Gutted but it's going

[Rosemary1]

So make him do something he hates? Which is essentially what you are saying?

Then as soon as he turns 16 it changes and he has a choice?

Doesn’t seem an ideal way to demonstrate how things work in the adult world in my opinion.

So make him do something he hates? Which is essentially what you are saying?

Then as soon as he turns 16 it changes and he has a choice?

Doesn’t seem an ideal way to demonstrate how things work in the adult world in my opinion.

Hate to say it but a lot of the time thats how it does work in the adult world! If its working at a job you hate but need to to keep a roof over your head, or coming home after a long day at a job you don’t hate but starting on cooking, cleaning or the laundry. He might as well learn now that sometimes he has to do things he doesn’t like because others do or want to.

 

[mitzimad]

Seems now days dogs and kids rule the roost,,Strange times..BUSBY.

with dogs it was about the time we started picking up there poop

 

[Jamesh]

Hate to say it but a lot of the time thats how it does work in the adult world! If its working at a job you hate but need to to keep a roof over your head, or coming home after a long day at a job you don’t hate but starting on cooking, cleaning or the laundry. He might as well learn now that sometimes he has to do things he doesn’t like because others do or want to.

Suppose I'd better go and load the dishwasher and hang the washing out...

 

[Neil S]

We went to Chester to a CL...it poured down all weekend. The Lakes....it poured down and we sprang a leak..fixed under warranty and ran out of gas (rooky mistake), my sisters racing yard in Newmarket. Meant to be going away next week but other half now says he can't face it.

A CL will be far from appealing to an 11 year old
Try using C&CC or C&MC sites where there are other youngsters about

 

[JockandRita]

Grasmere9. Although I gave many of the replies a "funny", I do sympathise having gone through a similar stage with our daughter during our caravanning years.

Would your lad be interested in attending a race meet at Caldwell Park, or Snetterton, or Banger Racing at Kings Lynn for example?

If attending Horse Racing events, is there a contact within those circles, who can get him involved in helping out and possibly earn himself a few quid in the process?

Winter MH'ing locations have to be chosen carefully, ie, preferably hard standing, close to amenities, and on a bus route. The Motor Caravan Club, (MCC) often have weekend Meets based on school playgrounds in villages or towns, and often within public transport reach of larger attractions.

Knowing how chuffed you were with your Arto on initial ownership, I think you'd seriously regret parting with it, without having given it at least a year of varying locations, activities, and seasons.
Have you considered the Camping & Caravanning Club, (C&CC), who hold Temporary Holiday Sites for around a tenner a night, many of which are at seaside locations, as well as at Airshows or Festivals, etc, as do the Caravan And Motorhome Club with their Rallies (CAMC).
I believe both have Youth Sections, within the local area groups.

If you part with your N+B Arto now, and then things take a turn for the better, you will struggle to find what you have right now quality wise, which will last you and yours for many years to come..............long after the kids are all grown up and have flown the nest.

The very best of luck finding the happy medium.

Cheers,

Jock.

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[phillipsheila]

How about asking him where he would like to go and take a ps5

 

[Bailey 15]

What does he do at home? How does he occupy himself ?
Have you got WiFi? Take his PlayStation with you he will come then

 

[138go]

Can I suggest a trip to Puy du Fou to be included in a French adventure? There is so much to see and do that you'd need at least two or three days to see it all, it is a theme park but not like British ones, commentary is in French but you can rent a device that plays an English translation, there is now one in Spain as well but i've only been to the one in France, it's near Cholet and is one of life's must do's

Puy du Fou | The best theme park in the world | A must-see in France!

Le Puy du Fou: A unique multi-award-winning theme park in France! Embark on an unforgettable journey through time, from the Roman Era to the 20th century! Come and be amazed by our spectacular shows!

www.puydufou.com

There's an Aire there as well.

We went. I found it utterly boring.

 

[suavecarve]

I m sure I noticed something about him and VR.
What about a drone, get him a pilots licence and set it up with VR on the controllers....we are going to this place this week where you can fly your drone over the racecourse/gorge etc

My kids (and grumpchildren) are pleased they arent/didnt put me in the quandary you are facing.

 

[Richard n Ann]

Wow this is the most eye opening thread I've ever read on this forum, and I've been on every day since 2014.

