Preparing for a road trip with kids can be overwhelming. But if you take it one step at a time hopefully you’ll manage to have a fun and safe trip. The first step is making sure that your car is ready to go by performing some routine maintenance checks on it. Next, you’ll want to map out your route in advance. Stock your car for the essentials as well as toys and snacks. And finally, try to prevent distractions as much as possible. Hopefully, you’ll be able to reach your destination safely without too many meltdowns.
Preparing for a Road Trip with Kids: Stay Safe and Sane
Car Maintenance
The first step to preparing for a road trip with kids or a road trip of any kind is to make sure your vehicle is in great shape. You’ll want to take it into a repair shop and have them check the major systems. Also, make sure that your tires are in good condition and have plenty of tread. Your brakes and battery should be looked at as well. All in all, you want to make sure that your vehicle is in tip-top shape. Breaking down on the side of the road with kids in tow after a long day of being stuck in the car is certainly not ideal.
Map Out Your Route
Mapping out your route ahead of time can be very helpful in preparing for a road trip with kids. You’ll want to know your actual route to take to get to your destination so that you aren’t fumbling with your phone map while driving. In addition, you’ll also want to plan out stops to take frequent breaks. If you’re traveling with younger children, plan to stop at rest stops along the way so they can get out of the car and stretch their legs. Restaurants like McDonald’s and Chick-fil-a often have play places for kids to run around it. You could even try to find kid-friendly parks along your route.
Stock Your Car
Preparing for a road trip with kids means one thing: snacks. Stock your car full of easy-to-grab snacks for the children to keep them distracted. You’ll also want to remember to pack drinks and toys to entertain them. Bring a cooler if you’ll be traveling in hot areas so that snacks don’t spoil if you make any stops. One other thing to always remember when driving any distance is to make sure your car has the essentials at all times. You should always have a small first aid kit, spare tire, tire changing kit, and jumper cables.
Don’t Allow Distractions
Finally, preparing for a road trip with kids means laying down some ground rules before you leave. You need to be able to drive without distraction to keep your family safe. This means that meltdowns and tantrums need to be handled in a non-distracting way. Try to slowly teach your children that the car is not a place for screaming. You can pull over until they’ve settled down to instill the lesson. If you’re traveling with a young baby you may need to take short breaks if the baby is screaming.
Preparing for a road trip with kids is a daunting task. But being very prepared will make your trip much easier in the long run. Always make sure that your car is in good shape so that it’s very safe for any trip. Next, plan out your route in advance and plan to make stops to let the whole family stretch their legs. Fill your car with snacks and toys but don’t forget the essentials either. And finally, try to teach your kids how to ride in the car without distracting the driver from an early age. Hopefully, using all of these tips, you’ll be able to stay sane on your
road trip with kids, and maybe even enjoy yourself.
