The girls have had a great time on the boat. I think they’ve enjoyed being with us so much (like 10 weekends back to back!) and haven’t missed nursery at all.
You don’t see many young kids on boats, and true, it’s not an optimally safe environment, but that’s been part of the adventure. We’ve obviously made sure they’re as safe as we’re ok with. Lifevests on when they’re on deck and the boat’s moving, always having at least half an eye on 2YO.
2YO in particular has developed noticeably on the trip. A somewhat headstrong 2 year old, she’s loved helping set the table, clamber up and down the stairs and find her own spaces (in the corner of the main cabin under the captain’s chair downstairs and, just recently, in the lifevest cupboard!
And the fact she’s been exposed to us and her sister so much has really increased the phrases she’s using (in a delightful mix of French and English).
Food has been a mixed bag. 2YO in particular seems happy subsisting on compote, bread/breadsticks and milk, eschewing pretty much everything else served up to her in restaurants. But then you go to a really nice place where the kids’ menu has good pizza, or she tries your steak, and you realise, actually, she just wants good food, not to be fobbed off with chicken nuggets of dubious origin. So can’t really complain there. And a bit of sorbet’s always a winner.
5YO is more bookish (as I was at that age) and has been happy reading, writing and drawing, freestyle or with the Pomme d’Api and similar books. I thought we’d have to resort to the Kindle Fire preloaded with Peppa Pig etc, but hardly at all, and we haven’t turned the boat’s TV on even once.
I’ve wondered if I’d suddenly think “oh, X would have been even better for an adventure we could all enjoy as a family”, but I genuinely haven’t thought of one. Campervan trips have some appeal, but you can’t really do anything while driving and 2YO gets car sick anyway. So the canal has been great in that respect – until we can manage walking holidays or even a cabin in the woods with projects to do, that could be cool.
Timsformational 