So an 11 year old child makes the parents sell the motorhome?! Really

If this is a wind up I do apologise, but that spoilt child will have no respect for you and will grow up to hate you... Mark my words.

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[ChrisL]

We went. I found it utterly boring.

I presume you're not 11? However, different things please different people, clearly others have not found it the same. I was in my late 50's when I went, I don’t know what shows you saw but some of them have some fantastic effects and I thought the sheer amount of work that goes into the productions on such a large scale was amazing.
It's closed at the moment because of Covid i believe but if it wasn't i would be visiting it on this trip to see some of the stuff i missed last time.

 

[Larafach]

We did a lot of camping when I was young, mostly pretty basic, but I was happy enough playing in streams or on the beach etc. I had a bit of a thing for castles though, so my parents almost always made sure we visited at least one per camping trip. I was an easily pleased child

 

[pampam]

I suppose sometimes your dream isnt their dream,perhaps it would be better if he took a friend ,and you put a two man tent up for them to be seperate from the grownups,have some timeout in the summer,go to sites with entertainment ,or ths an airshow,or bike racing,alton towers,
ps did his cousin win an apprentice race for charley appleby last week ?
if so well done
good luck i feel your pain as i had to sell mine for family commitments and it was my dream …. But not the right time

 

[Debs]

Blimey this thread has been an eye opener but you've had some great suggestions - I'm sure it's given you lots of ideas about how you can make things more enjoyable for all of you. Mr Blos post #79 summed up my family's experience when my kids were young.

Best of luck and I'm looking forward to seeing updates!

 

[Ivory55]

Today’s world is very different to when we was kids. There are more choices and people we know are doing lots of different things. When we was kids how many tv channels was there, 2 or 3 ? How many actually went on holidays as kids ? May be pea picking or something because we are the spoiled older people, haha. I don’t think some things can be compared exactly today as we saw them. Kids are still hard work though, haha.

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[Grasmere9]

Today’s world is very different to when we was kids. There are more choices and people we know are doing lots of different things. When we was kids how many tv channels was there, 2 or 3 ? How many actually went on holidays as kids ? May be pea picking or something because we are the spoiled older people, haha. I don’t think some things can be compared exactly today as we saw them. Kids are still hard work though, haha.

It is a very different world our children are growing up in. I loved nothing more than being outside playing with friends and camping in a field with no entertainment. He's not spoilt, he's 11 and from the experiences so far he can't see why we want to go away in the motorhome. Our aim is to try and show him that it will open up the world for us. Thanks to everyone who has made suggestions...I have written them all down.

 

[Rob Turner]

Get over to France for a couple of weeks and find some sun. That‘ll change his mind and if it doesn’t then tough, he’ll have to get over it.
As mentioned above, you could fit an Xbox or a PlayStation, that should keep him happy when it’s persisting down.

 

[Grasmere9]

I am really surprised by people suggesting taking his Playstation!! We recognised that he would miss it so compromised by buying a Nintendo Switch. When he was little he loved our caravan holidays (tourer) so we talked to him about what he loved so that we might help him see that the motorhome will be fun.

 

[Grasmere9]

Get over to France for a couple of weeks and find some sun. That‘ll change his mind and if it doesn’t then tough, he’ll have to get over it.
As mentioned above, you could fit an Xbox or a PlayStation, that should keep him happy when it’s persisting down.

That was the plan for August. I haven't given up yet.

 

[Southdowners]

It is a very different world our children are growing up in. I loved nothing more than being outside playing with friends and camping in a field with no entertainment. He's not spoilt, he's 11 and from the experiences so far he can't see why we want to go away in the motorhome. Our aim is to try and show him that it will open up the world for us. Thanks to everyone who has made suggestions...I have written them all down.

As you say, the first couple of trips weren’t great, especially for your son, but that was more to do with the weather and the choice of destination than the motorhome itself.

You started this thread saying that after a long discussion you’ve decided to sell your MH. Hopefully you’ll be able to have a similar conversation with your son now about the brilliant possibilities that keeping your motorhome would bring?

I would start by acknowledging the issue he had with the trips so far and go from there. Get the maps out and plan something fantastic together. Good luck!

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[MisterB]

That was the plan for August. I haven't given up yet.

