Road Trip with Kids

[:en]Being prepared can help reduce back-seat whining and fighting on long family car trips.

The longer the trip, the more you may dread piling the family into the car and heading off on a family vacation together. Being prepared can help reduce back-seat whining and fighting.

 

Car travel does have its advantages for family trips. You’re literally in the driver’s seat so you can control when and where you stop, as well as your departure time. (Arrival times are another story!) You don’t have to worry about bothering other travelers with the noise of your little ones, and you can pack as much as you need in the car. Here are 10 tips to make the trip pleasant and safe for all:

 

Leave plenty of time to get to your destination.

Include extra time for stops along the way–for food, refueling and restroom breaks, and to allow time for running around and releasing pent-up energy. In your “ETA,” factor in unforeseen traffic delays. Include older children in the planning. Before you set out, get out maps and guidebooks to plan the driving time with your children. Discuss with them how long you should drive before stopping, what you will see and do along the way, and how long the whole trip will be. This might cut down on the number of times you hear the question, “Are we there yet?”

Bring toys, CD players and a few surprises.

Come armed with plenty of activities for your children to do. Favorite toys (avoid those with small pieces), nd one or two new items will keep them occupied. Stories that the whole family will enjoy listening to and talking about are a good idea, too. Audible.com has a list of its favorites for family listening.

 

Play car travel games together.

A simple one, called “A to Z,” goes like this: Find words beginning with “A”on signs around you. Have your children take turns, after “A,”go to “B” and so on. Can you get to “Z” and finish the alphabet? For more travel games, see Are We There Yet? Travel Games for the Road.

Keep plenty of non-messy snacks and drinks in the car.

Stop frequently for meals and to stretch. But to avoid desperate hunger pains, keep snacks in easy reach in the car. Good choices include pretzels, animal crackers, rice crackers, water and fruit. Individual pre-packed Ziploc bags are a good idea to avoid fighting over quantities, too.

 

Make use of state highway rest areas.

Take along a Frisbee, soccer ball, or baseball and mitts. These are good items to take out at rest areas for letting off steam.

 

Do your driving at night or very early in the morning.

If there is no way to avoid sibling squabbling, a good alternative is to drive at night when kids are sleeping. Or start out very early with the kids still in their PJs, and if you’re lucky, they’ll fall back asleep and wake up in time for a breakfast stop. Just be sure the driver is awake and alert!

Happy Road Trip![:zh]Being prepared can help reduce back-seat whining and fighting on long family car trips.

The longer the trip, the more you may dread piling the family into the car and heading off on a family vacation together. Being prepared can help reduce back-seat whining and fighting.

 

Car travel does have its advantages for family trips. You’re literally in the driver’s seat so you can control when and where you stop, as well as your departure time. (Arrival times are another story!) You don’t have to worry about bothering other travelers with the noise of your little ones, and you can pack as much as you need in the car. Here are 10 tips to make the trip pleasant and safe for all:

 

Leave plenty of time to get to your destination.

Include extra time for stops along the way–for food, refueling and restroom breaks, and to allow time for running around and releasing pent-up energy. In your “ETA,” factor in unforeseen traffic delays. Include older children in the planning. Before you set out, get out maps and guidebooks to plan the driving time with your children. Discuss with them how long you should drive before stopping, what you will see and do along the way, and how long the whole trip will be. This might cut down on the number of times you hear the question, “Are we there yet?”

Bring toys, CD players and a few surprises.

Come armed with plenty of activities for your children to do. Favorite toys (avoid those with small pieces), nd one or two new items will keep them occupied. Stories that the whole family will enjoy listening to and talking about are a good idea, too. Audible.com has a list of its favorites for family listening.

 

Play car travel games together.

A simple one, called “A to Z,” goes like this: Find words beginning with “A”on signs around you. Have your children take turns, after “A,”go to “B” and so on. Can you get to “Z” and finish the alphabet? For more travel games, see Are We There Yet? Travel Games for the Road.

Keep plenty of non-messy snacks and drinks in the car.

Stop frequently for meals and to stretch. But to avoid desperate hunger pains, keep snacks in easy reach in the car. Good choices include pretzels, animal crackers, rice crackers, water and fruit. Individual pre-packed Ziploc bags are a good idea to avoid fighting over quantities, too.

 

Make use of state highway rest areas.

Take along a Frisbee, soccer ball, or baseball and mitts. These are good items to take out at rest areas for letting off steam.

 

Do your driving at night or very early in the morning.

If there is no way to avoid sibling squabbling, a good alternative is to drive at night when kids are sleeping. Or start out very early with the kids still in their PJs, and if you’re lucky, they’ll fall back asleep and wake up in time for a breakfast stop. Just be sure the driver is awake and alert!

Happy Road Trip![:id]Being prepared can help reduce back-seat whining and fighting on long family car trips.

The longer the trip, the more you may dread piling the family into the car and heading off on a family vacation together. Being prepared can help reduce back-seat whining and fighting.

Car travel does have its advantages for family trips. You’re literally in the driver’s seat so you can control when and where you stop, as well as your departure time. (Arrival times are another story!) You don’t have to worry about bothering other travelers with the noise of your little ones, and you can pack as much as you need in the car. Here are 10 tips to make the trip pleasant and safe for all:

Leave plenty of time to get to your destination.

Include extra time for stops along the way–for food, refueling and restroom breaks, and to allow time for running around and releasing pent-up energy. In your “ETA,” factor in unforeseen traffic delays. Include older children in the planning. Before you set out, get out maps and guidebooks to plan the driving time with your children. Discuss with them how long you should drive before stopping, what you will see and do along the way, and how long the whole trip will be. This might cut down on the number of times you hear the question, “Are we there yet?”

Bring toys, CD players and a few surprises.

Come armed with plenty of activities for your children to do. Favorite toys (avoid those with small pieces), nd one or two new items will keep them occupied. Stories that the whole family will enjoy listening to and talking about are a good idea, too. Audible.com has a list of its favorites for family listening.

Play car travel games together.

A simple one, called “A to Z,” goes like this: Find words beginning with “A”on signs around you. Have your children take turns, after “A,”go to “B” and so on. Can you get to “Z” and finish the alphabet? For more travel games, see Are We There Yet? Travel Games for the Road.

Keep plenty of non-messy snacks and drinks in the car.

Stop frequently for meals and to stretch. But to avoid desperate hunger pains, keep snacks in easy reach in the car. Good choices include pretzels, animal crackers, rice crackers, water and fruit. Individual pre-packed Ziploc bags are a good idea to avoid fighting over quantities, too.

Make use of state highway rest areas.

Take along a Frisbee, soccer ball, or baseball and mitts. These are good items to take out at rest areas for letting off steam.

Do your driving at night or very early in the morning.

If there is no way to avoid sibling squabbling, a good alternative is to drive at night when kids are sleeping. Or start out very early with the kids still in their PJs, and if you’re lucky, they’ll fall back asleep and wake up in time for a breakfast stop. Just be sure the driver is awake and alert!

Happy Road Trip![:]