Long road trips can be a nightmare for parents. Kids can make your life hell from the back seat, and often you’ll spend most of the journey trying to keep your temper under control.
But there are ways to make road trips easier. Here are a few of the best to help you stay relaxed on your next trip and keep the kids occupied all the way.
Stock Up on Snacks
Hungry and thirsty kids are a nightmare on the road, especially when there is nowhere to stop and buy them anything. So make sure you stock up well in advance and focus especially on food that won’t cause a mess.
Give Them a Tablet or Phone
Tablets and phones have changed family travel forever. These days, you can simply hand over your tablet or phone, and they can get lost in a world of movies, games, and apps. This is the single best thing you can do if you want to travel in peace in the future, so either get them their own tablets or let them use yours.
Find Some Great Apps
If they are using a phone or tablet, you’ll want to make sure they have plenty of apps to keep them busy. The best apps will depend on their age.
You have apps for younger children like the CBeebies app from the BBC, which tells stories with interactive elements. Older children might prefer to download some movies on Netflix for the journey.
Other apps are suitable for all ages, like the Coloring Book for Me & Mandala app, a coloring app with beautiful designs to color in, without the mess.
Buy a New Magazine
Kids’ magazines are great. They often come with lots of activities to do, and they sometimes come with toys as well. The day before your trip, pick up a magazine for each of your kids, then either surprise them at the start of the journey or bring it out later on when things are getting difficult.
Listen to a Story
Depending on how old your kids are, you might want to invest in an audiobook and listen to it together. A good story can take up a few hours and keep everyone entertained, including the adults. You could do this instead of tablets or in addition to them. Sometimes doing something more communal can be a good way to pass the time.
Think of Some Car Games
There are plenty of games for journeys that you can do together. Games like ‘I Spy’ are a good way to take up 10 or 20 minutes, The kids will soon get bored of them, but if you have a good selection of car games then you can bring them out when you need to.
Pack Their Favorite Toys
Your child might suddenly remember their favorite toy when you are halfway to your destination, so make sure you have packed it. They will rarely remember everything in the excitement of going on a trip, so pack anything they might miss.
Make Car Journeys Easier
Long car journeys are one of the most testing experiences for parents, but you can make it easier. Pack a tablet, phone, toys, snacks, and anything else you might need, and keep the kids entertained all journey long so everyone can enjoy a peaceful ride.
