Are We There Yet? Part 2 - Road-tripping with kids...

Usually, holiday destinations are far distant from home, and it is not long before the kids seated in the back become restless, bored, and fractious and start making the road trip unpleasant for all occupants(the parents).  However, this need not necessarily be the case if you have planned and the trip can instead turn into great fun for everyone, especially the children. But the big question is “how?”

Plan your route

Before setting off, check that the chosen route is a clear run. Try to travel on National Highways for most of the journey.  This is possibly the safest option but nevertheless, check with the various road authorities whether there are roadworks or lengthy detours en route to your destination. 

The less time children spend in the vehicle, the better for everyone. Children generally are as keen as their parents to get to their holiday destination so they like to get there as quickly as possible, hence the frequently asked question: "Are we there yet?"

As good citizens you will put your travel litter (sweet wrappers, used hand wipes, empty disposable plastic bottles, used tissues and the like) into a plastic bag that you will dispose of properly at one of the stops you decide upon. Give the chore of chucking out the trash to one of the kids, giving him/her a sense of responsibility.

Pack a pillow in the back seat area for each child because the chances are that when the excitement of leaving home wears off, they may want to take a nap. Keep some refreshments handy.

Start your journey refreshed

It is not a good idea to rush home after work and hit the road right away. There's nothing like having a night or two of good sleep to get you well-rested and ready for the trip ahead. Daylight travel is preferable because you have a wider all-around vision, you are more alert, and your concentration level is high. Feeling refreshed will have a spin-off as far as your passengers are concerned as well. If your patience is tested by your kids, you will more likely be able to handle the situation calmly.

Seat belt safety first

Strap EVERYONE in before setting off. The value of safety belts has been proved time after time (despite what those who are anti-wearing of seat belts have to say) and it is usually in relatively minor accidents or having to brake suddenly and sharply that the most damage to human beings occurs.  Use car seats for the very young. Explain very clearly to children old enough to understand that you strap them in because you love them and don't want them to get hurt.

Keep your children occupied

A fun game that the whole family can play together is "I Spy with My Little Eye" which can keep the youngsters busy for a long time. Another is to count approaching cars with one kid getting points for every white one and red one, while the other counts all the other colours.  The parents will offer prizes that will be given out at the end of the trip – and of course, each kid will get a prize no matter what.  Or, how about this as a novel idea from the cartoon character Bluey. Get your kids to imagine the windows next to them as live-action TV screens and have them use their fingers to play jumping games over the objects they view on their “screens”. Just like Bluey’s mom did:

Some cars have built-in video screens so the kids can watch their favourite movies on them, but these built-in screens are more of an exception than the rule.  But, not to worry. These days there is a whole range of electronic gadgets with which to entertain the children and the chances are that your little ones will already have a couple of them. From stand-alone hand-held games and a bewildering array of game apps available for smart devices. Invest in in-car chargers to keep the electronics up and running otherwise their batteries will eventually run flat.  

If you are travelling to the coast, you can hold the children’s attention for the last half hour of the journey by giving a prize to the first person to see the sea!

Take breaks and side trips

Children have notoriously small bladders, and they will ask you to stop often!  So, pull into those large complexes along major routes where the restrooms are generally well cared for.  While mom sees to their needs, you can fill the fuel tank, get the windscreen cleaned and stretch your legs. Depending on the time of day, treat everyone to an “unplanned” meal at the fast-food outlet. The kids will be delighted!

Have some places of interest that you may like to visit up your sleeve. For example, stopping off at a farmstall can be an experience because some of these even have small enclosures stocked with all sorts of interesting animals, from cute bunnies to hungry goats to haughty camels! Along the Garden Route, for instance, the Big Tree (a giant Yellowwood) just off the main rod will certainly wow the kids.  Encourage your kids to take as many photos as they want on their personal electronic devices so that they can create their own special memories of the places visited.

If you are on a long road trip, add some excitement by overnighting en route but not telling your kids beforehand that you are going to!

All it takes is some imagination – like springing unexpected surprises on the kids - and basically making the road trip a fun day out with the kids, not some harrowing journey that will leave you exhausted and tensed up when you reach your destination.