Travelling with children, especially preschoolers can make for a very noisy trip. Sometimes you don't get very far down the road at all before you have the almost irresistable urge to turn back and forget about the trip all together.
You don't need to be afraid any longer weary traveling parents. There is hope. A little bit of planning is all it takes to make your next road trip a more enjoyable one.
It can be as simple as providing some entertainment. A bored child is a cranky, difficult child. Ask each child to choose three to five toys to bring with them. If you make the children a part of the planning process then they are more likely to choose something that they will enjoy.
Parents should also choose something for the kids and bring it out as a surprise when the time is right. The element of surprise will always help to break the monotony of a long road trip. Coloring books and crayons, books, pocket games, window markers and play clay will help keep your child occupied.
Toys and games from home will only entertain for a few hours so have a few interesting and fun road games up your sleeve for this eventuality. Road games such as counting the number of blue cars or finding out of state travelers by their license plates. Older kids will have fun counting how many license plates have the letter "C" or the number 4. Parents and kids can take turns telling a story, round robin style. One person starts, telling the beginning of the story and then passes it on to someone else. As the story gets passed around each person will add to it.
Why is it, when you're miles from anywhere, that a child will always complain that they are hungry? Hungry kids are cranky grumbly kids. Never leave home without a cooler full of fun, easily consumed snacks. Healthy snacks are the best kinds as they are refreshing. Cut sticks of vegetables such as carrots and celery and make sandwiches out of fun shapes. Soft drinks and other sugary beverages should be avoided as these will just make the children hyper and restless. Sitting in a car gives them no way to burn all that excess energy off. If you supply fruit juice make sure you don't do it in a juice box or pouch. Children can't help themselves with these things and will always experiment with a good squeeze just to see what happens. If everyone is covered in sticky juice the trip can become a sour journey indeed.
If you think of a road trip as having the whole family together it can be a great chance to learn more about each other. Plan ahead with healthful snacks and fun activities and make the trip memorable for all of you.
You don't need to be afraid any longer weary traveling parents. There is hope. A little bit of planning is all it takes to make your next road trip a more enjoyable one.
It can be as simple as providing some entertainment. A bored child is a cranky, difficult child. Ask each child to choose three to five toys to bring with them. If you make the children a part of the planning process then they are more likely to choose something that they will enjoy.
Parents should also choose something for the kids and bring it out as a surprise when the time is right. The element of surprise will always help to break the monotony of a long road trip. Coloring books and crayons, books, pocket games, window markers and play clay will help keep your child occupied.
Toys and games from home will only entertain for a few hours so have a few interesting and fun road games up your sleeve for this eventuality. Road games such as counting the number of blue cars or finding out of state travelers by their license plates. Older kids will have fun counting how many license plates have the letter "C" or the number 4. Parents and kids can take turns telling a story, round robin style. One person starts, telling the beginning of the story and then passes it on to someone else. As the story gets passed around each person will add to it.
Why is it, when you're miles from anywhere, that a child will always complain that they are hungry? Hungry kids are cranky grumbly kids. Never leave home without a cooler full of fun, easily consumed snacks. Healthy snacks are the best kinds as they are refreshing. Cut sticks of vegetables such as carrots and celery and make sandwiches out of fun shapes. Soft drinks and other sugary beverages should be avoided as these will just make the children hyper and restless. Sitting in a car gives them no way to burn all that excess energy off. If you supply fruit juice make sure you don't do it in a juice box or pouch. Children can't help themselves with these things and will always experiment with a good squeeze just to see what happens. If everyone is covered in sticky juice the trip can become a sour journey indeed.
If you think of a road trip as having the whole family together it can be a great chance to learn more about each other. Plan ahead with healthful snacks and fun activities and make the trip memorable for all of you.
About the Author:
This article has been written by the author, Alex Blaken. Should you require any more Pre-Schoolers please visit his Child Picked Activities resources!
