GORV - Digital Magazine Issue #26 | Page 56

A WEEK WITHOUT WI-FI JASE ANDREWS, FATHER OF TWO AND HOST OF ALL 4 ADVENTURES, KNOWS ONLY TOO WELL HOW DIFFICULT IT CAN BE TO WEAN KIDS OFF WI-FI. HERE’S HOW TO GET THEM OFF THE INTERNET AND INTO NATURE. Getting the whole family excited about a week out in the bush is one thing. Keeping the kids entertained and happy around the campsite without wi-fi is another art form. like. The important thing is, make it an all-inclusive decision-making process. This will help them feel like they have ownership and thus your kids will be more invested in the trip. INCLUDE THEM IN THE PLANNING PACKING On top of this, get them excited about the upcoming activities, be it fishing rapids, quad- biking, horse-riding, discovering caves and the HITTING THE ROAD Involve the kids in the planning process and discuss with them the places you could go and why. Are there any unique landmarks, flora and fauna to be seen and experienced? Waterfalls, mountains to climb, rapids to surf or even dangers to navigate? Now that you have the blueprint in place, it’s time to get them involved in the ‘what do we need specifically for this trip’ discussion. Sit down as a family and brainstorm the essentials, such as food, water and warm clothes. Then, when it comes time to load up the rig and set off, they’ll head into the trip less of a passenger and more of a co-pilot on the road. Before you hit the road, load the car up on snacks, drinks, neck pillows and things to keep the kids busy. Technology provides a lot of engagement and can do so for hours on end, but balancing this out with real time, real people and places is important for a child’s social development. 56 \