Traveling With Kids

Interact with the family. Being confined in the car can spark interesting and fruitful conversations. We would make sure that we were talking to our kids, either when we stopped at a rest area for a picnic lunch or at various times during the trip. That kept us abreast of any discontent and helped the kids realize we noticed their behavior.

Have a snack plan. Figure out portable snacks, like granola bars and fruit leather, ahead of time. Give each child a refillable water bottle for the trip, too. Being able to toss back sustenance during a traffic jam that has delayed you can be a life-saver. Baby wipes are great for cleaning up sticky fingers, faces and messes in the car.

Give a child ownership. Have each child pack her own backpack of parent-approved car toys, books and travel-sized games. For younger kids, a parent should check out the backpack prior to leaving, but older kids can take full responsibility of their own entertainment.

Go on a car hunt. To engage children in their surroundings, talk about the scenery and all the different things that can be seen. On road trips, point out unusual things, signs, fellow travelers, etc. Apps like Roadside America provide easy ways to find out interesting facts about the areas you’re driving through.

Schedule breaks. Remember that children, especially younger ones, need frequent stops. Plan your trip accordingly by stopping every two to three hours to get gas, take a bathroom break or eat lunch. Being able to stretch your legs will often keep everyone from getting too confined.

Plan for discipline. Riding in a car or on a plane for extended periods of time can trigger conflict. Expecting issues to crop up—and knowing ahead of time how you’ll handle them—can help you to avoid big blow-ups. Tickets work well for traveling. Lay out the expectations in clear, precise language. Give each kid three to four tickets (depending on the length of the trip and the ages of your kids). Then tell them that you’ll take a ticket for each misbehavior—if everyone’s in an uproar (sibling fighting), then everyone loses a ticket. When you arrive at your destination, each child must have one ticket remaining in order to jump in the pool or whatever the first thing you’ll do is.

Having a plan, giving kids responsibility for their own entertainment, and planning for fun along the way will ensure your family road trip will generate good memories and draw your family closer together.

To connect with Sarah and read more about raising kids, visit www.sarahhamaker.com.