It’s no secret that I LOVE taking road trips. Driving is a beautiful way to experience our country. There are small towns with great farm stands, big cities with bright lights, and fun Welcome Centers to break up your trip.
Years ago, it was a lot easier to take a quick road trip. I’d just pack a suitcase and go. Now that I’m a parent, there is a lot more planning involved. Want to learn how to survive road trips with kids? It’s your lucky day – I’m giving you my secrets!
How to Survive Road Trips with Kids
Safety First
Before you start loading the car, take a few moment to make sure that you child’s safety seat is properly installed. Many police departments have certified car seat technicians who can inspect your seat at no charge! Check to ensure your tires are inflated properly, make sure you have a flash light, an extra battery for your cell phone, and that your roadside assistance is up to date.
Full Bellies
A road trip with a kid or two means you need to pack drinks (make sure there are choices or you’re bound to hear “But, Mom! I don’t like that anymore!” from the back seat!) and snacks (do not forget snacks!!). I like to pack a cooler with juice boxes, bottled water, apples, and some trail mix.
Stop Often
When taking road trips with kids, it’s important to remember that kids get bored and restless easily. Stop every four hours to let them stretch their legs and take bathroom breaks. Pack a jump rope or ball to help burn off some energy at the rest stop. Each 10 minute stop adds about 20 minutes to your travel time, which is something to keep in mind if you’re on a tight schedule. If you’re lucky enough to have kids that fall asleep in the car – DO NOT STOP WHILE THEY ARE SLEEPING. That’s a sure fire way to wake them up! Use the time they’re sleeping to log some miles!
Stay Entertained
We’re all set in the entertainment department for our upcoming road trip thanks to this awesome new Cars Daredevil Garage app available exclusively through iTunes. The app is available for use on the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch; but keep in mind that it’s optimized for iPhone 5, iPhone 6, and iPhone 6 Plus.
What makes the Cars Daredevil Garage app so cool? It features all your kiddo’s favorite characters from Disney Pixar Cars and gives them an opportunity to race through nine different tracks while boosting speed and stunts on the cars! You can also build your own garage by scanning Toys “R” Us exclusive die-cast metal cars, like Hudson Hornet, Antonio Veloce Eccellente, and Green Ramone.
There are so many options with this app, your kiddos will be entertained your entire road trip! Once you scan your vehicles and save them to the garage, you’re able to select which car you want to play with. I like Bug Mouth Lightning McQueen. The buttons to steer and maneuver your car are easy, making this app perfect for younger children.
Here, Lightning is cruising along near the beach! Lucky guy!
When he makes it to the end, he stops near an overturned sand pail. The graphics and colors throughout the app are awesome.
One thing I need to remember with this app, is that I downloaded it for The Boy – not for me! I’m sure I’ll be getting my fair share of reminders that he wants a turn to play, too!
My son & I are loving this app! #client