Advice for setting up space for pre-teen daughter

[swchord]

Hubby and I have thrown the idea around to let go of our 'brick and stick' lifestyle and take our family out for full-time living in an RV. This has been an idea for over 4 years now, but we've just now really got to the point where it seems logical and possible. One of the issues I'm worrying about most is having a rig that can provide enough space for our kids. We have two daughters, currently 5 & 10, the oldest of which is truly in the pre-teen stage and I worry about her having privacy amongst her sister. I see lots of blogs and facebook pages with families who have multiple children and it would be wonderful to have some advice of 'what we should have done' or tips to help set her up with a space that she can feel like she's not stuck with her 'kid sister' all the time.

[Kinsa]

Hubby and I have thrown the idea around to let go of our 'brick and stick' lifestyle and take our family out for full-time living in an RV. This has been an idea for over 4 years now, but we've just now really got to the point where it seems logical and possible. One of the issues I'm worrying about most is having a rig that can provide enough space for our kids. We have two daughters, currently 5 & 10, the oldest of which is truly in the pre-teen stage and I worry about her having privacy amongst her sister. I see lots of blogs and facebook pages with families who have multiple children and it would be wonderful to have some advice of 'what we should have done' or tips to help set her up with a space that she can feel like she's not stuck with her 'kid sister' all the time.

 

Well, first of all, get yourself a bunkhouse. That way at least they can each have their own beds.

 

Beyond that, draping sheets for privacy curtains helps. Also, allow your girls to decorate their own spaces with wall stickers, posters, etc. I found that hanging one of those wall pocket organizers (hung up with 3M hooks) for the kids to keep their own stuff in really helps for them to have a place to keep their own stuff away from the sib's reach.

 

And headphones. Can't say enough about that. They can pretend they are in their own little world with headphones on. (LOL)

[Kirk W]

That is probably one of the most challenging issues for a family living in an RV. There are ways to allow for small private space inside of the RV but some of that privacy must also come from just respecting boundaries, even for a couple. It seems to be more difficult to deal with for daughters than for sons. I suggest that you may find more help by visiting Families on the Road or perhaps Fulltime Famlies since we don't have a lot of families who stay active with us on these forums. We are trying to encourage more of them so please do return to share the things that you do with others and to help us to build a more helpful forum for other families.

[Ronbo]

I have seen a birdhouse that has 2 rear rooms split by a bathroom. They would each have their own room. Another solution is a toyhauler and build 2 rooms in back.

[StarDreamers.us]

There have to be others out there that have learned how to cope with children on the road. What suggestions? Good times to share?

 

Safe Travels!

[ldo2104]

SWCHORD,

We have been full timing with our boys (11&15) for over two years now, sold the home and purchased a new home. We started with a bunk house and then moved to a toyhauler. Wished we would have started with the toyhauler, could have save us $$$ down the road. The "Boys Cave" as we call it, was smartly organized to meet their desires and also quickly transforms into a school room during the day (when school is in). We have installed a dresser for them to share and a few other modification to make it more of bedroom then a school room. They have their own TV/Radio/DVD Player/Gaming area and a place to call theirs. On nice days they drop the garage door down and open it up a little more (3 season doors). The older boy has the top bunk and the younger boys utilizes the bottom, we quickly transforms his bed into a school room in no time. My boys have adjusted nicely to this type of lifestyle and we (wife and I) strive hard to minimize the time we spend inside as much as mother nature allows us. We have set rules about closed doors, if we know one or both are in their room - we always knock before opening the door, provides them with a since of ownership vice sharing something (the room). I've also installed sliding curtain for the top bunk, giving my older boys a little more privacy (I've notice over the last six months he does not utilize them as much). If you have any other questions, please post them and I'll do my be to help you out.

 

Enjoy your future travels.

[Kinsa]

Ido, that's what we did, too. We used a toy hauler with double (queen? king?) bunk beds in the garage for sleeping space for the four teen boys. It was nice to be able to shut that door between them and us, plus they had their own bathroom back there. We never converted the bottom bed into a school table, as we just did school on the kitchen table or outside. The only downside is, well, it's a garage. We put an area rug down in there to make it feel a bit more homey, plus they hung posters on the walls. I used Command hooks to hang their towels and school clipboards on the walls, plus a pocket organizer for the upper bunk. Another downside is insulation. On the cold nights we had to run a space heater in there, and on the hot days the AC unit in there ran non-stop. But that was a small trade-off for the space and privacy.

[yzg]

You are brave..living in a small box with a girl going into puberty...I am glad we lived in a large house when ours went through that stage...

[bigjim]

Kids are sometimes different just like normal people. (adults) My brother and I went to quite a few different schools. I found it an adventure but he didn't care for it so much.