Many grandparents find that summer is the perfect time to give their own kids a break on childcare while creating lasting memories with the next generation. In fact, the study “2014 Portrait of American Travelers” conducted by MMGY Global, showed that 26 percent of participating grandparents took at least one vacation with the younger generation. This figure was up from 21 percent in 2013. Of those grandparents, 23 percent traveled with their grandchildren alone.
The “Grandcamping” trend is actually nothing new for RV owners. Whether you want to build stronger bonds with your grandkids, help out your own children with their summer childcare arrangements, or (don’t tell the kiddies) just give your adult children a much needed vacation away from the kids, many RV owners have already discovered that their RV is the perfect vehicle for economical and versatile vacations with their grandkids.
Grandcamping – RV Style
When you have access to a home on wheels, it makes it easier to tailor activities and schedules to appropriate ages, rather than trying to work around a destination type vacation like a theme park or resort. You don’t need to stop the action when someone needs a nap, a meal, or just a break from the festivities. You’ll want to be sure to have the right RV to make a grandcamping trip comfortable for everyone. Some things to consider are:
- Bunk beds, loft beds or trundles give each child a familiar space to call their own
- Enough space to bring along bikes, favorite toys and sporting goods to keep them active
- Plenty of seating with appropriate seatbelts for safety
- Easy access to bathrooms, clean clothes, meals, and snacks
Make Planning Part of the Fun
When planning an RV trip with your grandkids, be sure to include them in the planning process. Consider their preferences and create a sense of anticipation. Even simple tasks like mapping out your route, researching campsites online and talking about the activities they can do along the way will help set expectations and create a sense of ownership in the vacation.
For many children, a trip with the grandparents is the first extended period of time they will have away from their parents. Grandparents can use this time to help foster a sense of independence while still keeping a close eye on them. In the end, both generations will benefit by spending time together without the distractions of day-to-day life.
Most adults who camped as children often say that it had a positive impact on their lives, helping them to develop an appreciation for nature, meeting different people and learning to take care of themselves. If an RV camping trip with your grandchildren sounds like the ticket this year, stop by our showroom to see what child friendly RV features are available or click here to check out our huge selection of new and used RVs at Ketelsen RV.
