‘When are we going to go again?’ — Tips for keeping older kids interested in RVing with the family

One of the reasons that you made the decision to purchase an RV was to take trips with your children. Spending time together, doing things as a family, creating life-long memories—that’s what you envisioned when you took the step and became an RV owner. Now that the kids are growing older and spending more of their time with friends, you may fear that they will no longer want to be part of the family camping trips. You may hear them ask, “Do we HAVE to go?”

According to a number of parents who camp with teenagers and pre-teens, the number one thing that you can do to keep older children wanting to join the family is involving them in the planning of the trip. This keeps their interest up and lets them know that they will be having some fun once you arrive at your destination.

Be sure to plan your trip to include some of the things that the kids want to do. Think like a teen!

• Select a campground near amusement parks, water parks or other places of interest.
• Camp at a resort-style campground loaded with planned activities and special events.
• Allow your child to bring a friend along. Let them camp in their own tent to give them some privacy.
• Do a few things that you would not regularly do as a family, like catching a matinee or going bowling together.

Believe it or not, doing things together is important to kids. They may seem to want the opposite at times, but knowing your kids well will let you know how much “together time” they need. Some families may make it a habit to play a board game together after dinner at the campground. Others make time to be together each night around the campfire. But make sure that kids get some private time—many teens can’t stand being with the family every minute. They need time to socialize with other kids, or to just be alone.

The length of a trip can make or break your trip with older kids. A week or two away from their friends is easier to take than a four to five week trip! Many campgrounds now have Internet access or even WiFi, giving kids the ability to keep in touch with friends online.

Remember, all families come to a point when the older kids can’t go along or would rather stay at home. However, with some planning ahead, you may find that you can extend the family camping years a bit, and have your kids asking, “When are we going to go again?”