Are We There Yet

By Lana Woollard

Lana Woollard is a rural based writer, an artist, mum and author of the new book 'Are We There Yet?' A book that has been written with parents and children in mind and is a parents' survival guide for travelling with kids, camping and remaining sane on family holidays.

With over 30 years of travelling and teaching her own children how to love the Australian outdoors, in her latest book, Lana shares her experience, wisdom, tips and thoughts on travelling and camping with children. Lana also has a small property in New South Wales where she and her husband grow Perigord Black Truffles for sale to fancy restaurants in Canberra and Sydney.

Lana hopes that this book will encourage anyone who has not yet taken their children on a camping holiday to do so.  The book should also provide ideas and tips for the more seasoned campers amongst us.

Happy camping everyone!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Inspiring Publishers / ASPG
• Release date: Jan 28, 2020
• ISBN: 9781925908305

Book preview

Lana

Introduction

Woo Hoo! Yes, there is still life after becoming a parent! Travelling, enjoying the great outdoors and planning for your next family holiday can be one of the most rewarding pleasures of bringing up children. Whatever type of holiday or outdoor activity you choose, planning and travelling to your destination is all part of the fun and the journey.

Kids are like sponges and remember everything, even things that you really don’t want them to remember. They are far more likely to remember a family camping trip or skiing holiday, than a weekend at home in front of the Xbox. Children often don’t remember the flash toys, designer label clothes or money spent on them, however holidays and outdoor experiences will help your child to create amazing memories that will stay with them forever. You will be amazed by how much your children remember about your last holiday or the last time that the family spent time outdoors together.

I consider time spent outdoors with my children as an investment in their health and fitness, current and future interests, love of nature and most importantly, childhood memories.

This book aims to assist both parents and children make the most of their holidays and outdoor activities. It contains tips for parents that will hopefully make planning for journeys and travelling a little easier.

I would like to wish you and your family many years of happy and safe travelling and exciting outdoor adventures.

The Journey

Sometimes we can be so busy trying to get to a destination that we forget to slow down and actually enjoy the journey. Allowing time to ‘smell the roses’ can relax not only you, but also your children and will make the trip more enjoyable for all. Often the pleasure in a holiday is not where you end up, but how you get there. Things may not always go to plan, so be willing to be flexible and resilient. Ask yourself - if things happen to go off the rails, does it really matter?

To ensure that your outdoor adventures and holidays are fun for all of the family, whenever possible, try to involve everyone in the planning process. Perhaps you can discuss things to visit along the way, the route, the menu planning, or restaurants that you might eat at. Maybe you can make a list of all the features that everyone would like. By involving the children as much as possible, you are teaching organisational skills, as well as giving them a sense of importance or ownership of the holiday. This may also assist in developing excitement and familiarity about the destination or stops along the way.

Planning Ahead

Planning really depends on your activity or destination, safety, weather and your own personal choice. Some outings are worth planning quite carefully in advance like hikes, especially if you are planning to take a group of children, and some holidays are best if you just go with the flow. As long as you have a destination and timeline in mind, that’s all you really need.

If you are planning any special expeditions or outings, try to space them at intervals through the holiday and time something for the children to look forward to near the end so that you finish your holiday on a high point.

Regardless of the age of your child, you will undoubtedly come across obstacles along the way. Considerations may include the age of your children, your budget, how long, and the type of activity. There is no right or wrong age to start travelling with your children. Different ages and levels of ability will mean that you will have to change your pace a little and adjust how you do some activities, but the main thing is being prepared to compromise to meet all of the family needs and have fun.

The earlier that your children get used to the holiday experience, the travel routine and spending time outdoors, the easier life will be in the coming years. The following provides some basic information about what to expect.

