Road Trip with Kids
Boredom, limited space and overflowing energy are a source of nuisance for a child when in a restaurant - how much more in the narrow cage of a car on a hour-long ride. You have barely left your home when the notorious "Are-we-there-already" starts, sometimes replaced by the equally infamous "How-long-is-it-still-going-to-take" and "I-have-to-pee" (the latter preferrably on highways with no possibility to stop).
So again, the key here is entertainment. It's more difficult because you have a very limited space in your car and often a very long time to go.
The "surprise bags" described above do a good job also here. In case of a long ride, you can prepare several smaller bags and scatter them in intervals of several hours, thus keeping the excitement going. Be careful with loose plastic boxes and toys, though, they can become missiles heading forward in case of an accident.
Why are kids asking the "How-long?" - question? Well, first of all, because they're bored and annoyed. But it's also hard for children to understand a distance of 500 miles or a period of 10 hours. So when you're planning your trip, just make a simple map for your children, displaying your home, the target and important points in between. Add some pencils or crayons and point out when you're passing the marking points. This way, your kids have an overview of where you are and adding drawings will keep them busy. Later on, you can put the maps in your holiday album for souvenir. Keep in mind to make a map for each child.
If your child doesn't mind sleeping in the car, you can consider travelling during the night. That can buy you some peace during the ride, at the cost that you're tired when you arrive at your destination. If you have a spaciuos car, like a van, you can use some pillows and blankets to turn it into a cozy place.
Entertainment electronics can make your trip a lot easier. A game boy can keep a child occupied for a very long time, and you can even get a small, portable tv / vcr combination for a reasonable price. You can bring your kids' favourite videos and they'll probably be fine for the entire trip. When it comes to music, you should consider that you'll have to listen to it also, so make sure you can stand the constant repetition of child songs. Otherwise, a walkman might do the job.
A major problem with playing in the car is the very limited space. Toys easily fall down and slide under seats, so you have to stop in order to pick it up again. A tray like the ones used in fast-food-restaurants may help there: it supplies a solid, even surface that can be used as a foundation for eating or as a playground. Childrens' imagination is still vivid, so a plain plastic tray can turn easily into a setting for the favourite action hero's next adventure. If you have a family, you should get rid of the idea of having a car to impress and rather trade it for something spacious and comfortable. It might be hard at first, but later on you'll be thankful for the extra space that helps getting through even a long trip without too much disturbance.
Brigette Meier is an occassional author for http://www.e-nterests.com - visit the site for more interesting articles.
Related Articles:
A Study on Kids and Concussions
11 year old David Gill has had a hockey stick in his hand since he was only 5 years old. Being on the ice is his passion. But, three months ago, David got a concussion during a game and was knocked out. " I felt nauseous and I didn't really know what had happened, I was real dizzy, " says David.
New Book Helps Teens and Pre-Teens Feel 'Picture Perfect' in Time for the Skin-Baring Summer Months
June marks the beginning of swimsuit season, and it can be an especially challenging time for millions of teens and pre-teens in the U.S. who suffer from negative body image issues. To address these insecurities and develop a strong sense of self-esteem for years to come, a new book called "Picture Perfect" should be on every girl's summer reading list.
Bed And Bath Products For Kids
Kids really enjoy taking baths because there are fun things to wear and wonderful items that will amuse them for hours if parents would allow them to stay in the water for that amount of time. Many of the bed and bath products for children are centered on themes of their favorite characters that they see everyday on television and bathing with someone you know is always a fun thing to do.
Parents - How to Help Kids Avoid Unworkable, Dangerous Science Fair Projects
Be aware of what science fair projects are not permitted at a kid's science fair.
Real Savvy Moms Promotes Playtime with Kids: Major Toy Recall has Parents Worried
Mothers do everything they can to prevent harm to their little ones on a daily basis. In recent news, a major toy distributor has had to recall more than 18 million toys worldwide due to lead and paint-based magnets found in their products.
Groups Team Up to Bring Kids Brighter Tomorrows
Autism Society of Washington and The Wyatt Holliday Foundation join forces for special needs conference, March 9-10.
Simple Solution Decreases the Adverse Effects of Materialism in Kids
New evidence exposes the adverse effects of materialism in children and adolescents and proves that increased materialism is directly related to a decline in a child's self-esteem.
A powerful yet simple solution to this problem is also revealed.
Shopping with Kids this Holiday Season? Read These Safety Tips from Wander Wear Before You Go
Child Safety Expert Provides Vital Tips for Holiday Season When Shopping and Traveling with Children in Public Places - Survey Reveals that Children Accidentally Wander Most Frequently at Malls and Stores
Choosing A Video Game System: Which One Is Best For Kids?
In the old days, choosing a video game system for children wasn't all that hard. After all, parents didn't have to worry about games carried by systems like Atari (there was nothing threatening about Pac-Man or Space Invaders). Today, however, with the proliferation of games with mature content available on games supported by the major system manufacturers, parents want to know which system carries the most kid-friendly games, ones that the young ones will enjoy and one that parents will not regret spending money on.
Kitchen Appliance Safety For Kids
March break is rapidly approaching and you?ll have your kids home with you again While this may seem like something rowdy and difficult, you can use this week to help your kids understand how to use your kitchen appliances
The Budding Artist At The Kids' Art Desk
One activity that would actually be good for kids is taking up painting to let loose their creativity With an abundance of painting kits, home-sourced colors, and those kids' art desk and easels, painting can be in inspired activity for those long afternoons
Online Business Opportunity: Work At Home And Spend More Time With Your Kids
It?s amazing your kids could grow up so fast. Before you know, there are already off on their own. If you have an 8 to 5 job and spend a lot time on the road community, you may never really to know your kids well while they are growing up. You will much of their childhood and will forever wonder what was your child like when he or she was young? To avoid messing the growing up years of your kids, you might want to consider switching careers and work from home. The good thing about working at home is that you get spend more time with your kids and get to know them well.
Kids' Bunk Beds: How to Keep Your Child Safe
Kids' bunk beds are by far the most common types of bunk beds. Bunk beds were created for more functional, adult-oriented sleeping purposes, and one recognizable example of these bunk beds is the kind used in the military.
Parents Want Guidance Helping Kids Learn Time Management: Tips from Laura Stack, The Productivity Pro and Member of DayTimers Panel of Experts
Tips from The Productivity Pro and Member of the DayTimers Panel of Experts, Laura Stack, on how to help kids learn time management skills that will help them throughout life.
Kids Just Wanna Have Fun!
During the recent "schools out session", I was reminded how much the kids crave entertainment. No matter what time of year the "Kids Just Wanna Have Fun.