like a side dinette and curtain arrangement, where they can ear your every move and conversation. They are all grown up now with families of their own, but it must have been a positve experiance for them as they are now starting to get their own gear to do the same for their kids!
Julia
------------- Just love to be out amoungst Nature and Wildlife
Celebrating 37 years of Caravanning in 2019, Recently Considered Retiring, but Totally Addicted for Life!
We're hoping to go over New Year for a few days with our 6 and 4 year old. I also wondered what we were going to do but then realised we'll just do what we would if we were at home - go out every day.
The advantage of being away is we can go to different things (we've been to everything in our local area too many times to count)...for example, we are going to a site near the coast so beach walks should be in order, the site has got an indoor pool (although I imagine it will be crammed) and we're near the New Forest, so more walks (it amazes me how much the kids love just going for walks as long as they are fairly short).
------------- 'In later life, you will be more disappointed with the things you didn't do than with the things you did.' - Mark Twain
Wellie boots, and all in one suits for walking in the bad weather, or just raincoats and waterproof trousers. A small porch awning is great for leaving wet clothes and a big box for the shoes. Number one rule in our caravan is DON'T get shoes wet, use wellies or crocs but never trainers as they are soaked including socks in seconds and you can go through all your socks in one day! Even we we do a full week in the van 5 loads of washing is the max, that is 2 adults and 2 kids (11 & 16) so 10 loads is excessive and must have been a nightmare for you..
We would rarely be out of the van after 4pm in the winter, we use our time as quality family time, lots of chat, DVD's board games, even resorted to charades last year and it was hilarious.. Kids need to experience boredom, sets them up for adult work life (you can guess where I am), they need to know how to sit down and read a book, listen to some music, write a letter.. Sounds old fashioned but I think sometimes the caravan is a perfect place to hone your 'keeping occupied' skills..
I love to cook and so do our kids, we only ever cook from fresh in the van, no microwave dinners. We are time rich in the van and use it to cook delicious food rather than rush it.
Even homework is done in our van, and to be honest it is never rushed as not in a hurry to go off and do something else! We have drawn the line at practising musical instruments out of respect for fellow vans lol..
When planning our trip away we will have a list of places to visit (indoor) which are useful for a wet day, muesums, libruaries, shops (last resort) cimena, leisure centres, anything that is indoors really. We try to keep these activities for wet and very cold days, ususally walks are the main attraction! Can't give any advice about dog other than we keep a big container of water in awning old towels and just did feet and tummy after each walk and dog had a blanket to lie on which keep the caravan clean..
Don't give up, some of our best trips are winter ones!
Wendy
------------- Animals are my friends... and I don't eat my friends...
George Bernard Shaw
Our dog gets better walks when we do winter caravanning as we all wrap up and go out as a family to pass the time rather than at home where its a chore which has to be done and no one wants to do it! We tend to go to Sandy Balls or Whitemead Forest or somewhere that has indoor pools and facilites and is also really good value in the Winter. We sold our caravan recently and are picking up a new one on saturday, but haven't been away since September and we are having withdrawal symptoms. Roll on cosy Winter weekends!
We are going away with out two kids (7 & 4) from 26th Dec to 2nd Jan.
I think the key to going away in Winter with young children is planning. Before you go get on the tinterweb for a couple of hours and do some research. Look at the local areas, work out activities for when it's dry, and then have a list of things to do when it's raining.
Treasure hunts, wildlife counting, tracking, etc
There's lots to do and being organised helps.
Steve.
------------- Some days I am the statue - others the pigeon.
For 10 year olds you need the following:
1. pens, pencils and paper - drawing and writing is great fun!
2. playstation / ds / nintendo - great time fillers!
3. some dvds or a satallite tv system for all to watch and enjoy
4. some simple but fun cooking recipies (we have done soda bread, making our own butter, xmas roast, big bbq feast, omelette breakfast etc etc etc). Trick is to keep things simple!
5. 1 scooter per kid - great fun and tires them out!
6. ipod with storynory (kids storys) on it. Perfect for a bedtime story!
7. shower block (gets the little tykes ready for item 6)
8. list of free days out near your destination.
9. play area at your chosen campsite for if the weather is actually dry!
10. board games or cards or puzzles or whatever of your own choice.
All familys are different, but take stuff you all find fun! Camping is meant to be fun for everyone, child and adult alike. We love the radio, tv, cooking, books, art, video/board games, talking etc. Just do what you like, not what somebody else says you should like! Thats the whole point!!!
------------- Why am i doing this instead of camping??!!
You are roughly in the middle of the most interesting places you could choose for a quick escape to find some wonderful cruising grounds that are almost on your doorstep. Places of an hour and a halfs easy driving and plety of places of interest to cater for parents and children.
Heers one for you to try.
Get on the M!, head north and come off at the Chesterfield exit, down the dual carriageway take the exit for Matlock.Look in this sites index for the Lickpenny caravan site.
, Nearly all pitches hard standing [shale] Some super served pitches, super toilet and washing facilities and a kiddies playground. Inclement weather you can retire to the two large garden centres complete with coffee,tea and refreshment facilities.within walking distance. all within walking distancef the site, and that is Tansley. Then down the hill to Matlock Bath and you have all the shops and shoping arcades, Turn right at the island and you will find Sainburys lage supermarket,kids will love it in there.[and mum no doubt] Reverse your direction back to Matlock Bath, turn right at the island, go through Matlock town and just before Cromford xrds at old Arkwright mills [now called Massom Mill is a huge covered arcade [underground carpark ] 4/5 levels of all sorts of goodies to inspect plus a good sensible priced restuarant that do nice meals as well, Then you have got nearby Bakewell with all its atractions. Not forgetting Chatsworth House,plus a garden centre and restuarant.
I could spend all day telling you about places to travel to in the wonderful county of Derbyshire but that will take away the pleasure you can have in finding it all out for yourself, So dont park your van up but use it wisely for all seasons if possible and tear yourself away from Charnwood,Its too close.
Wishing you and yours the very best for the season and happy caravanning.
Graham R.
------------- Twinny
Drives a Sorento and tows a Sterling Elite Explorer
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Winter Caravanning with kids
