Transit Survival Tips for Moms and Dads

The only thing that stands between you and a week of vacation bliss is a 10-hour car ride with the kids. You cannot wait to get there, but the trip has you terrified.

Relax! You can survive the trip with your family and sanity intact if you follow a few basic tips to ease the stress of a long car ride with youngsters. It does not matter whether you have toddlers or teens in tow, these ideas can help you out:

·      Make the kids comfortable – Make sure to create a backseat environment that is as comfortable as possible for the children. This means dragging along blankets, pillows and even a few favorite toys that can make them feel right at home when they are miles away.

·      Pack snacks – If you bring along a small cooler of snacks and drinks, you will not have to stop quite as much.

·      Bring activities – Handheld video games, portable DVD players, laptop desks that they can draw on and so on can all help the miles pass without fuss.

·      Plan exercise stops – Kids have a lot of energy. Allowing it to pent up for too long on a car ride can backfire on you. Instead of harnessing them in for long, long stretches, plan some rest stops where they can get out and run a little.

·      Put yourself in their shoes – If things do get a little hairy, try to put yourself in their shoes. Remember what it was like to ride “forever” when you were their age. This should bolster your patience level.

If the only thing that stands between you and a great vacation is the ride, kick back and relax. If you do, your kids will, too.