How to Make Your Caravan Child-Friendly
Caravan holidays provide families with the perfect opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors without breaking the bank financially, but with all of the creature comforts that a home provides. But just like elements throughout the home, there are some things that need to be child-proofed, so to speak.
This might include anything from covering up sharp corners to ensuring there are guards in the electrical plug sockets. But these dangers differ somewhat when it comes to caravans. So how can you make your caravan child-friendly both in terms of protecting them from harm and making sure they have a good time?
Lay out rules for bunk bed use
Bunk beds are great fun for children, but they’re also effective when it comes to space-saving in the caravan. Many caravan owners opt for bunk beds if they have more than one child, but they do pose a danger to children in particular, especially if they’re not used to them. To make sure your children are safe when using the bunk bed, set out some rules, such as:
- They should only be used for quiet times, like sleeping, reading or chatting
- There should only ever be one person on the ladder at once, if there is a ladder
- The smaller of the two children should stick to the bottom bunk
- Not using the bunk bed as an indoor climbing frame
Stay safe during mealtimes
Kitchens in a caravan are generally very compact, making meal preparation more difficult in comparison to making dinner at home. During meal preparation times, there are likely to be knives, hot water, open flames and other things in and around the kitchen, which will only be amplified in such a small space. When making dinner, ask an adult to supervise the children outdoors and advise them not to reenter until the food has been made and all dangerous factors are extinguished.
Educate your children about wildlife
Wildlife is incredibly interesting to observe. It might be that you’ll see some wildlife when caravanning that you don’t normally see at home. With this in mind, children can become over excited, so make sure you tell your children that they should only look at the wildlife from a distance and not to approach or touch the animals, no matter what they might be. This helps to prevent them from being bitten or attacked by wild animals. They should also wait for an adult before actively going out to look for local wildlife.
Ask your children to respect other caravanners & campers
Some caravanners and campers might have patio heaters or gas heaters in the vicinity of their lodgings, something which can pose a threat to children who aren’t sure of what they are. Some campers, depending on the rules of the site, might also have open fires in the evenings or use equipment to cook food on. Make sure your children are giving other caravanners space and not to approach people they don’t know. Don’t let your children roam the park by themselves – they should always be accompanied by an adult.
Tell them what to do if they ever got lost on the caravan site
The caravan site might have guidelines in place for children if they become lost in the park, so ask them first if there are any procedures that need to be followed. It might be that they have particular spots and/or areas where lost children should go. Once you know enough information, tell your children what to do if they get lost and take them to the place they need to go should that situation arise.
Regal Furnishings are specialist upholstery experts who are pleased to breathe new life into a wide range of different transportation options including: caravans, motorhomes, static caravans, boats, campervans and horseboxes. If you would like to find out more about the services we have available, get in touch with a member of our dedicated, professional team today – we’re always happy to hear from you.
