My husband and I have always loved long drives and road trips. One of our earliest memories together is driving from Virginia to Ohio after just two months of dating. Yes, we survived and still love road trips.
When we had kids, we knew that we still wanted to drive places, and from the time they were little, we’d pack them up in the car and off we’d go.
We’ve definitely had our share of mishaps and trips with an astounding number of potty breaks, or pit stops as we like to call them, but these road trips have also produced memories that we’ll remember forever.
Our most recent trips included a two-day drive from Wisconsin to Idaho with a one-day stop in Deadwood, South Dakota, a couple of hours to get to Timber Ridge Lodge, and a 12-hour trip from Wisconsin to Ohio. All of these ended up happening within a 35-day period, so at this point, we’ve pretty much perfected the family road trip.
I understand that the prospect of driving with young kids (ours are 5, 8, and 10) for hours upon hours can seem daunting to some, but with the right prep and attitude, I’ve found that road trips can help kids build stamina, allow them to make their own fun, and give the family a chance to bond in close quarters. Here’s how we make sure hitting the road is always a good time in our family of five.
Snack packs are the key to a smooth trip
This strategy was a new one for me on our recent trips. Rather than just throwing a bunch of snacks into a bag and then passing them out, I had the kids make their own individual snack bags. I bought a bunch of prepackaged snacks from Costco and then told them to put one or two of each into ziplock bags for each day or driving.
The kids each got one bag per day, and all I had to do was pass out one thing. There were still extra snacks and goodies that we stopped for on the road, but the lack of “Mom! I’m hungry!” echoing from the back of the van made the trip more relaxing for me.
Save the technology for after lunch, or don’t bring it at all
We don’t typically allow technology in the car. That means no phones, no electronic games, no tablets. On long trips of 6 hours or more, we make an exception and let the kids use the laptop to watch a few movies.
The thing I love about not having technology in the car is that it gives the kids an opportunity to get creative in how they entertain themselves. On the trip home from Idaho, the girls spent hours creating phones and tablets out of paper and a file folder. Ironic, I know.
When we bring the laptop, we wait until after lunch to watch anything. This is for a few reasons. One, we want the kids to have an opportunity to create their own entertainment. Two, there’s only so much battery life. And three, it gives them something to look forward to and usually helps those last few hours go by pretty fast.
We have a shared language and come up with fun games
We have certain sayings when we’re on the road that make me, as a mom and former English teacher, just bask in the glow of a shared language. When we want the kids to take a nap, we tell them to jump in the time machine because when they wake up, it will be the future. Potty breaks are called pit stops — not an entirely surprising phrase, but it’s fun to hear a 5-year-old say it.
One of our favorite games to play is “First One to Laugh Loses.” I made it up for when the kids get grumpy, and it works in the car, too. It’s exactly what it sounds like — the first one who laughs loses, but we all end up laughing. We played this game for quite a while when people started to get antsy, and it usually puts everyone in a great mood. In case you’re wondering, I’m terrible at it and lose almost every time.
Be prepared for something to get on your nerves — even if it’s cute
On the way to Deadwood, the kids sang a full round of “100 Bottles of Pop on the Wall.” They started at 100 and just kept going, finishing just in time for a pit stop.
It was very cute, but they kept losing their spot or would start adding bottles instead of taking them away. By the end, we were ready for them to be finished. During times like those, I remind myself we’re creating memories.
Read the full article here
