Road trips are a great way to spend time together as a family. Everyone forms memories to last a lifetime, but when you’re traveling with kids, it can be a chore to keep them busy. Unlike older kids and adults, children have no qualms about loudly voicing their boredom. This means it’s up to you to find ways to keep your kids entertained during a road trip.
Know When To Make a Pit Stop
Children are little balls of energy who need to run around, so you need to plan your trip accordingly. As the driver, you’ll want to get to your destination as fast as possible, if only to relax from the trip, but your kids won’t see it that way. They may want to pull over and spend some time burning off a bit of energy.
While you may want to make good time getting to your hotel, intermittent rest stops can give you time to relax and allow you to tire your kids out. Letting them run around for an hour or two now can mean they go to sleep for a few hours while you’re on the road.
Bring a Stash of Toys and Activities
If you’re determined not to stop, you have to bring along some activities to keep them busy and take their focus off the fact that they’re stuck in a car. Bring books for them to read, coloring pads, or a selection of toys they can play with when you have a long stretch before your next stop. Make sure to give them some options in case they lose interest in one.
Have a Variety of Apps Downloaded
Physical toys and books can take up space that you may or may not have, but a smartphone or tablet may be the solution. These devices have a wide selection of apps can keep your kids’ attention for hours. They can play little games, watch movies, or put on a TV show. Many parents prefer to use this as a last resort because they don’t want their children in front of a screen all day. Unfortunately, there’s times when you need to bust out the big guns to keep them happy.
Be Prepared for More Than Entertainment
Knowing how to keep your kids entertained during a road trip is one thing, but you also need to know to prepare your vehicle if you break down. Be ready for engine trouble or tire problems; while you may not be able to solve the problem, you may be able to fix it long enough to reach a mechanic. Hope for the best and prepare for the worst; hopefully, the worst you experience is your kids complaining about boredom.