Depending on how you prepare, a car trip with kids may seem like a miserable job or a fun-filled adventure. Before you hit the road, read this advice for planning a great family road trip with kids. These recommendations can help keep parents sane and children entertained throughout your travel.
Make a trip plan before leaving your house.
To get an accurate estimate of how long your Family Road Trip will take, enter your destination into your smartphone’s map or a mapping website. This will also allow you to arrange some enjoyable pit stops. Search the internet for enjoyable activities to do in towns along your journey. Plan to stop at least once throughout your trip to enable children to play outside and adults to stretch their legs. If you can’t find a park with playground equipment, bring some no-spill bubbles, a Frisbee, and a ball for fun.
Keep on track throughout your family road trip.
Even though many automobiles have GPS, you may wish to get a paper map to help you plan your Family Road Trip route. Then, even if you’re using your smartphone for navigation, if Wi-Fi goes down, you can still find your way to your destination. A paper map may also be fun for youngsters to follow their family’s journey and learn about geography.
Use snacks as a distraction.
Keep the youngsters’ hands and mouths occupied when traveling with many goodies on your Family Road Trip. Pack nutritious snacks in different containers and distribute them gradually to get the most out of your family car trip. Bring snacks like full-grain crackers, cereal, trail mix, and sliced fresh fruits. Protein bars, hard-boiled eggs, sandwiches, and individually wrapped cheeses are other recommended road trip snacks. Throw a few “forbidden” sweets for a massive diversion when you need them most.
Instead of expecting children to sit still and use their inside voices during a restaurant meal, you can consider eating on the move and pausing to play on your Family Road Trip. Another alternative is to bring a large picnic lunch in a park or rest stop along the road.
Play together and Apart.
When embarking on a Family Road Trip with more than one adult, it is great if one of the adults can join the children in the backseat for at least part of the journey. Consider your car trip an opportunity to spend quality time together by playing travel games and working on essential arts and crafts projects. Of course, you’ll also want to bring some toys for independent play. The Play-N-Go Travel Table Cover, seen below, is an excellent choice for traveling toddlers.
Rock out on the road.
Playing some family-friendly car trip music will make your Family Road Trip more pleasurable. You may make a car trip playlist using your family’s favorite tunes.
Choose audiobooks for entertainment.
I recommend taking along audiobooks to keep everyone interested during your Family Road Trip. Listening to a story together may transform a mundane stretch of roadway into an adventure in a fantastical realm. Check for the finest audiobooks for family car journeys. If your car has a CD player, you can buy audiobooks on CD or download the stories to your smartphone and play them over your car’s Bluetooth system.
Take steps to stay safe and comfortable.
During Family Road Trips as kids, my brother and I would crawl into the “way back” of our wood-paneled spitfire orange station wagon. We sat on cushions and blankets from home, and if our parents were lucky, we slept for at least part of the trip. We now understand how critical it is for children to remain sat and securely strapped in a car seat, booster seat, or seat belt. Bring a kid’s neck pillow, a tiny Pillow Pet, and a beloved blankie or plush animal (like this lovely elephant!) to make the journey more comfortable for your children on your Family Road Trip.
Of course, before you hit the road, ensure your car is current on tune-ups and oil changes. Bring an emergency road kit, which should include bandages, antiseptic wipes or spray, jumper cables, and other essentials.
I bet the miles on the road with your kids will fly by if you follow these family road trip recommendations!
Do you have any suggestions or questions on arranging an enjoyable family road trip with kids? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below!
