Road Trip Hacks: Traveling With Kids
Road trips are a great deal of fun and can create memories that will keep everyone in the family close for years. It is also a very memorable way for parents and children to bond and learn more about one another.
Children’s personalities grow and develop over time and it is important for parents to be able to dedicate quality time towards helping their child to learn how to make healthy choices.
Road tripping is a good way to give you the time to connect with your child outside of the home environment, outside of their regular schedule, and really get to know each other.
In addition, if the road trip involves camping out in nature, it can be very healing as well. Nature recharges and is a low-budget way to build memories and learn new skills that are so much more valuable than an expensive hotel or amusement park can provide. Road trips are also suitable for all ages of families and you can start involving the kids more deeply as they get older.
Take them with you when buyingfishing gear, so they can learn how to prepare for the trip themselves. Teach them logistics by having them order custom-made floor mats for the SUV or new weather resistant tents. A few campfire dinners in the backyard will also be fun and help them to learn how to help out by preparing meals for you and your spouse can rest after driving long hours. Involve your children and it will surely create a wonderful experience for the whole family.
Service the Car
Get the car serviced and detailed at least a week ahead of the trip. This will allow you to ensure that it is in good condition for the trip. Check fluids, change the oil and have it cleaned thoroughly. The road trip will mess up your car so its best to start with a clean vehicle to avoid getting too messy. Tire pressure checks, fluid changes, and diagnostics are also a good idea to ensure that there is nothing that can go wrong with the car when you’re on the road.
Update your AAA subscription and have a chat with the service provider to ensure you know everything you need to know about the lay of the land in the area you’re driving towards.
Leave Early
Make sure everyone is packed the night before and leave at the crack of dawn. This will allow you to cover a good distance away from the house before the kids wake up properly. This will allow you to totally skip over the ‘are we there yet’ moments which usually start when the kids start to get bored with seeing the same scenery or familiar sites.
Take Turns Driving
If you have children old enough to drive, then allow them to take a turn at the wheel for up to four hours at a time. This is just long enough for them to start feeling tired and is also enough time for you or your spouse to get some sleep. This will help the kids to understand how tired you get, so they will be more understanding and allow the main driver to get enough rest and avoid fatigue.
Passenger Seat Passing
At every rest stop, switch out the person who sits in the passenger seat next to the driver. This is a great way to keep the kids distracted and allow a parent to always be in the back with the rest of the kids. This will reduce bickering and make it easier to pay attention to them in case of car sickness or playing games to help pass the time.
The kid can choose which music to play, talk with their parent, and play road trip games. This will help them to have fun, keep the driver upbeat and alert, and lead to some great bonding moments and memories.
Pack a Cooler of Snacks
A cooler full of snacks will soothe any moments of boredom that distract the kids from wanting to play games. This is a great time to throw in healthy snacks and have the kids experience different combinations than they would at home.
Hungry kids are cranky kids so be generous with the snacks and keep a few favorites of yours and your spouses on hand as well. The family that is well-fed and happy is more likely to get through a road trip with less upsetting moments.
There are lots of details that may not be necessary but would be invaluable to have on hand in case of need. First aid kids and tire irons may not need to be sued at all, but they can provide peace of mind and easy fixes to problems if they do occur. Thus, it is a good idea to make a detailed packing list to ensure that you have every item you could possibly need to feel safe and attend to your child’s needs.
The list should also include items to help pass the time and fix any car issues in case of car trouble. The itinerary should include a list of good motels and diners to stop at in case you and the kids need a break or you’re waiting for a car issue to be fixed. This will make a difficult situation much easier, and you will not need to scramble to find a safe spot for the kids. Luckily, over-preparing usually leads to not having many issues s worry now to ensure a safe time on the road.