Surviving Winter RV Living With Kids

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Winter is upon us. For some full-time RVing families, this means spending time in the south, soaking up the sun, even if the days are shorter. For many other RV families, it means roughing it through cold weather.

If you’re parked in a colder location this winter season, you may be wondering how to keep the family busy and happy when sunshine and nature aren’t always an option. Here are some tricks and tips I have learned over the years.

Resetting Expectations: Winter Is a Lifestyle Shift

One of the biggest mental hurdles for full-time families is accepting that winter RV life simply feels different. Outdoor time tends to shrink and many stall their travels during this slower season. This may seem like a drawback, but in reality, I find that the winter season is the perfect reset for RV families who are otherwise always on the go.

My family likes to use winter as

• A season of deeper routines
• A time for indoor skill-building
• An opportunity to catch up on school work and projects
• A chance to slow travel and deepen family connection

We recognize that a slower rhythm creates peace and room to rest, catch up, and grow when the rest of the year tends to be busy and chaotic.

Creating a Daily Rhythm

First things first, I like to use winter to reset our family’s daily rhythms and routines. Kids don’t need rigid schedules, but they do thrive when there is predictability. I recommend using “anchor points” throughout the day: activities that happen around the same time each day and create a sense of order.

We do well with 4–5 daily anchors:

1. Morning start – breakfast, getting dressed, light movement
2. Learning time – school work, reading, or educational play
3. Midday break – lunch, quiet time, or free play
4. Afternoon activity – crafts, games, or projects
5. Evening wind-down – dinner, family time, bedtime routine

What happens inside each block can change from one day to the next. The structure itself is what is important, as it keeps winter from feeling endless.

Indoor Games That Hold Attention Long-Term

During the warmer months, my kids live outside. They can’t really do this during the winter, so we end up playing a lot of games to fill the time. We really like card games because they are small and don’t take up much space, but travel size board cakes also work well.

Look for games that:

• Have simple rules but strategic depth
• Can be played across age ranges
• Don’t require sprawling table space

Excellent winter staples include:

• Uno and Phase 10
• Skip-Bo
• Ticket to Ride (junior versions for younger kids)
• Dominoes
• Standard card decks (hundreds of variations over time)

I have found that games weekly helps keep interest high.

Screen Time Without Guilt (or Chaos)

I’m not a fan of endless screen time. That said, there are times when the screens dop come in handy. In order to avoid feeling guilty about the amount of time my kids sp[end on screens during the coldest months, I try to focus on choosing quality content and using screens with intention.

We like things like:

• Educational apps
• Documentaries
• Audiobooks
• Coding or logic games
• Guided workout or yoga videos for kids

I’ve also found that sharing screen time as a family helps make it more productive. We’ll have scheduled movie nights, work through yoga videos together, watch documentaries together and then discuss them, and listen to audiobooks as a group activity.

Creative Activities That Don’t Destroy Your RV

We are a very creative family. My daughter would do arts and crafts all day every day if she could. The thing is, these sorts of activities tend to come with messes and this becomes a problem when we’re all stuck in a teeny tiny space together.

I have found that some craft supplies are relatively mess-free, making them good options when my kids are feeling creative and I don’t want to deal with mess. These include:

• Colored pencils
• Crayons
• Water brushes
• Sticker books
• Reusable drawing boards
• Beads and string
• Pipe cleaners
• Wikki stix

I designate a single bin for art supplies to make clean up easy and prevent a sprawling mess.

Indoor Movement for Small Spaces

I can’t think of a single kid who can sit still for an entire day. Heck, even I can’t sit still all day long. This is unfortunate when it’s too cold outside to go on a hike or go run around. Fortunately, there are some ways to get moving even if you’re stuck in the RV all day.

I recommend setting aside a time each day to move intentionally. During this time, you could try:

• Stretching or yoga (we love Cosmic Kids Yoga)
• Guided workout videos or video dance classes (Daniella Ballerina and Move 2 Learn are both great)
• Dance parties with headphones
• Obstacle courses using cushions

Even just ten minutes of movement can dramatically improve behavior and mood.

Cooking Together as Winter Entertainment

Games, screen time, and crafts are all great for passing the time. Another awesome winter option? Cooking, We all have to eat anyway, why not make meal preparation a family activity that brings the family together, helps teach kids life skills, sends boredom packing, and results in something everyone can enjoy together?

I recommend letting the whole family choose meals for the week and then giving the kids a chance to help with things like measuring ingredients, mixing, and even cutting when they are old enough.

Quiet Time: Essential, Not Optional

I don’t know about you, but I 100% require some quiet time each day. Unfortunately, living in a small space with kids and being unable to send them outside can make getting this quiet time tricky.

To combat this problem, I set a mandatory daily quiet hour. During this time, the kids can read, draw, listen to audiobooks, or journal. Everyone has to work independently and quietly, giving me and everyone else in the RV a break from noise and stimulation.

Managing Cabin Fever Before It Escalates

Generally speaking, I am able to see cabin fever coming from a mile away. Everyone in the RV gets irritable and restless and we end up in constant battles over screens. When this starts to happen, I make sure to nip it in the bud quickly. One of my favorite ways of doing this is by using a reciprocal museum membership such as ASTC to go to a local museum. Other options include pulling out a new game or recipe and bundling up and heading out for a walk. Anything that breaks up the monotony should work.

Winter RVing in the cold weather can be difficult at times. That said, it’s also a very rewarding experience. Winter is the time when my family reconnects and refocuses. It’s a time of productivity, family boding, and making cozy memories that contrast nicely with our adventurous summer memories.

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