Road trip with kids: Dos and don’ts
My husband and I just got home from a nearly 4,000-mile road trip with our boys ages 9 and younger. And yes … we survived! We not only survived, we had a ton of fun. So, here’s some helpful hints to make your next road trip with kids a good one.
Don’t leave unprepared
There’s boatloads of road trip activities, games and printables that will keep your kids entertained. You don’t have to over-complicate things either. Here’s a list of the main activities that my kids loved the most:
By the way, the majority of these items can be purchased at the dollar store.
Do take your time driving
If you’re driving more than three-hour stretches as a time, your kids are going to get grumpy. I get grumpy when I’m sitting in the car for that long. So, if possible, take lots of potty, food and sightseeing breaks. Consider the drive part of the vacation and enjoy it.
We drove to South Padre Island in Texas but we stopped at several tourist spots along the way including Arches, Billy the kid Museum, the Alamo and the USS Lexington.
Don’t sit in the front seat
This sounds crazy. But I found that most of my frustration during long road trips comes from constantly turning around trying to help each child every five minutes. Consider it extra bonding time. If you’re sitting right next to your kids, everything you need is at arms reach.
They also play with all of the fun road trip packets you put together for a lot longer when you’re helping them.
Don’t stress over screen time
Let’s be honest, sticker books and activity pages only entertain your kids for so long. After that, all my boys want to do is watch a movie. So, I let them watch for hours on end if it keeps them entertained and the rest of us sane. And it’s not like they watch for hours when we’re at home.
Do utilize your old smartphones
Did you know you can download up to 100 Netflix titles on a single device to watch offline later? So if you have a Netflix account, download the app on your old Smartphones or tablet and enjoy the show.
If you’re an eligible Amazon Prime member, you can download selected movies and TV included with Prime to compatible mobile devices. Click here for more details.
Don’t forget the snacks
If one thing is for certain, your kids will start asking for a snack as soon as you leave your house. Here’s some ideas to get you started:
- 30 Healthy Snacks for a Road Trip
- On-the-Go Snacks for Road Trips
- 25 Easy-to-pack Travel Snacks
- DIY Travel Bag Surprises
So, there you have it. I hope these simple ideas to make your next road trip with kids a success.
Related link: Road trip hacks using household supplies
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