Tips for RV Living with Kids
- They Need Their Space. Depending on the size of your family, you may or may not be able to have a bed for each child.
- They Need Stuff to Do. Luckily, many campgrounds were made with kids in mind. You’ll find playgrounds, basketball...
- Travel Days Require Prep and Planning. This is especially true for younger children. You may have to...
Full Answer
Is full time RV living with kids a good idea?
Full time RV living with kids is definitely a different kind of living. Being on the road means there are really good times and also times of frustration and struggles where you miss the comforts of a house.
Should you live in an RV to save money?
If you decide to live in an RV to save money then your budget and lifestyle will look different from someone who wants to live and travel a lot in their RV. We tend to travel a lot and move about every 4 days. Once we get to a location we like to do a lot of exploring so we spend more money.
How do you find other full time RV families?
Fulltime Families has been a great resource for us to connect with a lot of other full time RV families. Or we just show up at a Thousand Trails campground and usually there will be at least 1 if not 10 other families who are living on the road there. Or we head to Thousand Trails Orlando in January and there are like 50 families there.
What is the best Class C RV for full time living?
The Thor A.C.E. 30.2 is another Class C RV, which is perfect for full time living. The layout in itself is such that it is family-friendly. It consists of bunk beds along with a slide-out. There is a kitchen area which is fully equipped.
How can I live in an RV full time with kids?
Here are 12 ways to make RV living with kids less stressful and more enjoyable for everyone:Get a rig with a bunk room door. ... Opt for space-saving toys. ... Stay organized. ... Teach kids to conserve. ... Plan meals. ... School your way. ... Make new friends but keep the old. ... Slow down.More items...
Can you live in an RV with a child?
No laws in California prohibit living in an RV with a child, and CPS will not take a child for that reason alone. But do make sure to avoid violating custody agreements, and make sure basic needs are met – food, power, water, clothing, etc. For school-aged children, also make sure they are getting a proper education.
Is it financially smart to live in an RV?
It is financially smart to live in an RV. Living in an RV means living a lot smaller with a lot less stuff. You have less room for everything – clothes, toys, tools and more saving you a lot of money. Along with less space, you save on utilities and home-improvement projects if you own your home.
Why you shouldn't live in an RV?
Lack of Privacy. Unless you're living the RV lifestyle alone, finding personal space can become an issue. With such a small living area and no walls to divide rooms, it's hard to find privacy. Since you live in a super-cool home, people will want to come and stay with you to get a taste of your RV lifestyle.
Is living in a camper child neglect?
No, CPS cannot take your kid for living in an RV. As long as there are no grounds for neglect or abuse, your child is safe continuing living with you.
Is living in an RV considered homeless?
A person with an RV is considered homeless if they don't have amenities that make it a suitable place for habitation, such as running water or access to a working toilet. She said her agency's Housing Hotline is contacted every day by people living out of their vehicles.
Is it cheaper to live in an RV or a house?
So the initial cost of RV living is certainly lower than buying a house, and you'll save money by not having to stay at expensive RV parks every night. After all, the average cost of an RV park is around $30 a day.
What is the life expectancy of an RV?
around 20 yearsThe short answer is that the average lifespan of an RV is around 20 years or 200,000 miles, whichever comes first. But the answer isn't quite that simple. That number can vary depending on the class of your motorhome, how well you take care of it, and a few other factors.
What You Need to Know Before living in an RV?
10 Things to Know About Living in an RV Full-TimeDifferent Types of RV Dwellers. ... Choose the Right Travel Partner. ... Select an RV That Meets Your Needs. ... You'll Need to be a Minimalist. ... Roadside Assistance is Worth it. ... Campsites Range From Cheap to Pricey. ... You Can't Boondock Just Any Old Place. ... You Can Find Work on the Fly.More items...•
Can you live in RV permanently?
Yes, an RV can be a permanent residence for tax purposes or to claim residency in many states. The IRS considers any structure as a possible primary (or secondary) residence if it has sleeping, cooking, and toilet facilities. For other purposes, you can get an address assigned to your RV property like any other home.
Is RV living worth it?
Pros: Living the RV Lifestyle Freedom: RV life allows you to change locations whenever you want. You're never obligated to stay in one place for longer than you want. It's a great option for anyone who isn't ready to settle down and for individuals who want to explore and wander. Cheaper: No mortgage.
Can you shower in an RV while is moving?
The good news is that you can use the RV bathroom while the vehicle is in motion. Because the electrical systems are in action while the car is on the road, you can use the bathroom and flush with the water pump as normal.
How to help a child who craves attention?
If you have a child who craves attention, give them the limelight every day. It doesn’t mean they monopolize it all day – yet being proactive with letting them know that you’ll give them the floor for “talkie time” every day gives them the trust and comfort of knowing they’ll have their moment.
How to create a family vision?
