You gotta have goals! 1)Road Goals! Any road trip with kids needs road goals. A road goal is something I use to try and give the kids mind and energy something to focus on. Remember your child's attention span varies by their age. Our three year old might be able to focus on his own for five minutes, and the four year old may last seven minutes on his own. Five hours or even two hours means nothing to them! Even the lure of ice cream or pizza in five hours is likely to drive them CRAZY.
Some of my favorites: "Who can spot the next red car?" "Was that a cow?" "What animals do you see?" We also use- "Do you want to stop at a park, a library, or for a snack?" This discussion often takes a while. Sadly, "Do I smell cow poop?" is also popular with my boys. Sorry, it had to be said. ; )
This breaks the trip into smaller chunks for little minds and bodies. Remember what you have done a thousand times is likely new to them. We also mix in some of their favorite cd's and books. We celebrate crossing state lines, bridges, and time zones as well.
2)Snacks. In the previous packing post, I mentioned the necessity of snacks. I should elaborate a little more. They should be snacks you feel okay with as a parent, the child likes, they don't drive you crazy or trash the vehicle beyond recovery. You can also use choosing new snacks as something to break up the trip at a gas/potty stop. I try also to avoid snacks that are too heavy as they will ruin any stops where you plan to eat actual meals. It will also help your kids to take some ownership of the trip!
3) Stopping for extended breaks is okay. It is still legal to leave the interstate and even the toll road. They tempt you to think you can meet all your needs while staying on the "limited access road"-- but you don't have to. The myriad of "balls of twine" and local fun often still exist dotting highways across the country. They may not have their former crowds or bright lights, but for less experienced (younger) travelers these smaller often more affordable stops might be just right. In a pinch you can even play a game of soccer or picnic under the trees at a rest stop. Just beware that you don't stray into the "pet potty" area of a rest area. We have also used google search for local elementary schools to find a playground. That is often easier than searching for a municipal park.These are not always listed and not all of them have play equipment.
Road Problem:The biggest road problem that we have encountered on all of our longer road trips is that kids car seats are not as well padded as the standard seats for adults. This can make for sore bottoms or hurting legs for little people. When our second was an infant, and particularly squirmy at that, he actually got a little sore on his back! Yikes. That put a dent in our more ambitious plans for a while.
I am sure part of it is due to the stiffness and restraint distance required to make sure the munchkins are held in the seat, but COME ON! Does anyone have a tip related to this ...or expertise to answer the question of why the seats are like this?
Do you have any tips of your own to share or solutions to our road problem?
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