Raising kids while living off grid has been one heck of an experience. From being pregnant hours from a hospital to having to become a master of making something from nothing. Even though having kids in town would probably (definitely) make things easier, I wouldn’t have it any other way. So here are some of the questions we get most often about our off grid kids:

Why did you decide to raise your kids off grid?

Raising off grid kids was actually not part of our plan when we moved here. We had already purchased property, given notice at our jobs, and had renters lined up for our house when we discovered I was pregnant. It was a big surprise, but a welcome one!

How do you keep them entertained?

I imagine the same way we would if we lived in town. Lots of hikes, outdoor exploring, wild foraging, games, puzzles, toys, books, and yes, even TV. Some things like involving them in cooking are normal, and depending on where you live, fishing, butchering, and canning might be normal tasks to involve kids in as well.

How does having children affect grid tasks?

Oh boy, this is a loaded question. While I absolutely love my girls, toddlers don’t make living off grid any easier! They love to “help”, but are to young yet. Having to keep a constant eye on them while working and worrying about little ones under foot slows down a lot of tasks. And anything that takes two people can be tricky when one person is in charge of the kids. Things will get easier as they get older, but for now they’ll make lots of memories turning jobs into games.

How do you travel with your kids?

The same as any other parent in town. The miles between road and home are a different story though. We’ve been using a baby wrap (Amazon link) to “wear” the kids on ATV’s and snow machines since we brought them home from the hospital. The newborn stage was easiest because they just slept snug against us the whole ride. Now both girls are big enough, and vocal enough, to let us know if they aren’t happy about going somewhere. And now they are wiggly too!

What are some things you have done differently off grid than you would have in town?

The biggest difference is the fact that we co-slept with both girls. If I had been living in town I would have had cribs for them, but co-sleeping made more sense due to our lifestyles. My doctor even recommended it because we heat entirely with wood. Co-sleeping guaranteed the girls would be warm at night even if the fire went out, and that’s important when it can reach -30F in winter (though our cabin has never been nearly that cold!). We also used this amazing baby sleep sack (Amazon) because the girls were always kicking the blankets off!

What is the hardest part about raising off grid kids?

The part that I feel is hardest is the isolation factor. Kids need social interaction, and it can be a hassle living this far from town. We visit friends who come to their cabins out here, and make time for play dates in town. School will be another challenge once we start more structured learning.

How do you think they’ll feel about their childhood once they grow up?

I can’t say I’m not worried that they won’t like living this way, eventually. But I hope they enjoy the adventures we are having and look back on their childhoods fondly!

Have a question about raising off grid kids? Leave it in the comments below!