Parents Survival Guide to Road Trips

Summer can be exhausting for many parents, especially those with young children. The thought of keeping the kids entertained day in and day out through the long summer months can be stressful. Perhaps it is for that reason that parents try to fill the summer with day trips and family vacations. These trips create lasting memories while keeping the kids entertained and out of your hair. The one dreaded part of any family destination is the road trip. If taking a fifteen minute ride to the mall is excruciating with nonstop bickering and whining, then how on earth could anyone be expected to endure hours of driving with impatient kids.

There is good news however, unlike our parents; we have technology on our side. There are many options available depending on your budget. Portable DVD players can be a very worthwhile investment while on the road. The portable DVD player ranges in price depending on manufacturer and store. Online shopping is suggested for maximum discounts. Bizrate for example, has the Sony DVPFX810 Portable DVD Player for the starting price of $152.00. Wal-Mart has the Coby 7" TF-DVD7005 Portable DVD Player for under $90.00. So shopping around is definitely worth it. Many new cars have the option of installing a DVD player right in the car, but for those of you who do not have such options, a portable DVD is a great way of keeping the kids entertained in the back seat. They can choose their favorite movies before hitting the road, or for a few dollars, they could rent movies that they haven't seen yet.

Depending on the age, handheld video games could prove useful. Many kids already have these; but purchasing a new game for them may be helpful in keeping them busy. Wal-Mart has Game Boy Advanced starting at 109.00 and games for under $32.00. Younger children may enjoy single game handhelds like the Disney Princess Pals Handheld Video Game ($37.49 on Amazon.com). Amazon is always a good choice for bargains. Whatever you choose in handheld systems, they are guaranteed to provide some quiet time.

MP3 players and Ipods are a great travel companion for teens. The basic 2GB MP3 player runs about $50.00 (pricegrabber.com).The ipods are more expensive; the 30GB ipods generally cost around $160.00. If your teen already owns an ipod or MP3 player, then maybe allow them a few extra downloads for the trip.

A slightly more expensive option for teen travel involves the cell phone. Many teens have cell phones but are usually not allowed the extra features such as internet use or text messaging. If you don't mind splurging, one strategy is to allow them to access the internet while on the road or allow them to text message their friends.

Finally, this last strategy has found favor with many parents. As many parents know, kids have become technology savvy and do so at a young age. Digital and video cameras are easy for them, sometimes easier for them to use then their parents. Kids also enjoy responsibility (that tends to wear of as they get older!). Allowing the kids to be the video director or photographer of the road trip gives them the opportunity to be creative and stay occupied. It also makes for some really funny home videos.

Many of these strategies are affordable and well worth the cost. The gizmos and gadgets allow both the kids and the parents an enjoyable road trip and will start the family vacation off right.