is in full swing and my family is ready to hit the road. My husband recently informed me that we would be taking a road trip to Chicago. I graciously looked at him and smiled thinking there is no way in this world I am riding in a car with two toddlers (3 and 1) for a 10-12 hour trip. Nope, not going to happen. So I've tried to persuade him to change his mind, but he is not budging. We are going on a road trip!
If you are planning a road trip this summer, then by all means make it a fun trip. This adventure should be just as enjoyable for the parents, as it is for the children. There are many sites to see, many games to play and plenty of food to taste besides the regular . So, if you are going to drive to your vacation spot make the drive fun and less stressful for yourself.
Family Road Trip Tips:
Find out what's happening in Lawrencevillewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
#1 Earplugs are a Must: Foam earplugs are a must for any parent when riding with children. I have two sets of earplugs that I use often when my children decide to exercise their young lungs. The earplugs do not keep sound completely out, but they do cause the noise level to drastically reduce. This will help you maintain your sanity while riding with the babies.
#2 Plan to Stop: Children, especially young children, usually do not enjoy riding in a car for more than 3 hours. So it's good to look on your route and see where you can stop and visit along the way. Especially the nice eateries and prospective if any.
Find out what's happening in Lawrencevillewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
#3 Keep It Clean: Bathroom usage is a must when traveling, so if you are creeped out by those nasty rest stops and terrified that your child may contract some horrible disease, bring your own supplies. Pack Lysol wipes to wipe off the toilets, purchase some child friendly toilet seat covers, plenty of antibacterial hand wipes and of course those. This is an easy fix to reduce uncertainty.
#4 Games, Music, Books and Movies: When going on a road trip, the car becomes your home so why not make it a fun place. Pack plenty of games for the kids to play with, along with their favorite movies. Pack a good book for you to read during those quiet moments and don't forget to pack plenty of good music for the driver to enjoy. In our family, whoever is driving is the one who controls the music.
#5 Drive at Night: Best way to minimize the amount of whining and questions like “Are we there yet?” is by driving at night. The kids more than likely will be sound asleep throughout the night which will minimize the amount of stops you'll have to make,etc. For the younger children, fill them up with a good solid dinner, make sure they are wearing some very comfortable clothes and hit the road. This will greatly help in making this an enjoyable ride for the parents.
