Why wait to grow up to enjoy off-roading when your kids can head out and explore the trails now? Off-roading as a family is a fun and rewarding way to spend time together and provides incredible benefits and life lessons. Your kids will also get out of their comfort zone and surprise you with how capable they really are and ready they are for an adventure. Here's what to know before you head out as a family.

Families Enjoy a Unique Bonding Experience

There's something exhilarating about getting off the trails with your family. The adventure creates a unique opportunity to bond and go through a mind-bending experience together. You can also connect with kids by finding favorite past times you all enjoy and building upon those interests. As your kids grow up, you'll find opportunities to advance your adventures by upgrading your gear together and taking generational trips with your off-roading vehicle.

Kids Get to Make More Decisions

Kids spend most of their waking hours listening to teachers, parents, and coaches who are telling them what to do and how to navigate their day. Off-roading shakes things up and allows kids and young adults to take more ownership of their time and make decisions. Whether you're picking out LED whips and off-roading tires together or which routes to take, give kids a say in what they want to do and how to spend the day.

It's Cheaper Than Most Travel

Off-roading can get expensive, but you don't have to spend much once you're up and running with your gear and upgrades. You'll need to keep up with your fuel, a first aid kit, water, and snacks and ensure your vehicle is still in good shape to get going. Create a budget for "sinking funds" to spend on ongoing needs like tires and ongoing maintenance to enjoy your time on and off the trails. Once you're up and running, you'll spend far less money off-roading than you will on traditional travel. You can also keep your costs even lower by bringing along a tent or sticking to day trips to keep your costs low.

Kids Learn How to Take Responsible Risks

Kids need hands-on experience to mature and figure out how to navigate their life. Risk-taking with supervision and safety in mind helps teach kids self-regulation and independence while building trust among family members. As kids learn more about risk-taking while off-roading, they can apply those lessons in real life and step into their zone of confidence. 

Parents Teach Kids Problem-Solving Skills

No matter how well-prepared you are, there will always be some kind of obstacle or setback on the trails. Whether you get a flat or need to tow out your vehicle from the mud, embrace those challenges as an opportunity to learn and apply problem-solving skills as a family. Of course, it's not just kids who need help with problem-solving. Adults who feel overwhelmed or limited in their daily life can also learn hands-on problem-solving skills and gain more confidence. 

Families Learn More Patience

There are always some family members who are more patient than others, but everyone needs help exercising more patience. Kids learn that not everything always works out the way they think and that their parents are human beings who need to work out their frustrations and address the challenge at hand.

Extending more patience to one another builds confidence and trust and makes an off-roading trip more enjoyable from start to finish. Once you've gotten through a mishap or meltdown on the trail, it makes issues with homework or cleaning a breeze. 

You Enjoy a Whole New Way to Parent

Off-roading offers a unique way for adults to parent their kids, from planning the trip to the clean-up and maintenance afterward. Let go of your worries at home for a few hours and focus on the off-roading experience and what your kids get out of it. Focus on providing positive reinforcement kids need to build confidence and celebrate their success at crushing their goals.

Ready to Elevate Your Off-Roading Adventure?

We offer a wide selection of the best off-roading equipment and upgrades. Browse our entire online selection here to start modifying your UTV, Truck, Jeep, or SUV from top to bottom. 

Need help picking the right upgrades and high-quality gear for your off-roading experience? Visit us at 15230 San Fernando Mission Blvd Suite B102, Mission Hills, CA 91345! Or info@dirtdirectoffroad.com