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Transcript:

Make Road Trips with Children Fun

Hi, I am Kathy Moore for About.com Parenting. Whether you are planning a trip to visit grandma or a week long vacation, a road trip with kids should not raise your blood pressure. Here are a few tips to make every car trip a joy ride.

Pre-Road Trip Planning

Before you go, talk with your kids about the trip so everyone will know what to expect. Emphasize the excitement of seeing grandma, staying at a hotel or whatever will make the kids eager to go.

Road Trip Routing

Review your travel route to ensure you have someplace kid friendly to stop for lunch, such as a small town or a park. For our kids, a picnic lunch on the road is always a fun part of the traveling adventure.

Road Trip Food

Have easy-to-handle snacks prepared for everyone to enjoy in the car. I usually bring along plastic bowls to help keep snack spillage to a minimum. As much as possible, we try to keep our regular schedule for naps and snack times even when we are traveling.

Road Trip Entertainment

Have a bag of toys within reach. Toy cars, little people and doll accessories are some of my kids' favorites. They are toys that allow them to sustain their imaginative playtime even though they are sitting still.

Road Trip Comfort

Be mindful of the car's climate. Dress children in light layers of clothing that can be removed or added easily. I like to bring a small blanket for each child that can be used as a cover or a headrest.

Passing Time on the Road

To pass the time, our kids love CDs of fun songs they can sing along with and I usually bring a variety of music including some lullabies to help to them wind down for naps.

As we drive we like to tell stories. Try retelling classics like Goldilocks and the Three Bears, or The Three Little Pigs. We find it helps to add the names of the people we are going to see into the stories. That helps get our kids thinking about the visit. Then, on the way home, you can tell new stories about what they just experienced. It will help keep their memories alive for a long time.

Breaking up your Road Trips

Remember to allow enough time in your schedule to take a break every few hours. We make our potty stops at rest areas or parks with playground equipment so the kids run around for 10 minutes or so. Breaking up the trip with a little exercise is well worth the time, for the kids and for you too.

Kids are always ready for an adventure. With a little planning, you can make the trip a joyride for the whole family.

Thanks for watching. To find out more visit us on the web at Parenting.About.com.