How to Travel Long Distances in a Car With Young Children
Travel by car is often less expensive than other travel methods, especially if you have a few young children in the mix. Car travel might also be easier on your stress level by not having to worry about how your toddler will behave on a plane. And having a car will make getting around at your destination easier. Hitting the highway with your young children is not a walk in the park, though. No one likes to be confined to a small space for hours at a time, and soon the excitement of reaching your destination might turn to tears, fights and a whining toddler. There are some things you can do to make the trip run as smoothly as possible for everyone involved.
Things You'll Need
- Snacks
- Toys
- Portable DVD player
- CDs
- Books on Tape
- Books
- Surprise bags
- Trash bags
- Pillow or stuffed animal
- Blankets
Instructions
Pack as many snacks, drinks and bottles of water as you can to prevent having to stop at overpriced convenience stores when your child becomes hungry or thirsty. Pick snacks that you know your child loves and keep them up front with you in a cooler or bag. Include your child̵7;s favorite toys in the car, including any stuffed animal or blanket your child might need to fall asleep. Keep the toys in a space where you or your toddler can easily reach to prevent meltdowns when he becomes bored with the item he has in his hands. Bring along a portable DVD player and your child̵7;s favorite movies to keep her entertained for a few hours at a time. Bring books on tape of stories your children already know and love, and some new ones to keep them interested. Sing along to their favorite CDs, letting them take turns choosing the music. Make surprise bags with a special treat, new small toy and book. Hand these treat bags out at certain mile marks -- 50 or 100 miles; the new toy or treat might entertain your toddler for a while longer. Bring plenty of books. If your children are too young to read, they can still look through picture books on their own. Ask them to describe to you what they see on the page. Take frequent breaks if time will allow your child to get out of the car and stretch his legs. Consider local parks if the weather is good, or fast food play areas. These breaks are also a great time to make a restroom trip, change diapers or check the map for the next destination. Use the stop to collect and throw out any trash and reorganize things in the car. Break up the trip if time and budget allows the extra expense of an overnight hotel stay. Consider making each day between 6 and 8 hours long. Another benefit of a hotel stay is that you can take a dip in the pool at the hotel or explore a new city with your family. Start out your trip early in the morning when your child is likely to sleep through several hours of the trip, or start in the afternoon and drive into the night. Bring a blanket from your child's bed and a pillow or stuffed animal to lean their head on. Dress them in loose, comfortable clothes that could double as pajamas, like sweat pants. Cut them some slack. Remember that it's no fun for young kids to sit for hours on end. Allow them some guilty pleasures like French fries or candy. A cheap toy from a truck stop or a fast-food kids' meal toy can keep them occupied for a surprising amount of time.
