Living this lifestyle with kids.

[bimmel20]

I just finished watching the first video of this years RTR. I noticed a kid or two in the video. We had talked about hitting the road once the kids were older and out, but that got me to thinking why wait. Is it at all common or acceptable in the "van dwellers" community to be on the road with kids? By the way, we have a small camper, not a van.

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

I just finished watching the first video of this years RTR. I noticed a kid or two in the video. We had talked about hitting the road once the kids were older and out, but that got me to thinking why wait. Is it at all common or acceptable in the "van dwellers" community to be on the road with kids? By the way, we have a small camper, not a van.

From a legal point of view, you're going to have to home school your kids, which is not something everyone wants to get involved in.  I imagine it could be a lot of work.  It will probably affect your choice of domicile states, too.  I would also imagine that the child welfare people will be paying extra attention to you, as well.

There have been a few threads on this here in the past, search on "home schooling".

Regards
John

 

[gcal]

I just finished watching the first video of this years RTR. I noticed a kid or two in the video. We had talked about hitting the road once the kids were older and out, but that got me to thinking why wait. Is it at all common or acceptable in the "van dwellers" community to be on the road with kids? By the way, we have a small camper, not a van.

Before you even think about this, pack some meals and drinks and spend a long weekend shut up in your bedroom with everyone would be going. Try tto do it when at least one member has the flu. This would show you what a bout of bad weather would be like. Only 5 minute bathroom breaks allowed. No running out for errands or using excuses to leave. If everyone is still sane at the end of the long weekend then think about it. You my need a bigger camper.

 

[WheelEstate USA]

We have met several who home school on the road with great success. You would need to set up with certified online classes, from all I understand. Real study, real grades.
I think it would be a fine education with proper dedication.

 

[SoulRaven]

Lots and lots of families on the road full-time now. We did it in the past. Just "google" for "full time RVing families" and you'll get a lot of hits. With a family, everyone needs to be onboard to make it work. Homeschooling would be necessary and the laws vary widely so when you consider your "domicile" you'll want to include the laws in that state. Some have very minimal requirements. I like "unschooling" and am a firm believer in its life long value to an individual. I never bought into having "socialization" with peers as a positive considering how many bring their kids up and you'll meet plenty of campers and full-timers with kids as you move around.

I have seen people with up to 5 children in a Class A and stories about people with even more children. If helps to be highly organized. For us, at home, we were almost always together anyway in one room so close quarters wasn't that much of a change.

 

[rvwandering]

A few families with kids have attended the last couple RTRs. Since many members are either retired or young and single it's not common but kids are very welcome. They basically have free run of the area and everyone enjoys having them around.

 There's also a large community of fulltiming families not associated with CRVLing. They have a good website with tons of information

- http://www.familiesontheroad.com/ 

 We fulltimed with our daughter before she started school but it was just for a year. It was a great experience for all of us. If you can handle it financially and are capable of homeschooling go for it!

 

[buckwilk]

I just finished watching the first video of this years RTR. I noticed a kid or two in the video. We had talked about hitting the road once the kids were older and out, but that got me to thinking why wait. Is it at all common or acceptable in the "van dwellers" community to be on the road with kids? By the way, we have a small camper, not a van.

People who are good parents will be good parents regardless of where they live or what they live in. I think if you and your partner are up for the challenge of raising children in this day you could do much worse than raising them in a camper. In terms of size of habitat it is only recently that homes became so large. Not so long ago families lived in 200 sq. ft. or less. I envy your children and their chance at a real, engaged life. I never really grew up, perhaps I could come along as one of the kids?

 

[SoulRaven]

When we full-timed in the 90s, we had a 24' TT, 20' box, and 2 adults, our teen with DS and a 75 lb dog. Before that we spent extended times in RVs with both of the kids. I always loved spending time with my kids and, as a family, we spent all of our time together in the living room when in the house. My mother never liked having us around the house during the day, and I never understood why. We spent 2 years in the smaller TT. We spent 5 1/2 months in a pop-up with just the one son, the 75 lb dog, 2 adults and a cat that the dog didn't care for which resulted in the best and most active time of our life. I have no concept of "me" time so I guess you can't miss something you never had.

If I had younger children now, I would never enroll them in school.

 

[mayble]

I just wanted to point out that homeschooling, which can be a wonderful thing, doesn't have to be a deal-breaker if one isn't up to the challenge.
Just as some people stay in one area for work, a family could certainly stay local during the school year and travel during the summer. 
FWIW, I agree with Snow Gypsy - I wouldn't want to put my kids in public school today.  Learning to pass a test isn't real learning.

 

[gcal]

I just wanted to point out that homeschooling, which can be a wonderful thing, doesn't have to be a deal-breaker if one isn't up to the challenge.
Just as some people stay in one area for work, a family could certainly stay local during tlegibly year and travel during the summer. 
FWIW, I agree with Snow Gypsy - I wouldn't want to put my kids in public school today.  Learning to pass a test isn't real learning.

I Do not know what is going on in schools right now. The "new math" is undecipherable and they are not teaching cursive. Cursive! They dont seem to be teaching anything in its place, so at least kids will be able to display their ignoranve more legiby.

 

[my_vantasy]

I think about how much education your children would get on the road. Instead of reading a book about history, science, or social studies, they could experience and see things first hand. That's concrete learning, and personal experiences are more meaningful than passive books or power points. Just my bias as an early childhood educator...