Did those words strike fear into your heart? ‘Road trip’ are good words, exciting even. However, add ‘with kids’ and you might well be running for the hills. Getting your excuses ready as to why that just isn’t a sensible thing to do with your kids right now. But it doesn’t have to be that way. No honestly, with a little planning it can actually be an enjoyable adventure.
We all know kids can be super distracting, annoying even, in the car. Research has shown that having children in the car has been found to be 12 times more distracting than talking on a mobile phone. Which I can totally appreciate as I am FOREVER asking Ava to be quiet just for a sweet minute while mummy tries to concentrate (often it seems to fall on deaf ears but that’s another story!).
So whether your kids have an innate inability to be quiet ( *cough* Ava) or spend their time squabbling in the back seat, being prepared for those car journeys WILL make ALL the difference.
How to prepare for a road trip with kids and make it EPIC (instead of exhausting!).
- Make sure you plan your route and if time allows build in some kid friendly stops in addition to the multiple bathroom breaks. Chance to get out of the car and do something fun will keep them (and you!) from going stir crazy.
- Be prepared! No-one wants to break down, but having the right breakdown cover (especially if you are road tripping abroad) will prevent a unfortunate break down from becoming a nightmare. Most car insurance comes with breakdown cover, so it’s worth checking your policy.
- Pick up some cheap car-friendly kid’s games. Your local Pound shop will be a great source of these sanity-saving beauties.
- Pack an emergency car box. This will save your soul should you breakdown. In it put extra games to keep the kids entertained but also a blanket or two, drinks and snacks.
- Kit your car out with a back seat organiser for each kid. This can be loaded with ALL the stuff to keep them busy and stop them asking for you to pass them things.
- Pack healthy snacks to stop them reaching for the crisps at 10am!
- A sleeping child is a quiet child…. so pick them up a travel pillow to help them drift off to the land of nod.
- A DVD player is a great bonus, and there are some cheap ones around.
- If you’re more of a Pinterest mum than I am you could put together road trip goodie bags. A paper bag with a new game or treat inside and on the outside one of the place names you’re passing through. This will keep them occupied and excited too.
- Wet wipes….. Just make sure you have these… and plenty of them!
There you have my top tips for surviving enjoying your next family road trip. I’d love to hear your tips?
Disclosure: In collaboration with Aviva