tips for surviving the summer family road trip
By Lynn Perkins, Founder of UrbanSitter and parenting blogger
It’s all about the destination, but getting there can be half the fun. You can limit the close-quarters, chaos and meltdowns often associated with long hours in the car with your brood by doing a little preparation and some creative thinking.
Following these tips will go a long way in creating a memorable, happy time with your family on the road:
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Must-have apps. Even most preschoolers know their way around a smart phone. Preload your phone with apps you know meet your personal criteria – age appropriateness, educational, just pure fun. Apps for Kids does a great job of navigating the endless sea of apps for finds that appeal to both parent and child. What if you have one phone and three children? Work on taking turns and time-telling skills by having the other kids watch the clock to see when it’s their turn or find a game that allows for multiple players.
Related: 5 Travel Apps When Trouble Hits
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Road trip games. Go old school with the standbys from your own childhood. Have kids scout and keep track of animals or certain color cars; count state license plates; fill in Mad Libs or play “I Spy” or “Twenty Questions.” Cater to the age of your children by tweaking the games. For example, have older kids log their findings, categorize, and compete against each other.
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Gadgets and electronics. Don’t leave home without them. Whether you have DVD players in your car, a laptop, an iPad or portable players, videos will buy you hours of peace. DVD kiosks make it easy to load up on something for everyone and swap for new ones along your route. Portable game players (Nintendo DS, Leapster, smart phones) are also good bets. Don’t forget the headphones!
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Survival Totes. Pack a small backpack for each child. Include paper, printouts, markers, mini dry-erase boards and pens, playing and flash cards and small toys (that don’t have tiny pieces to lose between the seats). Don’t forget hand wipes, Kleenex and, of course, a first aid kit in your own arsenal.
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Take a trip to the library before you hit the road. Avoid summer brain drain by joining a school or local library summer reading program. Most programs offer recommended reading lists. Include board books tots can thumb through and listen to parents read, as well as books-on-tape for longer stories the whole family can enjoy. No time for the library? Download books to your iPad or e-reader.
Related: 4 Entertaining Gadgets to Keep Your Kids Entertained in the Car
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No mess snacks. Pack individual servings of age-appropriate finger foods such as pretzels, crackers, cereal, popcorn and nuts (for older kids). To avoid the fast-food meal traps, bring a small cooler with sandwiches, fruit, pre-cut veggies, yogurt or cheese sticks. Giving each child his or her own water bottle to replenish at rest stops makes more sense than hauling a slew of juice boxes and cans.
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Journal or scrapbook the trip. Bring a notebook to create a family keepsake of the vacation. Have kids add drawings of places they’ve seen or fun facts they’ve learned along the way, and paste ticket stubs and other mementos. Put your kids on assignment with a digital or Polaroid camera. You can print photos at your destination using an inexpensive pocket printer and paste the prints in the book on the return trip
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A sitter to take over when you arrive! Regardless of how much you’ve prepared and how much you love spending time with your children, you’re bound to need a break. Book a sitter in your destination city for a bit of well-deserved grown-up time. Services like UrbanSitter allow you to view trusted sitters, read parent reviews, check availability, and even book online. Available in a dozen U.S. cities, the service provides childcare that is much more personalized and often less expensive than babysitters booked through hotels.
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