- Bring the Essential Items
You will have limited space in your overlanding vehicle so bring only what is most important. Think about what your kids use on a daily basis. Bring the travel size of all those items (toothbrush, toothpaste, diaper cream, etc.). Pack the proper wardrobe (play clothes, warm clothes, shoes/boots, etc.) and don’t forget their pajamas and blankies. When it comes to stuffies and toys, bring ones they cannot do without, but only bring a few extra toys. Oh, and make sure the toys are okay to get dirty as that is most likely to happen. Part of the adventure is getting them out to explore nature; take them to the beach or river shore, go collect rocks, play with sticks, etc. This will keep their imaginations going! One tip is using the stroller with the tray as a highchair to save space. Be prepared to find out you still packed more than what you needed.
- Take Breaks and Expect to Cover Less Distance on your Journey
You might be okay with going hours without stopping the vehicle but the little ones can’t sit that long. Take time to eat lunch, or simply have a snack at a lookout. Stop at everything that is safe and appealing to you. You want everyone to feel refreshed and energized to keep going onward on your journey. If the kids are cranky, so are you! The point is to enjoy the adventure you are on, soak up the stops that your kids enjoy instead of rushing them and pushing them to the next destination. Over the days they might get a bit more tired and slower, and so will you. While in the vehicle, try to keep the car games, movies, and toys going. As you may already know from day to day living, snacks are great with kids, so bring their favorites to keep them entertained or at least not hangry.
- Do a Trial Run
Set the vehicle and rooftop tent up in your backyard and sleep in it overnight to get the young ones used to sleeping in a different space. Then to test out the environment and your gear, start with a smaller trip. Go out for the weekend and see how everyone handles it. This will also be good insight on what items you did and didn’t need. Maybe you will reorganize or repack the vehicle for your next adventure. You may consider driving at different hours of the day due to nap schedules. One thing you will want to consider is meal preparation. You will be busy the whole trip, so if you are able to get everyone fed in a reasonable time, it will make everyone’s lives easier. You can use the trial run as a way to see what meals your family likes the most.
- Make Things Fun
Setting up camp can be fun if you get the kids involved with putting out the chairs and the tent or simply holding the flashlight. When you are making meals, if your kids are old enough to help out, get them to set the table and chairs or hold the hotdogs over the fire. Bring books or pamphlets about the birds and trees in the area for the kids to look out for. Remember that the whole trip is a learning activity, so keep them included as much as possible.
Conclusion
So, no matter if you are new at overlanding, or trying to integrate the little ones into the camping life you enjoy, there are ways to make it work. If you are thinking about taking your kids with you, there is nothing stopping you! At Kermodeoverlanding.com you will find all of your essentials that you will need to help kick start your overlanding journey.
