Are you the type of family that likes to take car trips instead of flying?
It seems just a little bit easier on us to drive plus it’s family time. We took the 12-hour car ride from Columbus to Boston, where my mom lived at the time. Our kids are used to the 6-hour ride because my hometown is 6 hours away. It was my job to try and figure out what would keep their attention so they don’t get antsy and drive mom and dad crazy. It was hard. But I wanted to share my experience with you.. to not only keep you sane but to help make your ride just a little bit smoother.
Break the trip up
Plan your travel so there are lots of stops along the way for children to run around and explore. You may not get there as quickly, but you can make it part of the vacation. We went 6 hours and stopped overnight in my home town and it worked perfectly.
Pick the perfect time to leave
Sometimes leaving early in the morning is great for you but not for the kids. I found that if we have a lot to go at one time, overnight or right after lunch (so they sleep) work great for us. However, if you break the trip up, the time you leave may not matter.
Plan potty breaks
Potty breaks aren’t just to go to the bathroom.. sometimes taking the time to just get out of the car to stretch your legs helps the kids calm down and get ready for more time in the car.
Take plenty of toys or tablets
I always make sure my boys fill a bag with their favorite toys so they won’t get bored. We also own 2 tablets. It keeps them busy but there is always a time limit to those. We also have a movie or 2 loaded on the tablets so they don’t have to play games, they can be watching their favorite movies.
One last thing: Make sure you have your car serviced before leaving. This could keep you from having to make an unscheduled stop because of car issues. Have any other ideas on what can help your children keep busy while you travel? Fess up, other moms need help too!
