Hitting the open road with your family, in a good old-fashioned road trip style, sounds like the perfect thing to do during any school break. Imagine the carefree journey where nothing stops you from enjoying quality time with your dearest ones. Well, that is a picture-perfect scene, right? At least it is until you hear, “Are we there yet?”, “He took my toy” and “Mom, make her stop” from the back seat. Those are usually the moments when the perfect road trip turns into road rage and, in the end, disappointment. But it does not have to be that way. You can keep the whole family engaged and stress-free. Here is how to do it.
Pack Backpacks
Though school days will be behind you once you start your road trip, you can use the same backpacks to keep your kids interested and amused. Every child should have their own backpack to avoid arguments in the car. Fill the backpack with various travel distractions according to each child’s preferences. Those can be crayons, colouring books, crafty items, teddy bears, or games. For the older kids, pack a travel magazine so they can keep track of the places and activities.
Carry a Lot of Snacks
“Mommy, mommy, I’m hungry!” If you want to avoid hearing this for a few hours, ensure you are well-prepared for snacks. Pack a cooler full of snacks. Bring sandwiches and similar stuff, just in case there are no restaurants along the way, but also pack a healthy dose of healthy snacks for those eating-just-because-they-are-bored kids’ moments. The cooler should also be within the children’s reach.
Gear Up with Gadgets
If you are going for an all-day trip, be aware that kids will quickly be bored with the backpack distractions. Just to be sure, take tablets, smartphones, e-readers, and portable players so you can keep them amused with movies, cartoons, music, and games. Power all the devices up before you get going, and bring an in-car charger, just in case.
Choose the Right Apps
Smart devices are great, but if you do not equip them with the right apps, they might as well be plain old mobile phones. Make sure you choose fun and educational games to stimulate your kids to engage their brains and be active.
Go Retro
Learn About Your Destinations
Before you hit the road, learn something about the destinations you will visit. To keep the kids engaged, go beyond the basic facts about the destinations and find some exciting and fun information you will share with them. For instance, in Melbourne, Australia, it is illegal to drive a goat or a dog attached or harnessed to a vehicle in a public place (well, duh).
Hopefully, these few tips saved you from a disappointing family road trip and turned your adventure into a long-lasting, pleasant memory.
Be the first to comment