Keeping Your Kids Busy on a Car Trip

When I was a kid, my parents owned an old, rambling mini van with plenty of room to spread out, take naps, and change up seating now and again. These days kids have to be strapped down at all times -- an unreasonable request for most toddlers and even big kids. And with rising gas prices and steep inflation, families are forced onto the road instead of flying to see relatives and friends. Instead of losing sleep with worry of 3 year olds terrorizing you in a compact car, plan ahead to keep your vacation under control.

DVDs
Load up on a few kid-friendly DVD movies or cartoons. But remember many kids suffer from motion sickness, in which case they won't be able to watch without feeling ill. Try music or books on tape instead to keep them entertained.

Special Books
Reserve coveted books for the car only to give kids something to be excited about. It's also a good idea to keep the theme of the big tied into the area you're visiting. For example, a trip to New York City could compliment a picture book on the city.

Get Involved
Most families complain about not spending enough time together. Use the opportunity in the car to catch up on each other's lives and play together. Play trivia games, the license plate game, 20 questions, word scrambles, and more.

Healthy Snacks
Boredom in the car tends to breed overeating. And usually road trip food means greasy chips, sugar, and junk food. While special treats reserved just for car trips can spice up the experience, you'll end up with over-hyper kids. Eventually those excitable kids will crash and you'll be left with an inconsolable child.

Frequent Stops
It's normal to want to make "good time" on a trip, but kids need to stretch and refresh. Breaks will also cut down on temper tantrums and stress. Choose to stop in areas that have parks or playgrounds and make sure to keep it high energy and active. In a pinch, stop at a fast-food chain to use their playground. Of course, a kid will want a treat at their favorite roadside eatery, so agree in advance on what they can have before getting out of the car.

Leave Late
If you're going to visit family who can watch after your little ones once you've arrived, opt to leave a little later than normal. If your trip is 8 hours long, choose to leave around 4:00pm so your kids will only have a few hours in the car before drifting off to sleep. Then ask your family to watch after them in the morning so you can get a few extra hours of sleep yourself. But be sure not to compromise your safety and use common sense. A tired driver is prone to accidents and in some cases, driving on too little sleep is illegal.

Bribery
One of my beloved uncles liked to play the quiet game with my brothers and I. It always seemed competitive and fun and we ended up with a pocket full of change. If nothing else works, offer money, first choice on dinner restaurants, pick of a car movie, or a snack to whoever can stay the quietest the longest. Even if it only works for five minutes, you've bought yourself a few moments ofa peace and quiet.

Now get some sleep and rest easy that your kid won't terrorize you from the backseat.