Play word games
Thanks to modern innovation you’ve got some cool tools to help keep the crew amused. DVD players and iPods definitely help, but the old-school strategies are surprisingly fun and engage the whole family.
Get plenty of rest the day before you leave and when it’s bedtime for the kids, put them in their PJs and hit the road. The theory is they’ll fall asleep and you’ll get hours of uninterrupted driving done. Some kids, though, might perk up because of the change in routine and may stay up and get cranky.
Alternately, you can get up really early and carry the sleeping kiddies into the car where they’ll continue to sleep. When they’re awake you can stop for breakfast. This last strategy actually works quite well with teenagers, but they’ll have to walk out to the car on their own.
Pack some snacks
A little in-car snack not only helps pass the time, but keeps the kids happy—and sometimes a full tummy can lead to a short nap.
Thanks to modern innovation you’ve got some cool tools to help keep the crew amused. DVD players and iPods definitely help, but the old-school strategies are surprisingly fun and engage the whole family.
- Guessing Games—Even the most techno-savvy kids will enjoy a game of I Spy or 20 Questions. Just remind them that the item they have in mind for I Spy has to be inside the car.
- Build-a-story—The first person starts the story with one word, each person adds another word, building on the story. It’s always fun to see what unexpected turns your story takes.
Get plenty of rest the day before you leave and when it’s bedtime for the kids, put them in their PJs and hit the road. The theory is they’ll fall asleep and you’ll get hours of uninterrupted driving done. Some kids, though, might perk up because of the change in routine and may stay up and get cranky.
Alternately, you can get up really early and carry the sleeping kiddies into the car where they’ll continue to sleep. When they’re awake you can stop for breakfast. This last strategy actually works quite well with teenagers, but they’ll have to walk out to the car on their own.
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| Photo: Matthieu Lambert/Auto123.com |
Pack some snacks
A little in-car snack not only helps pass the time, but keeps the kids happy—and sometimes a full tummy can lead to a short nap.
- Keep lots of water on hand. It keeps kids hydrated, and doesn’t send blood sugar skyrocketing. If spilled, it will dry with out sticky stains.
- Cheese strings
- Bananas and apple slices
- Bagels, cookies, granola bars
- Sick bags – preferably within easy reach of each child
- Pre-packaged wet wipes
- Tissues
- First aid kit
- A road trip may not be the best idea if your little one is toilet training. If you have to make the trip, plan on frequent stops and be extra forgiving of slip-ups.
- If possible, allow each child to choose a stop along the way – a favourite doughnut shop, the Largest Goose Monument, or a kitschy roadside mini-golf. Having a say will put them in the driver’s seat (not literally) for a little while.