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Hi all. Apologies, I didnt know which forum to make this topic. Feel free to move.

I am very new to caravanning and plan to do a lot of it this year. I have a 5 year old boy. My little one lacks much desire for any form of independance. I am trying to encourage him to make friends etc on the caravan sites. He loves making friends, however, he always likes me to be very close. As a challenge, while I was packing up the caravan for the journey home on sunday, I asked if he would like to go to the play park while I got things done. This would involve losing sight of me. After some presuasion he agreed. I stood on the caravan step and watched him run off to the park, slide down the chute once and run back. Well, thats a start!

Hopefully he will continue to branch out a little and make some friends as time goes on when we are 'vanning. I am afraid though that I want to be able to relax a little when he is out of sight and was thinking a child locator would be useful. He will never be far from me but I would feel better if I knew how far he was or if he wasnt where he said he was going. Is this strange? He is only 5 and I do love spending all my time with him but think it would benefit him if he had a little freedom for the odd 10 mins without me being a few meters away at all times. I coudl never leave him for extended periods of time at the moment but to loosen the leash a bit would be good for him.

Anyone had any experience with child locators? Ive seen the ones with the teddy bears, that wont fly with him. Any ideas?

Can't help with exactly what you are thinking but what about walkie talkies ?  They have a button to press which "rings" the other handset(s) - if he's not old enough to press the other button to talk - then you could talk to him - Can be had very reasonably.   - and they're good fun generally !

My children grew up on campsites and they're the only holidays they've ever known.

However, at 5 they were always in sight of me. Each child is different and I understand your reasons for encouraging independence but I wouldn't rely on any sort of technology to make contact.

Hi Brody we always keep grandaughter in sight & use walkie talkies when on site this reassures her & also is great fun for her to talk to us with them, I think by the end of the season your problem will be getting your son back to the caravan & away from all his new found friends on the park

I'm sorry, but at only 5 years old (and you make no mention of older siblings) I kept my son in my sight at all times.

I encouraged him to be independant and make friends when he was older but 5 is too young to be wandering a campsite alone in my opinion.  I think you'll find as he gets older he will naturally grow more independant and you will have trouble keeping tabs on him!

Quote: Originally posted by Anniemacxx on 23/5/2012

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I'm sorry, but at only 5 years old (and you make no mention of older siblings) I kept my son in my sight at all times.

I encouraged him to be independant and make friends when he was older but 5 is too young to be wandering a campsite alone in my opinion.  I think you'll find as he gets older he will naturally grow more independant and you will have trouble keeping tabs on him!

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I am sure as a parent you can make your own mind up as to whether they should be out of site for s short while, so in answer to yor original question I would also use small walkie talkies if you decide to go that route

An "identity" bracelet with your mobile number on it is also another good idea even if they are with you and they get lost as they can always then show this to someone if they did ever get lost

Also consider choosing sites that you know have maybe a central play area with pitches round the edge that kind of thing, and that way you can all relax a bit more. We found that worked on French gite "complex" style holidays really well a few years ago and chose similar places since. If you are relaxed kids will be and if they are happy you will be!

Quote: Originally posted by sunshinetours on 23/5/2012

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I am sure as a parent you can make your own mind up as to whether they should be out of site for s short while, so in answer to yor original question I would also use small walkie talkies if you decide to go that route

An "identity" bracelet with your mobile number on it is also another good idea even if they are with you and they get lost as they can always then show this to someone if they did ever get lost

Also consider choosing sites that you know have maybe a central play area with pitches round the edge that kind of thing, and that way you can all relax a bit more. We found that worked on French gite "complex" style holidays really well a few years ago and chose similar places since. If you are relaxed kids will be and if they are happy you will be!

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Quote: Originally posted by gasman01 on 22/5/2012

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Hi Brody, our two boys are ten & sixyears old and we've just used the basic little walkie talkies whenever we've been away, the kids love using them as it allows them more indepdence on site as we know we can contact them every so often just to make sure things are ok, the only problem we've experienced with these radio's is that you occasionally 

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Walkie talkies are fab.

Training is also good. We have a flagpole with our county flag on - kids look for the flag when on site, even now.

My kids are older than yours - youngest is 9. When in public places when they were little and I was worried they might get lost I used to write my mobile phone number on their arm. They knew that if they got lost they should find a police officer, a shop assistant or a lady with a pushchair and show them the number on their arm and ask the person to call it. Never needed to do this, thank heaven.