Summer is finally here and that means it’s time to take a road trip with the family. We can all agree that kids don’t always travel as well as adults because boredom can set in so quickly. Here are 5 ways you can survive a road trip with kids this summer.
In my mind a road trip with kids can be any car ride that lasts over forty five minutes! Though we take relatively “short” road trips (under three hours) once a summer, we take many day trips which take about an hour or so each way.
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Come Prepared
Don’t load everyone up in the car without a plan in mind. Have a list of activities for your children to do to keep them occupied. You sort of have to roll with it and be ready for the next item when they are done with what you’ve given them.
My kids love travel sized games like travel Battleship or Connect Four. Old fashioned fun like Tic Tac Toe or Hang Man work great too!
Be Patient
It’s so easy to get upset with screaming and yelling happening in the backseat, but it’s important to be as patient as possible with your kids. Read up on ways you, as a parent, can stay calm in the vehicle as you travel. Remember that your attitude can set the tone for the trip and affect the attitudes of every in the family.
Bring Comfy Items
If your kids are going to be in the vehicle for quite some time, it’s important to bring as many comfy items as possible. Let your kids dress in their comfiest clothes and allow them to bring a pillow and blanker with them for the vehicle. My kids love their Seat Pets and blankies.
Bring the Music & Videos
There’s something about music and videos that help keep your children focused as you travel. Occupying your kids for the long drive is the biggest task you’ll have over the course of a road trip, so bring their favorite movies and songs. Make a list for yourself, so you can remember exactly what to bring.
I load the iPad with movies that I don’t mind hearing in the background! I love the sountrack of Strange Magicand that is the current favorite for both my kids. Score!
Snacks Galore
If there’s one thing we bring with us on road trips, it is snacks! That’s right! We bring our favorite items with us to eat as we travel. Stopping and eating at various gas stations and restaurants can be expensive, which is why we spend a small amount at the grocery store and enjoy our food without spending a fortune.
We load up on sandwiches, boiled eggs, nuts, and fruit. Traveling doesn’t have to mean eating poorly!
What tips do you have for surviving a road trip with the kids this summer?
Lisa (mummascribbles) says
Great advice here – we are in the car a lot – not always long journeys but just often and I always have a bunch of stuff to keep Zachary entertained! And even then I sometimes get the ‘wanna get out, wanna get out’!! Thanks so much for linking up with #TwinklyTuesday
Michelle (@AFamilyChatter) says
Yes, my kids hate travelling in the car, so planning is key! Great tips and it’s reminded me I need to stock up the iPad before our trip in a couple of weeks! 🙂
Michelle (@AFamilyChatter) recently posted…Learning And Experimenting With Shapes
K's Mum says
great tips! thanks! #twinklytuesday
Gracielle says
This is so relevant because we are driving from IL to FL next week. Two kids, an infant, and a dog! I will use all your tips! Plus, we might leave late at night so the kids can sleep through a long leg of the road trip.
Gracielle recently posted…Bye-Bye, Illinois…Hello, Florida!!!
caryn says
Yes. We TOTALLY have to plan for road trips. It’s not like it used to be when we were kids and we’d sit in the car for hours. Now, I have a bag of toys, electronics, snacks and to-do items for when there is a lull. I know I don’t HAVE to be this way, but it sure makes for a much more relaxed trip. Happy Summer. We’re off in one week.
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Herchel says
It really does make for a more pleasant trip to plan ahead. It is harder to concentrate on driving when you have little ones whining in the back seat!
Kristen says
Snacks are key aren’t they? And yes lots of videos and patience….I loathe driving solo with the kids but it’s necessary!
Kristen recently posted…The Best Chocolate Chip Cookies Ever
becka says
Will be using this advice in the near future. 🙂 Dreading it but looking forward to the arrival at the destination. I guess trips with kids are one of those situations where you get where you going and you try to convince yourself that all is well that ends well.
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