Make Travelling With Children Easier and Enjoyable

Does the thought of travelling with children fill you with dread? I used to find that, especially if I was doing a drive on my own with my daughter. She would scream most of the journey no matter how much I did to try and entertain her.

After a few trips, I found a few tricks that would make it easier and more enjoyable. Granted these tips don’t always work and as parents you’ll find the exact tricks for your own children. However, these tips will help you get started making travelling with children easier and enjoyable.

Set of in the Middle of the Night

If we’re doing a long drive and we have the choice, we’ll set off in the middle of the night. Three or four in the morning is a great time for children and generally for the drive.

A child will fall back asleep. My daughter has no choice as the car rocks her to sleep.

The roads are also quieter, so you’ll enjoy the drive more.

The last time we did a long drive, we actually set off at around 9pm, and my daughter didn’t sleep beforehand. That did mean that she slept the whole way. When we got there, she went straight back to sleep too since it was about 3am.

Have Snacks and Drinks

I always have snacks that I can easily pass back while driving. Even if my husband is in the car with us, the snacks will be very easy to get back to her.

Bread sticks tend to be the go-to option, and is much healthier than lots of chocolate. However, now and then I’ll have a bag or tub of pick and mix, which lasts her a fair bit of the journey.

Drinks are also important. Sometimes all children want is a drink, especially on a hot day. Think about what it is like for you driving.

Toys Are Entertainment

Journeys are boring, especially for small children. If they’re not tired, they’ll get restless in the car. It’s up to you to have something that will keep them entertained for the journey.

Older children are much easier. A games console or phone is often enough. Some children (like me when I was younger) just like music that they can listen to. But what about younger children?

My daughter is usually quite good now as long as she has her monkey (her version of her blanket) with her. Other than that, she likes to watch cartoons or DVDs. A portable DVD player is so useful. We tend to put things on our tablets so she can watch them while on the drive.

You will find things that work specifically for your children. It is often the case of trial and error. Try things on shorter journeys like to the supermarket, where you can easily pull over and stop if there is a problem. As you find things that help with shorter journeys, travelling with children on longer ones will not be as much of an issue!

Copyright Alexandria Ingham, 2014. All rights reserved.