Sit down with your family and create a family vision. Go deeper than just the places you want to go and things you want to do. Explore the feelings behind it, and how you can incorporate those feelings in your daily life.
What happens if you don't prioritize time?
Schedule it in – if you don’t prioritize time for what’s important, that time will quickly be filled by whatever lands in your lap. That time for rest and connection with family is just as important – actually, more – than that business meeting. So schedule it in just the same as that critical meeting for work.
How to teach when things go awry?
Even when adventures go awry, look at what you can learn from it. Assess what happened and reflect on what you could learn, and what it may make possible. Dive in and learn alongside your children. Don’t get so lost in being the teacher you never become the student.
What do you say when you ask your daughter where they go to school?
When you ask my daughters where they go to school, they say, “ Everywhere!” When I ask who their teacher is, they reply, “Everyone!” We have had the amazing perspective of looking at our whole life experience as a learning opportunity, as we believe in the concept of a lifelong philosophy of functional education.
What happens when you add the kid factor to RV living?
When you add the kid-factor to RV living, the fears can mount, especially when you see the pile of toys and the sibling squabbles that may be going on in your own home. But remember, you are choosing this lifestyle for a reason! As your lifestyle shifts, so does your perspective, and this goes for your children as well.
Who is Ashley Logsdon?
Ashley Logsdon is a marriage and family coach who helps families move from chaos and reaction mode to living a life of intention , celebrating their strengths, and not waiting for “one day” to create the life – and family – they love to come home to.
What to do when RVing with kids?
When RVing with kids, choose stops that are family-friendly . Consider stopping at entertainment venues that have activities for the whole family instead of having to leave Mom behind with the two year old.
Is RV travel safe?
An RV is one of the most family-friendly ways to travel. However, you have to take steps to keep everyone safe and happy so that you get the most enjoyment out of your trip.
Is a campground family friendly?
Choose to stay at family-friendly playgrounds whenever possible over boon-docking or parking on the side of the road. Some campgrounds are more family-friendly than others. For example, some state parks may only provide power, water and bathrooms.
Can you make dinner over a roaring fire?
You might plan on making dinner over a roaring fire every night. However, you might arrive late to the campsite with hungry kids who don’t want to wait. Or your barbecue may come out burnt.
Is it bad to have cupcakes in the pantry?
While you may be tempted to stash a box of cupcakes or cookies in the pantry, that’s a bad idea. The kids may eat it all when they’re bored. Now you have no snacks left, and they have no room for healthy meals.
Can you travel with kids in an RV?
Traveling with kids is made easier when you’re in an RV. You have more space for them than if you were crammed into a car. You’re bringing your own bathroom, and that is critical if you’re traveling with young children.
Preparing for RV Life
Preparing for RV life with kids isn’t just about getting your equipment together and making sure you have plenty of snacks for the road. One of the big things you have to think about is getting everyone in the family mentally and emotionally prepared.
What Do You Do When the Kids Become School Age?
Many people have kids that aren’t school-aged yet, but some of you are up for the challenge of homeschooling. We homeschooled four kiddos on the road and since I was also homeschooled as a kid, it wasn’t that big of a deal—but it still was hard figuring out your school schedule and what you want to teach.
Where Do You Stay When You Live in an RV Full Time?
There are a lot of cool places you can stay when you start RVing full time. Many people start out by hanging out on a loved ones’ land so they can get used to it or they go to a local campground.
How to Become a Full Time RV Family
If you want to become a full time RV family, it’s just a matter of taking the leap and getting your RV. Some people even choose to live in a van to get started if they’re nervous about hauling an RV.
Are You Ready to Start the Full Time RV Lifestyle with Kids?
If you’re ready to be one of the full time families and see so many amazing places, the best thing you can do is dip your toe in the water. I kind of had a little headstart since my parents took me on the road for about 7 years of my life. From 5 to 12, we RVed mainly up and down the east coast seeing family and friends.
The Good Bad & the Ugly of Full Time RVing with Kids
Now that I’ve lulled you into a false sense of security, it’s time to share the good, bad and the ugly of full time RVing with kids. Some of these things you might not even think about and others you might have heard rumors about.
Taking Kids RVing Full Time – Frequently Asked Questions
Answer: If your kids are used to a certain area, it’s likely they will miss it and the people there but if you keep them busy, they barely notice it.
Launching Into The RV Life
Traveling in an RV around the country was never on our radar. Not even close. You see, we lived in a suburban home in Minnesota surrounded by extended family and friends. Yet, we felt like we never had enough time together as a family.
Finding Remote Work
Tony must have applied to over 50 positions online using many job resource websites such as https://remoteok.io/. It was a very exciting day when he interviewed with Platform.sh, a web hosting company. They have a staff of fully remote employees and were excited to not only bring him on full-time but they also offered us medical benefits.
