When you are on a long road trip with preschoolers, things can get a little noisy. A lot of parents, myself included, often wish that we had just stayed home.
But, weary traveling parent, relax. There is hope. Planning is key when introducing your preschoolers to the joys of the road trip.
It can be as simple as providing some entertainment. A bored child is a cranky, difficult child. Ask each child to choose three to five toys to bring with them. If you make the children a part of the planning process then they are more likely to choose something that they will enjoy.
Don’t just let the kids choose everything, pack in a few surprises that you know the kids will love to mix things up a bit. Bringing out something that they’re not expecting will break the monotony of travel. You can get window markers that allow the children to scribble all over your car windows which they will love. Of course you will also need coloring books and crayons as well as a few pocket games to help pass the time.
Eventually the toys and games will lose their ability to entertain. This is when you turn to fun and interesting road games. Road games such as counting the number of blue cars or finding out of state travelers by their license plates. Older kids will have fun counting how many license plates have the letter C or the number 4. Parents and kids can take turns telling a story, round robin style. One person starts, telling the beginning of the story and then passes it on to someone else. The next person continues the story, and then passes to the next.
You always know that when you’re in the middle of nowhere a child will complain that they are hungry. Everyone knows that kids who are hungry are the ones most difficult to deal with. Always be prepared with a cooler full of fun easy to eat snacks. Keep it healthy with fruit, peanut butter, sticks of vegetables such as carrots and celery. Cut some sandwiches into fun shapes. Avoid soft drinks and other sugary drinks as this will make your kids hyper and restless from an overload of sugar and no way to burn it off. Juice boxes or pouches are not good choices in the car. Children can’t help themselves with these things and will always experiment with a good squeeze just to see what happens. If everyone is covered in sticky juice the trip can become a sour journey indeed.
If you think of a road trip as having the whole family together it can be a great chance to learn more about each other. Plan ahead with healthful snacks and fun activities and make the trip memorable for all of you.
If you’d like more information on traveling with kids and camping in general check out the author’s website at pop up travel cot.
If you’re traveling in Colorado and prefer to stay indoors then visit Grand Junction Hotels for a great alternative to outdoor camping.
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