“Are we there yet?!” This is a very common question you should be prepared to hear several times when you are on the road with your children. Fortunately, this will be avoided with some simple preparations before you leave home.
We have seen it all before, one way or the other. Some of us have even experienced it ourselves. There is nothing more dangerous than a bored child on a long trip.
Or so some movies would have us think. But those of us who are parents or who have experienced traveling with children, keeping the children entertained for the duration of the journey does a lot for the peace and sanity of their adult companions, not to mention the other passengers of the car, train or airplane they are traveling in.
Sudden shrieks and screams, not to mention the repeated chants of ‘are we there yet’ are totally annoying.
Travelling with children can be a real challenge. Thus, it is not really surprising that a great many parents opt not to travel with their kids for long distance journeys but to just wait and take them when they are a little older. Keeping children from getting bored on the journey, however, helps a lot in lessening whatever grievances you may have to face as parents while you are on a trip with your children.
Here is what you can do to keep your little ones occupied, relatively quiet and happy in the back seat:
Inform them about the journey
Tell them where they are going and how long it is likely to take, it won’t solve anything but just by giving them a rough idea of how long it will take might give you a bit more time.
Set some expectations
As simple as it is, you can tell your children ahead of time about how they are expected to behave. You can set boundaries for them and share to them each day’s agenda, explaining the family rules that will, of course, depend on their temperament and age. Make sure that expectations are clearly laid out.
Let them create a holiday scrapbook as you go
Who does not like to reminisce about a good trip? However, you may not have the luxury of time to create a photo album or scrapbook for it, so let your kids help with it. Make sure you bring along a camera, paper, marker, coloring items and other things to get the job done. Each night before bed during your holiday, your children can fashion up some pages that represent the day’s activities.
Bring enough toys
Every child likes toys, whatever kind it is. For this reason, stash as many of toys in your car as possible. If your children are young, you can take a quick trip to your nearest store before heading out and parcel out new items that they can unwrap each day of your trip. Though these inexpensive things might not be around for so long, they can occupy your little ones for hours on your holiday.
Have enough food
Growling stomachs can make children uneasy and irritable, especially on a long ride. So, time your meals carefully and have plenty of snacks and drinks on hand for hours in between stops. Be sure to keep them hydrated too.
Use technology
Let them use your phone or download films and entertainment to an iPad, this is guaranteed to keep them happy for a certain amount of time.
Plan stops
You could stop at service stations to rest and break the journey up, or before departing check for fun/interesting places you could visit along the way. Although it will make your journey longer, it might make it easier, and also let you see somewhere you might never normally visit.
Know the route
This might sound obvious, but make sure you know where you are going, and the quickest and best way to get there. Check for accidents and any road closures just so you can get there are soon as possible.
Following these tips isn’t just about saving your sanity, but also about keeping yourselves safe while driving. After all, these tips can give you more time to concentrate behind the wheel and to monitor traffic. You might also like to view my tips for flying with a baby.