Tiny House – Tiny Spaces
Once we had the RV bought and jobs secure, it was time to start living with ‘less’. Meaning, we needed to downsize big time!
Travel Planning and Our Favorite Destinations
Part of the excitement of RVing is picking out our next destinations. Now, if we’re not careful we can get overwhelmed by all of the travel planning that can go into this lifestyle.
Homeschooling Our Kids Along The Way
Homeschooling itself presents a big enough challenge when trying to educate your kids at home that we were nervous about trying to teach them while in an RV. How can you do a chemistry experiment in an RV? What about art classes?
The Best Part of RV living with Kids
Everyone wants to be with their parents and siblings for 24-hours a day, right? It may sound corny, but we do!
Permanent Full-Time Travel?
To us, RV living with our kids is something we see ourselves doing with no end in sight. When we first started there was a thought it was more for city-shopping and where to find a new home-base.
ORGANIZATION IS ESSENTIAL
When you downsize from living in a home to an RV, you learn quickly which items are essential and what you can live without. When the kids are moving too, this usually means even more stuff. Nobody will be happy living in a cluttered RV, so it is essential to get and stay organized.
NEW FAMILY DYNAMICS
Changing to the full-time RV lifestyle means changes to the family dynamics that you and the kids are used to. Moving into a smaller space forces everyone to learn new ways to communicate so space is shared fairly. There are shower times along with other schedules to make sure everyone has enough time to prepare for the day.
EDUCATION
When you choose to live in your RV, you also find new ways to earn money or adapt to your current job accordingly. With kids, you also have to adapt their education. Homeschooling becomes part of your life.
PREP FOR TRAVEL DAY
Travel days can be boring for kids. Depending on the next destination a travel day can be long and this is boring for a kid to be sitting in a vehicle. You need to make sure you are prepared with snacks, packed lunches or dinner, and water. You can stop on the way for mini hikes.
CAMP CHOICE MATTERS
You need to decide whether boondocking or RV parks are going to work best for you. With boondocking, you can get your rig outfitted with a great solar electrical system to facilitate boondocking which provides more space and freedom for you and the kids. If your family prefers full hook-ups, then RVV parks are a better choice.
KIDS ARE REALLY ADAPTABLE
One of the most surprising facts that many parents forget is that kids are highly adaptable. In fact, kids are way more adaptable than adults. Adults have been molded by society for much longer, making it challenging to think outside the box. Kids are still learning and are adaptable to their surroundings, so living in an RV can be easy to accept.
How often do you move in an RV with kids?
We tend to travel a lot and move about every 4 days.
Do RVs have washers and dryers?
RV Laundry – Yes we have a washer and dryer in our RV – but it is mini! So when you see one with industrial size washers and dryers that will dry everything in 25 minutes (instead of 2 hours like the RV one) you get really excited :)!
Is it easier to travel with kids?
Travel days can be hectic. Especially when the kids are little. Plan for this and don’t plan to do much else but travel on those days. As the kids get older it gets easier. Also we are the first to say just give the kids the electronics while traveling. It makes it easier on everyone.
1. Awesomeness is everywhere!
Everywhere we go – no matter how big or small of a city or town it is – has something awesome to offer. Sure a little town in Alabama may not have the best (or any) farmers market, but they have an amazing lake with a cliff jumping area that is perfect for the kids!
2. Having choices is hard
We have setup our lifestyle as a lifestyle of freedom. No set schedules or times that we really need to be anywhere and our reservations can always be changed. This is amazing yet causes problems. Since our time is ALL ours. We could all stay in our pajamas all day if we wanted to every day.
3. We are ready to downsize
When we first were thinking about part-time RV living with kids, we bought a 29 foot class C motorhome without any slide-outs. We thought It was the perfect RV for trips. Then when we decided to go full-time we thought it would be to small. So we found a beautiful 39′ coach with 4 slide-outs and tons of basement storage. Perfect! Right??
5. Comfort zones are made for pushing
Our life is all about pushing our comfort zone. Yes we get tired of this and sometimes long for the peacefulness and comfort of what we know. But then we quickly move out of that and back into pushing us to discover and explore the unknown. Both as individuals and people and also locations.
7. Keens are the only shoes you really need
We got a pair of Keen sandals for each of us and they have been perfect for our lifestyle. They can get wet and can be used for hiking. The kids don’t even have running shoes anymore they just have a pair of Keens and a pair of flip-flops or Crocs.
8. We can REALLY annoy each other
I mean come on now, RV living with kids means we are together literally 24/7 so it is bound to happen! And it does. There are days when we are all at our wits end and just don’t want to be together anymore.
9. We really like each other
Yes, we can annoy the crap out of each other, but we also really like each other and enjoy each other’s company and wouldn’t have it any other way. The kids fight like kids do but they also all snuggle together on the couch to watch the same iPad together. Or play for hours with their dress up clothes or outside building a fort.