Family road trips are meant to be adventures filled with lasting memories, but any parent that has loaded the kids in the car and hit the road knows that isn’t always the case. Repetitive backseat arguments and whining can quickly turn a family road trip into a nightmare. The key to a peaceful and fun trip is to focus on keeping your kids happy and entertained on the road.
Before you buckle everyone in and fasten down the straps on your Diono car seat, it’s helpful to have a plan for your kids. Long car rides can be boring for many kids that aren’t stimulated in the right ways. With today’s high-speed technology, immediate gratification has led to even shorter attention spans.
If you are planning a family road trip, it’s a good idea to take some time to plan for the endless hours on the road with your kids in mind. The happier your kids are, the easier your trip will be. Let’s take a closer look at a few ways to keep your kids happy on your next road trip.
Set Behavioral Expectations
Children respond to having boundaries. If you want to get through your road trip without a lot of conflicts, it’s a good idea to lay out your behavioral expectations before you get in the car. Make a list of rules regarding behavior and the consequences of breaking them, and talk to your kids about your expectations. The rules don’t have to be extensive, but they should cover the important things, like fighting, sassing, and sharing while in the car.
It can be helpful if you outline your driving schedule for your kids, so they know what to expect. This will eliminate many of the questions along the way. For example, let your kids know when you will leave, how long you will be in the car, and when you will have breaks and stops.
Toys and Activities
Endless car rides can be tedious and boring for your little ones. It’s important to bring along toys and activities that will keep them engaged during your trip. Without filling the car with dozens of toys, you can allow each child to bring one or two special toys and have a few available activities. Kids in car seats or boosters can use their fold-down tables to draw, color, or read.
Many modern vehicles come equipped with technology that will allow your kids to watch their favorite movies or television shows in the car. Help your kids pick a show and put it on to keep them entertained for a few hours.
While your kids may need to be entertained to restrict their restlessness, there is nothing wrong with encouraging them to expand their imagination by watching the passing scenery. You can even play a few games involving spotting things out the windows to keep your kids engaged.
Create a Memory Box
Creating a memory box or collecting memorabilia during your trip is a great way to preserve your adventures to enjoy in the future. Before you leave, put aside a small box or bag to collect memory pieces with the family. Your kids will love the idea of adding special discoveries to your memory box and building a story along the way. When your trip is over, you can go through all the things in your box and create a vacation scrapbook as a family activity.
Meal Planning
There is nothing worse than a miserable child who is hungry. No one wants to deal with crabby children on a road trip. To avoid “hangry” kids, make sure that you plan your meal stops and snacks in advance. Not only will regular meal stops give you all a chance to stretch your legs, but they will also keep your kids happy with full tummies. Keeping a small cooler in the car filled with bottled water and small snacks is a great way to keep your kids quiet and happy.
Planned Stops
As an adult, you may be able to drive for hours at a time without a stop, but your kids aren’t going to be able to keep that pace. Your kids will start to get restless after just a few hours and can benefit from frequent stops. A quick stop at a rest area for a snack and running around can help your kids shake off the lethargy of the car and stay happy during your trip. When creating your itinerary, make sure to include planned stops for the whole family.
Reward Good Behavior
While good behavior may be expected, and you may need a bit more motivation to keep your kids in line during a road trip. Before you leave for each leg of your journey, let your kids know there will be some minor reward for good behavior. You may offer to let the best-behaved child choose your next restaurant or allow them to stay up past their bedtime as a reward for their good behavior. You may be surprised how much the reward anticipation will affect your children’s behavior.
Family Games
The entire point of a family road trip is to spend quality time together. Being in a car together can be close quarters, so finding ways to connect with each other as you travel is important. Inventing family car games where everyone can participate is a great way to have fun in the car. You can play I Spy or the License Plate Game, or you may want to relate stories about your childhood adventures or a cherished road trip from your past. Children are often intrigued by stories of their parents as children.
Illness Planning
Spending hours in the car can result in some upset tummies. Car sickness is fairly common and can put a wrench in your road trip plans. Before you leave, if one of your kids is prone to car sickness, ensure you have everything you need, including Dramamine, paper towels, bottled water, and lots of distractions.
Family road trips are a fantastic way to make memories that will last a lifetime. Follow these tips to help keep your kids happy while you are on the road during your next family vacation.
