Little Known Ways to Turn Your Kids Into RVers

Many RVers are families with kids in tow. Parents love to pass along their passions to their children and for many people, RVing is one of those passions. So how do you get the kids really into it? I’ve got some advice to make RVing an enjoyable experience for everyone involved included in my seven tips for turning your kids into pro RVers. 

Put Them to Work 

Right away this seems like something that would turn kids away from RVing but it’s all in the presentation.


Don’t slap the kids with a big chore list, rather work with them to come up with their jobs. Make them feel important and part of their journey by assigning jobs, it could be something as simple as making sure to put out the RV blocks out when you arrive at the site or helping you to navigate. Let them know how great of a help their job is and you’ll get a kid who is in enthusiastic about doing it. 

Set Aside Time for Activities 

Though you may be the one making the itinerary, you’re not the only one travelling. It’s important that everyone gets their say in the activities that you participate in so everyone has a fun trip. Lay out a list of possible activities, destinations and events with your kids to get their input. That helps make the trip memorable for everybody. 

Explain What You Are Doing 

Kids are naturally inquisitive and if you want them to be pro RVers you need to foster that inquisitive nature. If a kid asks why you’re cleaning your battery terminals or why you’re filling up the tires, don’t just herd them away.

Let them know what you’re doing, why you’re doing and maybe even how to do it. This can help turn your kid into a little pro RVer. 

Provide Some History 

While you may get a few eye rolls when explaining some history, you may also get some intrigue and interest. Let them know how the Grand Canyon formed, or explain a family heading west on Route 66 during the Dust Bowl. This can help instill a passion for travel and history in the little ones and therefore RVing. 

Take Advantage of One-on-One Time 

This one is aimed towards families with smaller and multiple children. Have the kids take turns sitting in the passenger seat or co-pilot’s seat, if it is safe of course. Use this time to let your kids know where you’re going and possibly have them help out with navigation or helping you spot road signs. 

Listen!

This could be the big difference maker in your kids having a great time and falling in love with RVing or turning your trips into sour grapes. You want the trip to be fun for everyone and create memories so listen to what they are saying. Do they hate their job? Try another one. Do they love kayaking? Try some more kayaking. Listening can help tailor your trips to achieve the maximum amount of fun for the whole family. 

Let Kids Be Kids

In the end, kids may just want to watch ants march along a sandbox rather than listening to your lecture on Mount Rushmore or learning how to clean out the black water tanks and that’s okay. Forcing your kids to listen and sit down when it’s not necessary will just lead to pouting. Let them be kids. 

Of course, I’m not an expert on everyone’s kids and parenting style. Try some of these and your own to get your kids excited about family road trips and before long you’ll have some kid pro RVers on your hands.