Things for families to consider who want to live on a narrowboat with small children

Here are some things to consider if you are thinking of moving your family from a house to a narrow boat. The main concern for most people is the safety of their children.

There are some basic rules you should try to life by when living aboard a narrow boat with small children:

• Keep doors locked
• Don’t leave children unsupervised
• Use a play pen for very young children
• Don’t allow children to run by a lock
• Don’t allow children to stand and walk on the roof of a moving boat
• Use a life jacket when cruising or playing outside

The other issue can be space or the lack of it! If your children are used to having a bedroom and perhaps a playroom they will need to adjust to having a lot less space for their toys as well as space to play with their friends.

Children will need to adjust to having limited electricity, running out of water, and engine troubles. Although on the up side they will benefit from the outdoor space and the life style that is available to people who live by the canal. As mentioned in other articles about living aboard, living on a narrow boat is definitely a life style choice and consideration on what impact this will have on the whole family needs to be thought through.

It’s a good idea to talk to other people who have actually experienced living aboard with children and if the children are old enough ask them what livaboard life is like for them.

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