Road Trips and Kids: Tips To Help You Survive

“Are we there yet? Are we there yet? Are we there YET?” Television may make a joke out of it, but when you’re stuck in a car for another few hours with an antsy child in the backseat all humor in such a situation is out the window. While I may be happy watching the scenery fly by from my passenger seat in our family minivan, my children certainly do not share the same sentiments. Within 2 hours they are bored and craving some change of… well, something.

When planning any sort of long car trip with your children, take it from me: you NEED to have a game plan in place for keeping them busy and entertained. Here are some of the best ways for you to keep your kids busy and entertained while also watching the miles fly by.

Make Extra Stops

You may be able to sit still for four hours and listen to music, but they can’t. When planning your trip, plan to make small stops along the way. Little things to sight see, or even a trip to the gas station so they can use the washroom and mull through the candy section may very well be enough to keep them moderately entertained.

Games: A Necessity

Whether these are the traditional car games, puzzles, or handheld video games, definitely bring them along for the ride. I surprised my fickle son with a Nintendo DS for one of our long car trips to Florida and that kept him busy the entire time!

Bring Snacks

It’s a definite must to have a cooler readily available in the car while you are driving packed with delicious yet nutritious snacks. Eating goes a long way in keeping children entertained – which is why it is all the more important to choose healthy snacks for them to pick at. Trail mixes and veggies with dip are great choices.

Keep Blankets and Extra Clothes Handy

In case your child gets cold, wet, or dirty it is important to always have some extra clothing and a blanket on hand. Blankets are often all children need to nestle down and take a nap (which will definitely help both you and them kill those long hours in the car!).

Bring Music THEY Like

As hard as it may be, it’s important to share the radio space in the car. Ask your child to bring along their favorite CDs or their MP3 player and plug it in for an hour. Even if you are absolutely despising whatever it is they’re listen to, take that time to listen to the lyrics of the songs and ask them why they like listening to that particular song.

TIP: Ask your child to make their own personal CD to put on for the family while you’re on the road for a glimpse into what their musical interests are.

Encourage Them to Keep a Journal

Journals are great for keeping memories and working their creative writing muscles. One of my children loves to write a new journal every time we take a trip. She’s often too busy scribbling away on paper and collecting little mementos to complain about the long drive.

I hope that these ideas allow both you and your children to enjoy your vacation all the more. Happy travels!

photo by Jenny Erickson