How to bring your littlest co-drivers on 4WD adventures.
We’re used to being told that we’re crazy. First, because we like to drive our old 1993 Pajero into far-away places, preferably up steep mountains or across rivers or through narrow canyons. And then when the information hits that we bring our two-year-old on these adventures, we get called super crazy, sometimes accompanied with funny facial expressions. But if you’re reading this, you probably don’t think we’re crazy – well maybe for having a kid sure, but once you have them, you bring them along, right? Our wee man Jack isn’t even the only kid in our adventuresome crew. So, how does it work? How does one go 4WDing and camping with the little ones along?
Start ‘em young
Jack’s first off-road trip was at 10 days old, though we kept the 4WD adventures limited to mellow skifield roads during the early wobbly-head days. While starting them young is key, newborns are too floppy and fragile to tolerate a lot of side-to-side momentum and can sustain genuine injury if movements are too jarring. At seven weeks we had our first camping trip, our family of three sleeping in the back of the Pajero for two-hour stints. We found sleep deprivation is much more tolerable in mountain air.
As Jack got more robust, we increased the frequency, difficulty, and length of trips away. We set a precedent that a good amount of time would be spent in the truck, and he seemed to accept this early on. And early indoctrination means that now Jack often spends kilometre after kilometre happily looking out the window. That’s not to say we didn’t have one trip home from the Nelson area that was ear-splitting screaming for nearly five hours straight. It’s good to understand ahead of time that four-wheel driving with a two-year-old can occasionally be ‘Type 2 fun’, though technically that is still fun!
Timing is everything
With really little ones, timing the longest portion of distance driving at naptime is a great hack. Sometimes this means hanging around camp until 10am or lunchtime, but then you’re guaranteed a few hours of peaceful driving. Even during the proper 4WD tracks, it is always amazing what the little guy sleeps through; rough, bumpy tracks seem to really knock him out! Just last weekend our little guy missed out on getting stuck in an especially deep mud hole and all subsequent winching – an activity he surely would have wanted to be a part of.
For non-nappers or drives with incompatible timing, you’re still in control of pre-4WD activities. A trip to the park or a hike from the campsite before setting off can relax fidgety little legs. Also don’t underestimate the power of treats!
Relax
Yes, the experts say routines are the way to raise happy kids. We don’t disagree. However, little things like 5:00pm dinner and 7:00pm bedtime just need not apply so far away from the dinner table and the cot. As adults we let the constraints of timing go when we’re on holiday, and we should do the same for our kids. All day snacking? All good. Up late, learning about the moon, falling asleep on mum’s lap next to the fire? Even better. The expertly curated routine does not disintegrate after two nights in the bush, we promise.
Make it fun
Whenever possible, we let Jack pick the route – should we go through the river? Should we go up that rise? Of course we should, and we are usually rewarded with an excited exclamation of “big splash!” or similar running narration of our efforts. We make a big deal about the fun of river crossings, big leans, noisy hill climbs, and getting stuck. Our little man is always the first to point out when someone is in trouble. “Him’s bogged,”, is a common comment from the back seat, followed by a suggestion of who should winch “him” out. Additionally, lots of toy trucks and 4WDs have come along on trips (as well as dinosaurs) each getting bogged alongside the real trucks, also requiring winching and washing.
Upon reaching the destination, we make sure to get the little ones involved in the natural surroundings, encouraging having a good time in the outdoors. Nothing fancy: we enjoy the classic game of throwing rocks into water, and is there anything that little people like doing more? Jack has thrown rocks into some very scenic rivers over his 2.5 years. Another crowd favorite is having your tiny assistant help start the campfire. By letting them be a part of specific activities only done while camping, the activity will feel more special. And as we’ve learned, sitting around and staring at the campfire is enjoyed by everyone.
Just do it
The real secret beyond all others is that the parents just need to make it happen. Yes, it will make the trips harder to have the kids along and yes, bringing the gear for one tiny two-year-old somehow doubles the load and yes, you might have an unscheduled stop at the playground in Rakaia. But making the effort and the memories really is worth it. I mean, what were you going to do all weekend anyways, sit around on the couch and watch another episode of Peppa Pig?
