Having a road trip isn’t only fun with your friends or significant other. It is also a fun experience for the whole family, especially for the kids. You get to bond with the whole family in a fun way. However, there are still times when we think that kids can’t handle that long car ride. It’s true that sometimes the kids might get bored while traveling. But with proper planning, you can make sure that everyone in the car will have a great time.
Here are some tips on how to have a great road trip with your kids:
Choose the right destination.
Of course, the first step is to choose the right destination. It should be a place that everyone in the family will enjoy. If you have younger kids, then it’s best to choose a place that has kid-friendly activities. St Louis has a lot of places that can keep your kids happy and excited. There are lots of places to go for both kids and the kids at heart.
Older kids might want to go somewhere with more excitement like amusement parks. It would also be a great idea to make sure that they move their body where they are going to go and not just focus on holding on to their gadgets. The important thing is that everyone in the family agrees on the destination. That being said, it is best to plan things ahead and even ask for suggestions about what they want to do.
Prepare some games and activities.
To avoid having bored kids in the car, prepare some games and activities that they can do during the trip. It can be something as simple as an I Spy game or a scavenger hunt. You can also bring along coloring books and crayons for them to use. If you have older kids, you can bring along travel-sized board games that they can play while in the car.
Make sure there are plenty of snacks and drinks.
You should also make sure that there are plenty of snacks and drinks for everyone in the car. This is especially important if you are going to be on the road for a long time. Kids tend to get cranky when they are hungry, so it’s best to have snacks on hand to keep them from getting too Hangry.
Although there could be convenient stores along the road, it would still be best to bring food with you rather than rely on what is available on the road. This means you don’t have to waste time by stopping by and seeing what is available. Furthermore getting what snacks they prefer would also lessen the drama.
Stop often for bathroom breaks and stretch your legs.
Another important thing to remember is to stop often for bathroom breaks and to stretch your legs. This will help everyone in the car from getting too cramped up. It’s also a good opportunity to let the kids run around and burn off some energy.
As an adult, you can certainly feel cramped inside the car if you sit there for a long time. Just imagine the kids and their high energies being cooped up inside a vehicle. Take stops as a time to breathe some fresh air too. Or you could also take pictures especially if there are scenic views on the road or stops.
Plan your route ahead of time.
One last tip is to plan your route ahead of time. This will help ensure that you don’t make any unnecessary stops and that everyone in the car knows where you are going. You also get to choose and not miss any stops along the way because you didn’t know they are along your route.
You can also use this opportunity to discuss what places you want to visit and what activities you want to do. This will help keep everyone excited about the trip. Even though you all belong to one family, the preferences of your kids may still be different from one another. Make sure that each one of them gets to go to the place they’d want to go especially if it is along the way. This will greatly help keep all of them excited for your road trip.
