Ready for a Road Trip

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As the holidays and school breaks near, are you planning any road trips? This past summer, I made a handful of 2-5 hour drives, always with my children, and only sometimes with my husband’s help. There were lessons to be learned, but now that I know what works best for us, traveling via car is much easier. Here are some of my tips to help get your family ready for a road trip:

Plan Ahead

The day before we travel, I like to fill up my gas tank, stop at the ATM, etc. We used to run these “quick” errands along the way, but then we realized how much time they were really taking. I also like to unpack the car in advance. We’re rarely ready to pack the car before it’s time to go, but it helps to have it empty and cleanish.

Timing is Everything

Timing is actually two decisions that you need to make. First, what time is best for your family? My children often fall asleep in the car, so we now know that mid-day and after 7 p.m. are our best times to travel. Afternoon travel is our worst because late naps inevitably mess with their bedtimes.

The second thing to consider is traffic. Not only are there busy times on the road, but there may also be unexpected delays. We learned the hard way that we should always check the current traffic before we’re on our way… it once took us an hour just to drive from Greenwich to Stamford!

Pack Snacks

The snack requests usually start as soon as we’re on the road. The longer the drive, the more snacks they eat, so I pack a variety and make sure they’re in the car instead of in the trunk (whoops!).

I also pack drinks for all of us, because it doesn’t make sense to stop and buy them along the way. But, there is an exception… if you’re bringing your child(ren) on a road trip, then you deserve to treat yourself to a coffee!

In-Car Entertainment

I know some parents will fill an iPad with games and movies and call it a day, but for some crazy reason we don’t. Instead, we like to keep ourselves busy with:
· Music – Find a few kid-friendly CDs that won’t drive you crazy! Also, my older daughter has my old iPod Shuffle filled with Disney princess music, and headphones.
· Audiobooks – Our local library has a large selection of kid-friendly audiobooks, and there are also some available on OverDrive.
· I Spy Rainbow – Take turns finding something red, orange, yellow, etc.
· ABC Game – Pick a theme (i.e. the zoo), and then name things you might find there starting with each letter of the alphabet.
· More Car Games – Older children might prefer playing Road Trip Bingo or the License Plate Game.

Lastly, don’t forget car seat safety, and Connecticut’s new laws (effective October 1, 2017).

How do you get ready for a road trip? Share your best tips!

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