Instagram makes van life with kids look effortless. Beautiful children gazing at sunsets, perfectly styled picnics, everyone smiling. The reality involves a lot more negotiation about screen time, at least one argument about shoes, and someone needing the toilet the moment you've left the campsite.
But honestly? Some of our best family memories have been made in Jenny. Here's how we make it work — properly, not just for the photos.
The Big Question: Is a T2 Actually Practical with Kids?
Short answer: yes, but you have to be realistic.
A VW T2 isn't a motorhome. Space is limited. There's no separate bathroom, no built-in TV, and nowhere to hide when everyone's had enough of each other. But that's also kind of the point — it forces you outside, forces you to be present, and gives kids a sense of adventure that a hotel room never will.
What works:
- Weekend trips and short breaks (2-4 nights is the sweet spot)
- Sites with good facilities (toilets, showers, play areas)
- Trips where you're out exploring during the day and the van is for sleeping/eating
- British summers (obviously) but also spring and autumn with the heater running
What's harder:
- Very long drives (no entertainment in the back, limited snack access)
- Rainy days with nowhere to go (the van gets small fast)
- Night wakings (everyone hears everything)
Sleeping Arrangements
The pop-top is a lifesaver. Kids go up top, adults stay downstairs on the rock and roll bed. It works surprisingly well — the kids think it's the best part (sleeping in a tent on top of a van is pretty cool when you're 6).
What we use:
- Sleeping bags — kids' ones from kids' sleeping bags at Decathlon → are great. Warm, cheap, and they come in fun colours that make the kids feel like it's theirs
- Sleeping mats — self-inflating ones. The thick ones from self-inflating camping mats at Decathlon → (7cm) make the pop-top bed genuinely comfortable
- Glow sticks/clip-on lights — the kids can read or play quietly in the pop-top without a bright torch waking everyone up. Etsy has loads of cute rechargeable clip-on lights for kids
💡 Hot Tip
Put the kids to bed first, then sit outside with a drink. This is the golden hour of van life with children — they fall asleep fast (fresh air is magical), and you get actual adult time.
Keeping Kids Entertained
On the Road
The back seat of a T2 is... basic. No fold-down tables, no USB ports, no screens built in. Here's what works:
- Tablet loaded with downloads — yes, screen time on long drives is fine. Don't let anyone guilt you
- Audiobooks — the whole van can enjoy these. Audible has an amazing kids' selection
- Snack box — a container with compartments, pre-filled with approved snacks. Stops the "I'm hungry" cycle
- Activity packs — colouring books, sticker books, those magic water painting things. All available from Etsy for a few quid
- I-Spy / car games — surprisingly effective for 20-minute bursts
At the Campsite
This is where van life wins. Kids + fields + sticks = entertainment sorted.
- Bikes/scooters — if you've got the space (roof rack or bike rack)
- Football — always
- Bug hunting kit — magnifying glass, a jar, an insect guide book. An hour of entertainment for about £5 from Etsy or Go Outdoors
- Kite — perfect for beach/hill trips. Compact, cheap, endless fun
- Walkie talkies — ours were about £15 from Halfords and the kids use them constantly
- Den-building supplies — you don't need to bring anything, just find sticks. But a small roll of twine from the van helps
Rainy Day Survival
- Card games — Uno, Dobble, or a regular pack
- Books — actual paper ones
- Drawing supplies
- The pub — seriously, a walk to the nearest pub with a kids' area solves most rainy afternoon crises
Safety Stuff
A few things specific to vintage VWs with kids:
⚠️ Important Safety Notes
- Seatbelts — our T2 has lap belts in the back. They're legal but not as safe as modern three-point belts. We've looked into retro-fitting three-point belts and it's doable. Worth considering if you're doing lots of motorway miles
- Pop-top safety — make sure kids understand they can't lean on the canvas sides. A small safety net across the pop-top opening gives peace of mind at night
- Cooking — the gas hob is at kid height. We have a firm rule: no kids in the van when we're cooking. They eat outside or at the table
- First aid kit — a proper one, not just plasters. Antihistamine, Calpol, tick removers (essential for countryside trips), antiseptic, bandages. The ones from Millets or Go Outdoors are good starting points, then add your family-specific extras
Packing: The Art of Less
Every toy, every "just in case" item, every spare outfit takes space that you don't have. Our packing rule: each kid gets one small bag and one activity for the drive. That's it.
Packing cubes are essential — they keep clothes organised and compressed. packing cubes at Decathlon → does cheap ones that work perfectly.
Layers not outfits — pack base layers, mid layers, and waterproofs. Kids mix and match. Nobody cares if they wear the same t-shirt two days running when they're at a campsite.
One pair of wellies, one pair of trainers per child. That's all they need.
Our Favourite Family-Friendly Sites
- Tregedna Farm, Cornwall — farm animals, great facilities, beach nearby
- Eweleaze Farm, Dorset — right on the coast, stunning
- YHA camping pods as a backup option when weather turns
- National Trust campsites — generally well-run and in beautiful locations
- Camping and Caravanning Club sites — reliable, good facilities, often have play areas
Book ahead for school holidays. Way ahead.
Day trip to the New Forest — one of our favourite family-friendly destinations.
The Honest Bit
Not every trip is perfect. There will be moments where someone's crying, it's raining, the heater's playing up, and you wonder why you didn't just book a cottage.
But then there are the other moments. The ones where your kid spots a shooting star from the camper window. Where they help you cook their first campfire meal. Where they fall asleep in the van with sandy feet and windswept hair after the best day at the beach.
What the kids love most isn't actually the van itself — it's the freedom and the social side. They love playing with other families at campsites, endless games of hide and seek among the tents and vans, impromptu football matches, running in big groups to the play parks, climbing trees, the complete freedom to just run around in the sun. On quieter evenings they'll watch movies on a tablet, or use the walkie talkies to "check when dinner is ready" (which is mainly an excuse to use the walkie talkies). It's these simple moments that they remember and talk about for weeks afterwards.
Those moments are worth all of it.
— Mike & Jenny
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