Life is Short, Enjoy Your Time Traveling with the Kids

A famous writer once said that there are only two ways to travel in general, one is first-class and the second one is with children. Most everyone agrees that if you have small children, taking long road trips can really be taxing for both the adults and the little tykes. However, there are some things that you can do to make the miles move a little faster, and even make the drive fun. All you need is proper planning, pacing, and a little luck helps too. Here are some basic tips that you can follow to make traveling with the kids a more pleasant experience.

Do you need to rent a vehicle?
Remember that you will be rolling together in such a small space for an extended time. Some cars will do a better job at this than others. If you feel your car is not suited, then think rental. Whether you choose a minivan or luxury sedan, renting a ride also avoids racking up mileage on your own car and accelerating its depreciation. Just remember to bring your own child safety seats. An RV is the ultimate mode of transportation for most any travel, but the cost can be prohibitive unless you are also using the RV for lodging and dining, which can save on hotel stays and restaurants.

You have to keep 'em amused!.
There is no better way to break the monotony of the miles for all passengers than to introduce some in-car entertainment. Music and movies are must-haves, along with books, crayons and drawing pads. Portable electronics are now affordable these days so consider bringing those dvd players, gaming systems and music players. If you do a lot of these road trips, it might be worth it to spend on these DVD screens you see mounted on headrests or interior roof of some vehicle models. It does not have to be all electronics, so don't forget the classic games like car bingo or even etch-a-sketch. Consider versions with magnetic or stay-in-place pieces. It might also be a good idea to bring soft travel trays or any stable surface that the kids can play or have snacks. Bring plenty of healthy snacks, preferable in single serve containers, plus water and fruit juices stored in a nice cooler. Baby wipes are must plus a change of clothes just in case of any spills. And so that your car doesn't become a wastebasket on wheels, remember to bring a litter bag. These bags can also serve as a barf bag in case someone gets car sick.

Be flexible.
A road trip should never turn into endurance training for kids. That means yo need to know when to make stops, let the kids stretch out a bit, get some fresh air and of course, do the usual bathroom breaks. For the bathroom breaks, would be good to bring some toilet-seat toppers for health reasons. Might also be handy to bring a portable potty for those emergencies and a rest room is not available. Also time your travel to avoid rush hours in metropolitan areas and construction delays. Trying to stick to your at-home routine as much as possible may help young children adjust to temporary life on the road. That means nap times should be on the usual times and this should influence when you take a break at hotels to get some sleep. Bringing things that are familiar to the kids, such as a favorite blanket or pillow, helps a lot. If napping inside the car, sun shades are great too. Lullaby music and a soothing portable night light can further set the mood for sleep.

If you follow these basic tips and everyone is stress-free and happy, you will find that you can forget all about first-class and remember why traveling with kids makes any trip worthwhile.

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