Traveling
with Children
Family
road trips have long been a source of great comic material. Seething dads,
frazzled moms, and cranky, bickering children seem to be the mainstay, but smart
parents know it doesn't need to be that way!
A little planning ahead
can make that road trip enjoyable for the youngsters and more pleasant for Mom
and Dad.
Here are a few tips to
help make the journey more pleasurable for all of you:
Plan for frequent stops.
You'll add to your travel
time, but enhance its quality by planning for breaks at least every two hours.
Younger children simply need the change of position and opportunity to free
themselves of the car seat for a few minutes. Older children may enjoy
stretching their legs at roadside historic and/or tourist sites. Study your map
ahead of time to see if there are logical break points for your drive.
Have snacks on hand.
Hungry, thirsty children are
unhappy children. Bringing your own guarantees fresh, healthful snacks while on
the road. Whether you plan on allowing them in the car or reserve them for
roadside break time, you and your children will be happier with a supply of your
favorite snacks on hand. A small cooler of juices and fresh fruit goes a long
way on the road.
Pack a surprise goodie bag.
Children love surprises and a
small bag of new toys, games, or activities, dispensed one at a time, is a
sure-fire way to perk up the trip and make travel time go faster for them. For
toddlers, the bag might contain toys that you have moved "out of
circulation" weeks in advance so that they seem new again. Older children
might enjoy books, coloring and activity books, small travel games, and puzzles.
Age-appropriate sing-along tapes can make travel time go quickly, and a
child-proof tape player and earphones are a bonus for mom and dad. Don't forget
you'll want "goodie bags" for the trip back as well.
