Summer is almost here and so is road trip season and you might be wondering about surviving road trips with kids.
When I was a kid, we didn’t fly, we drove and we drove everywhere. Those made for some long hours in the back of the station wagon with my brother but we always had a great vacation, carefully planned by my mom without the internet.
I had lots of practice being the car and now that I have my own kids, I have come up with some ways that work for us to keep the kids happy. Hopefully, you can use some of these tips with your family and have happier road trips!
Bring lots of snacks
Kids tend to get hungry all the time and if you don’t plan for it they will get hangry. This leads to fighting or more frequent stops than you would like. We always pack several snacks such as applesauce pouches, goldfish crackers and almonds. I also like to pack some fruit snacks because my kids love these.
On road trips with kids, let them choose their snacks within reason
Give your kids some ownership of snacking and bring them to the store with you when you are getting ready for your road trip. They will be happier having a say in what they can bring and might get excited about being on the road if that means they can try something new.
Have music they enjoy
We have found that the time goes much faster if the kids have music playing they can sing along to. They will be much less likely to whine if they are singing and less likely to fight. Obviously, you don’t want something that will annoy you, but there are plenty of songs out there that can appeal to everyone!
Make sure the kids know they may have to take turns with mom and dad for music selection, though.
Kids bring their own bag of goodies
My kids always bring toys with them even if we just go to the store. We could be going to the grocery store and they would have to have at least one stuffy to snuggle.
Successful road trips with kids need busy work
Get your kid their own tote bag and tell them to fill it with games, books, toys, notepads, fun pens, etc. This way they have some control over what they can have and they will make their own busy bag.
I also like to bring things I think they may like if I feel they didn’t pack enough busy work and will need more entertainment.
Pack surprise Toys
Next, I have found that surprise toys are one of the best ways to get through a road trip. If you find your kids are starting to get whiny or complaining, pull out a new toy as a surprise. This will immediately lighten the mood and give them something new to play with.
Personally, I like giving my kids mystery toys but you could do this with anything.
Find fun adventures along the way and hype them up
During a road trip, half the fun is looking for fun attractions along the way. As you plan your trip, look out for tourist draws like “World’s Largest…” and add them into the itinerary. If there are billboards, point them out and make a big deal out of it and this will add excitement.
Road trips with kids are more fun with mini adventures!
This will make the trip more fun for the whole family because the kids have more to look forward to and the parents have their rest stops planned out easily. But just watch out for expensive gift shops!
Take frequent breaks
Road trips with kids need leg stretching stops and bathroom breaks
This goes with the point above but it is good for everyone to take breaks. As you travel, you will pass many rest areas, truck stops, malls, grocery stores, and big box stores. These are all perfect places to stretch legs and get out of the car.
If the weather is nice, you can even see if you will pass by any parks along the way and the kids can take a few minutes to run around! You can even use an app like this one to find nearby playgrounds and add to the fun.
Buy them a special treat
I have found that when we thank our kids for letting us take trips, they tend to complain less. To show appreciation, sometimes, we need to get them special treats. It could be a slurpee at a 7-11 or a small something from one of your pit stops.
Kids will remember this positive reinforcement and be more willing to go on trips in the future.
Have accessible trash bags
As we all know, kids can be a little messy in the car, especially on long road trips. Make sure they have a bag to put their trash in and make sure it is easily accessible.
Road trips with kids don’t have to be messy
Also, thank them for helping you keep the family car clean. I typically use old grocery store bags but there are reusable ones you can attach to the seat in front of them.
Be mindful of car sickness
When I was a kid, I had really bad car sickness and I cringe to think how many times my parents had to deal with it. Our oldest has felt sick in the past and it seems to be triggered if she has a empty stomach or is reading for too long.
Make sure to have Dramamine on hand and those trash bags handy! Don’t be afraid of pulling over for a few minutes to give your kid some fresh air. Sometimes, its all they need and you obviously want them to feel good.
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