Tips on Planning a Kid-Friendly Road Trip

It's not vacationing with children that most parents dread, it's the getting from point A to point B with their sanity intact. Since it's summer once again, I thought it would be helpful to put some travel tips out there for parents who plan to travel with their small children by car.

It's All in the Timing

Choosing the right time to drive can be one of the most important decisions to make before leaving on any road trip. This becomes even more crucial when children are involved.

For parents who don't mind driving during the night, that is often a preferable time because the kids will likely sleep until morning. This means less pit stops for food and bathroom breaks, which means getting to your destination that much faster (and with fewer headaches, too).

If you prefer to drive during the day, make sure to check the weather forecasts for areas on your driving route to see what the temperature will be. Children tend to become even more irritable on long trips when it is hot and the sun is going to be in their face all day.

Planning Your Driving Route

No matter where you are traveling to, the odds are pretty good that there will be at least two ways of getting there. Keep this in mind when traveling with small children. If you are driving during the day, you can count on having to make increased potty stops, probably with very little advance warning. Make sure to plan your route accordingly. Using highways and bi-ways that run through many towns and cities will enable you to make stops more easily, decreasing the chances of accidents.

Entertain Your Kids

The best way to keep your kids from irritating you during a road trip is to keep them occupied as much as possible. Bring along your child's favorite books, paper and pencil, portable games, and any other activities that are portable and your child enjoys.

Take Your Time

One of the worst mistakes that people make when traveling with kids is to rush it. Allowing yourselves extra time to get to wherever you're going will make everyone happier. Stop every so often and let everyone out of the vehicle so they can stretch their legs and get some fresh air.

Keep Your Cool

It really never works to tell your kids that if they don't stop ____, that you will pull over and ____. The first time you don't follow through on that threat, they will never believe you again. Your best bet is to keep your cool and pick your battles. Remember, your kids are not any more thrilled with the idea of sitting in a stuffy car all day than you are, so try to remain sympathetic. Also, since kids have a way of being in tune with the emotions of their parents, if you are edgy, they probably will be too.

Armed with these tips, and with a little bit of luck, your next road trip with the kids should be much more tolerable. Have a safe one!