With the nice weather upon us more people are planning road trips with their children. Maybe you’re going for a cottage getaway or to visit family, even just a day trip. This can be very exciting but also could be a source of worry when you’re not sure how things will go with your child or children. Having been on the road traveling a lot as a child and then with my own child I have picked up a couple tips and tricks to make the car rides a lot more enjoyable for everyone. One thing I find makes life a lot easier on the road is to pack and plan ahead of time.
Plan ahead
When you are planning your route keep in mind what time of day you are traveling, if you will be hitting traffic, rush hour construction, leaving a little earlier or later you may be able to avoid these headaches. If you are heading somewhere you have never been before it’s a good idea to plan another route in case you run into the unexpected. I have found having a paper map in the car when GPS doesn’t work really handy. If you know that your child(ren) will sleep in the car, coordinating with naps or even bed time this can beneficial as well.
Stop for Planned Breaks!
Its understandable you would like to get where you are going as fast as you can. However, road trips with young kids are about more than just reaching a destination; it’s a great opportunity to create memories and bond as a family. Stopping at roadside attractions. Map out EarlyON Child & Family Centres along the way using this link: Find an EarlyON child and family centre | ontario.ca What a great way for everyone to have some fun breaks!
Bathroom Breaks
When traveling with children there will be times when you need to make extra stops to use the facilities. Bring along a travel potty! I thought this was such a great idea because we have all been in situations when you have to go and there isn’t a washroom around!
Snack Breaks
Having a cooler or lunch bag packed with a mixture of healthy options like cut-up fruits, veggies, cheese and surprises like cookies or fruit snacks in snack sized bags or containers that you can just hand out. To make it even easier if your child(ren) are a little older you can pack individual lunch bags for them so they can help themselves. Reusable water bottles are a great option for each family member.
I would recommend having extra back up snacks, juice and water on hand in case you run into unexpected delays. If you’re looking for ideas of snacks to pack check out 52 Mess-Free Kids Road Trip Snacks They Will Love – Practical Perfection (practicalperfectionut.com)
Entertainment
Having some fun toys that stay in the car is a great way to keep children occupied in the car and can make the ride more enjoyable. If you are planning a longer trip, adding a couple of new options to your car stash of activities will make it more fun. Here are some ideas!
- I Spy bags
- Fidget toys – Spinners, Pop its, Telescopic Tube
- Stuffed animals
- Drawing tablets https://a.co/d/09DmLQBl
- Magnetic drawing boards https://a.co/d/02jZEPmE
- Etch- a- sketch
- Crayola also has many mess free options, just add water!
- Crayola Color Wonder Mess-Free Colouring Stow & Go Studio Arts & Crafts https://a.co/d/06007Flr
- There is also Melissa & Doug On the Go Water Wow! Reuseable water reveal activity pads https://a.co/d/00scr8kE
- Playlists – Compile a playlist of your kids’ favorite songs and encourage them to sing-along
- Storybooks – have a few new and old favorites story books available, board or hard cover books are a good option for the car since they are a little sturdier.
Keeping the Peace
Not everyone allows electronics; however, I have found it a nice way for each person to do their own thing for a little while. A Tablet or portable DVD player combined with headphones can be a great option to keep children busier for a little longer. Some devices have options that you can use to download their favorite shows, audiobooks, or games. If you don’t have Wi-Fi, consider downloading a head of time, a mix of new and familiar content, this is a nice way to keep them engaged. Set boundaries so children know what to expect about usage.
Keeping Things Organized
A travel desk for children who are bit older is a great idea to keep everything contained, they can use it for storing items in easy reach as well as a table to eat and play. When my daughter was little, I just picked up a plastic one from Zellers but now they have some really great feature, options like safety belts, cup holders and are foldable for easy storage which I love! Another great option is back seat organizers they are great for storing items like sunscreen, wipes, diapers the possibilities are endless.
Here are links to one of many tables and a back seat organizer that I found on Amazon just to give you an idea of what is available. I suggest looking to see what works for you as there are different features and price options.
Travel desk: Lusso Gear Kids Travel Tray for Toddler & Kids Car Seat, Lap Tray for Airplane, Kids Travel Desk Essential Accessories, Table Tray for Road Trip Activities (Black) : Amazon.ca: Baby
Back seat organizer: https://a.co/d/00wFi34C
Comfort Items
Pack a bag with a blanket, pillow, and favorite stuffed animal.
Pack Extra!
Even if you are just going to be out for the day having extra clothing (even a pair of PJs), diapers, wipes, snacks. From personal experience, having a couple of plastic bags for garbage or emergencies comes in handy. You never know when you know when you are going to need them.
For more travel ideas check out Genius Road Trip Hacks for Kids – With the Blinks https://withtheblinks.com/