OK everyone, i think we have to move on to identifying aires and sites around France that are '11 year old boy' friendly ...... the OP has already said he was happy in their caravan when he was younger, so we need to come up with actual locations that 'we' know of and have visited. This is where those of you with youngsters around the same age can really help as some of us (me !!) might struggle to identify ideal locations.
it might be a lake/river with activities, near a leisure activity/theme park, a holiday site with pool and slides, a beach side location with lifeguards, a ruined castle or abbey he can scramble over and explore?

to the OP, it might help if you can identify some of the things he enjoys doing, so that Funsters can offer suggestions of actual locations?

As there isnt a section of the forum for 'Best campsites for kids' - perhaps that might be a way forward (and to include aires of course )

 

[Grasmere9]

OK everyone, i think we have to move on to identifying aires and sites around France that are '11 year old boy' friendly ...... the OP has already said he was happy in their caravan when he was younger, so we need to come up with actual locations that 'we' know of and have visited. This is where those of you with youngsters around the same age can really help as some of us (me !!) might struggle to identify ideal locations.
it might be a lake/river with activities, near a leisure activity/theme park, a holiday site with pool and slides, a beach side location with lifeguards, a ruined castle or abbey he can scramble over and explore?

to the OP, it might help if you can identify some of the things he enjoys doing, so that Funsters can offer suggestions of actual locations?

As there isnt a section of the forum for 'Best campsites for kids' - perhaps that might be a way forward (and to include aires of course )

Thank you. This is why I joined MH Fun...he loves his tech ...no surprise there. But he also plays cricket for our village. He will generally try most things. We are supposed to be heading to my friend's house in Chenas Macon

 

[Southdowners]

What does your son enjoy? What activities would appeal to him?

If he enjoys cycling and surfing then the Ile de Rey in France would be a good destination.

 

[Grasmere9]

What does your son enjoy? What activities would appeal to him?

If he enjoys cycling and surfing then the Ile de Rey in France would be a good destination.

He would definitely try surfing...he used to surf down the sand dunes in Hayle! We can also put his BMX in the garage.

 

[Grasmere9]

What does your son enjoy? What activities would appeal to him?

If he enjoys cycling and surfing then the Ile de Rey in France would be a good destination.

Is that on the west coast near La Rochelle?

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[busby]

They would argue we have a generation of entitled OAP’s who had their degrees and education paid for with bumper pensions and cheap house prices with affordable energy prices.

Aka spoiled.

The future is not rosy for the teens of today, one thing they won’t be is spoiled.

Spoiled to death me ,Worked 60 plus hour week all my life,,not grumbling because I enjoyed it,,affordable houses,,mortgage rate 8% plus,,hit 15 % in the 90s,,,modern folk would have to have counselling,,,managed to get a 14 hour Sunday shift to pay for my mortgage increase,,,,and have not a clue where these bumper pensions are.Energy was affordable because we didn't use much,,Didn't see central heating until 1982,,,Mind you those paraffin heaters were brilliant...And don't of course forget the winter of 63,,would have destroyed today's snowflakes and of course The 4 day week in the 70s with all the power cuts..Did we have it rough,,no,,better than our parents living through 2 world wars and the depression...Peaks and troughs but we just got on with it without moaning and groaning,,,BUSBY.

 

[Ivory55]

Is that on the west coast near La Rochelle?

Where we went when they was young

 

[Grasmere9]

At Easter he asked to go to a VR event in Bournemouth...we said that we could do this. Any good places to stay that you recommend?

 

[Southdowners]

Vert'tige Aventure​

Zipline & Aerial Adventure Parks in France​

Sorry about huge font above! If you do a search on the above you’ll find there’s lots of activity centres in France.

Some cater for motorhomes. We stayed at one on the way home - the activities were closed but it looked to be great fun. Swimming pool, zip wires, pony riding, mountain bike tracks, walkways and pods up in the trees with tables and benches inside, etc, etc.

Fantastic fun all in a forest.

 

[MisterB]

Thank you. This is why I joined MH Fun...he loves his tech ...no surprise there. But he also plays cricket for our village. He will generally try most things. We are supposed to be heading to my friend's house in Chenas Macon

so, i assume you will be using the tunnel or Dover Calais crossing (as youre in Cheshire) and heading to Macon?

Disney is an obvious suggestion, looking at your potential route, so i will make it LOL !!

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