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Many parents don’t have pleasant associations about road trips. And this is for good reason. Without proper planning, road trips can quickly become miserable for everyone. After all, being stuck in a car for hours and hours can make anyone cranky, especially small children. However, road trips don’t have to be so terrible. Here are a few tips to make yours a little more enjoyable for the whole family.
Bring some easy snacks and comfy blankets.
Most children tend to get cranky when they are hungry or tired. Unfortunately, if you’re taking a long road trip, you may not always be able to stop for snacks right away when your child is hungry. Because of this, it is a great idea to pack some simple snacks and drinks that your child enjoys. You should also bring along some comfortable blankets to help your child fall asleep when he or she gets tired. These are simple things, but they will go a long way towards helping to keep your child happy and relaxed during your trip.
Pack an “activity bag,” for each child.
After hunger and tiredness, boredom is perhaps the next most important thing to address on a road trip. When children get bored, they tend to act up more. Stop this before it happens by packing an “activity bag” for each child. It can include books, toys, electronics, and anything else your child enjoys. Have each child keep his or her bag nearby, so they can reach for fun things to do whenever boredom starts to creep in.
Bring some fun music, movies, or audio stories.
If you want entertainment for the whole car, you can bring some fun music, audio stories, or even a movie for everyone to enjoy. This type of thing works best after naptime, when the kids are alert and looking for entertainment.
Get your route and stops planned out before you leave.
Even adults get restless after sitting in the car for a while, but for children, it is doubly difficult. Before you even take off on your trip, go ahead and plan out the route you will take and some fun stops here and there. Try to pick places like rest stops and parks, as this gives your little ones a chance to run around outside and burn off that excess energy. This will make them feel better and will make them easier to manage in the car, (which will make you feel better!)
Avoid unsafe driving.
You always want to be a careful driver, but this is even more important if you’re driving with your little ones, since they are more likely to be seriously harmed in the event of a crash. Make sure you avoid unsafe driving habits, such as distracted driving, drowsy driving, speeding, etc. Keep your eyes on the road, check your blind spots, go the speed limit, and take a break from driving if you start to feel drowsy. Even if you’re a great driver yourself, you still need to be on the alert, as other drivers could break a traffic rule or get distracted at any moment.