Babies: generally, means that you will need to cart a lot of extra gear, but on the flip side, babies can be easier than you might think, as they sleep a lot, are generally easy to please and don’t argue about where you are going. Routine changes can provide a few challenges, but holidays are about doing the best that you can and compromising so that everyone has fun. Ensure to include in your luggage a favourite toy and extra clothing.

Toddlers: By walking age, children have generally developed a mind of their own and will require a lot more supervision. This is an amazing age as toddlers become absorbed in activities and the abundance of opportunities to touch, smell and explore. It’s the exploring that will keep you on your toes. Toddlers seem to adapt to changes in routine fairly easily. If they are totally worn out following the day’s activities, you might even find that they sleep better.

Older children: can be a great help with younger siblings and can be very responsive to being involved in outdoor activities and giving new things a go. Older children respond well to being involved in the planning of holidays and outdoor activities. They may also enjoy helping out with the chores, rather than being told what to do.

Teenagers: To get teenagers on board and more receptive and excited about the holiday’s activities, it can be helpful to include them in choosing the holiday destination, the activities, and the menu, or the restaurant to eat at. Don’t expect too much and don’t be surprised if they disappear back into their teenage cave or bedroom. Your challenge is to encourage! I might add, that I’m not good at this process and leave all of the holiday communications to the more diplomatic husband. You will need to take teenager needs into your holiday plans and allow flexibility to make everyone happy. Wherever possible, allow teenagers some ‘me time’ to communicate with their friends back home. Teenagers can also be good baby sitters if you need some time alone.

Where To Go

Camping: A fantastic way to spend time with your children, connecting with nature without the latest gadgets and gizmos and electrical devices. You will definitely need to spend some time planning and making sure that you have not left anything off the packing list for anyone. For example leaving pillows at home can be really uncomfortable for a child. For older children and teenagers, you have the opportunity to provide them with their own tent and space.

Apartment or house: An apartment or rental houses generally come fully furnished and include all of your linen requirements, however this can vary between houses, so best you check inclusions. All you will need to pack is clothes and plan for the day’s activities. A great way to travel and forget about where you are going and not having to find room to pack the kitchen sink. Make sure you check the house for safety like you would at home, for example, make sure that dishwasher detergent is in a child safe bottle, etc.

Family Resort: Most resorts appreciate that families enjoy holidaying together and therefore holiday packages have been planned accordingly. A resort holiday may also have the option of everything being done for you, offering activities for all ages, childcare if you require it and meals at the restaurants are generally offered for all ages including the fussiest of eaters.

Cruise Ship: Some cruises offer both on-board and shore-based activities catering for many ages. The smorgasboard and restaurants can also help keep fussy eaters happy, offering a variety of differing culinary options.

Campervan or Motor Home Hire: Everything is generally provided including the sleeping bags. Campervans are a great way to get around the country and see the sights. You will also be able to maintain some routine if you are traveling with little ones. For older children the opportunity to meet other young travelers and share the experiences of the day will create lasting memories.

Walking or hiking: Easy from any location, and a great way to see and enjoy the countryside, just pack a good quality day pack, food and enough water for everyone. You will need a good quality map or the latest electronic download of where you are going and adapt your walk to meet the abilities and age of your group. A longer hike, for example overnight or a few days, will require a lot more planning and research, but can still be done with children and provide lifetime experiences and memories.

Theme Parks: are a real winner to include in your holiday itinerary. With so many theme parks around the world, family packages including accommodation and entry tickets are ideal.

Farm Stays: are great fun for children aged between 4 and 12 years, allowing them to be involved in farm activities and learn about farm animals. Farm-stays offer a fantastic opportunity for families who live in the city to enjoy the fresh air and time together as a family.

Beach Holidays: are perfect for families of all ages to chill, enjoy the sun, swim and relax. Whether you are camping or staying in a beach house, children love the beach and with the addition of shovels, buckets for sand castle building or shell collecting, time at the beach is an activity that the whole family will enjoy. Make sure that you remember to take shovels to build sand sculptures and castles. Also,