Squelch Sibling Rivalry On The Road

Your children are adorable and you love them like nothing else in the world. Unfortunately, they just do not love each quite as much as you might like. The sibling rivalry era has arrived and it has done so with a vengeance. Your kids are more apt to resemble cats and dogs fighting than loving siblings at any given moment in time.

Sadly, the battles have truly begun and your family vacation is just around the corner. Do you need to cancel your road trip plans in favor of preserving your sanity?

Absolutely not! While you might not be able to keep them from fighting during an entire trip, there are things you can do to make the ride more peaceful. To keep your little combatants from wrecking the ride, try these diversion tactics:

• Movie time – Bring along a portable DVD player and hook up some movies all the kids enjoy. This is a great way to enjoy a little quiet time on the road. Set the movie schedule yourself to avoid arguments over what to what and when.
• Read aloud – Bring along a book that you would like the whole family to “read.” Take the time to read it out loud as the miles fly by. If the kids are old enough, let them take turns reading out loud, too.
• Separation makes the heart grow fonder – If at all possible, separate the kids in the car. Put the oldest in the front seat (if he or she is truly big enough) and seat yourself in the back with the little ones. If this will not do, try to leave some space between the kids.

You might not be able to stop all battles while you are on vacation, but you can make the trip there and back again more enjoyable. With a few diversions, you might even find peace on the road.