Three Signs That Say It Is Time to Pull Over

When you are trying to get from Point A to Point B on a family vacation, time is often of the essence. After all, you want to get to where the fun is as quickly as possible.

If you are traveling with small children, however, it is a good idea to build in at least a little extra time to make pit stops. When you make sure there is breathing room in the schedule for stretching the legs, taking in some fresh air and making potty breaks, everyone will be better off for it.

While it might be tempting to keep on driving through if you do not need to stop personally, there are three signs that will tell you beyond a doubt it is time to stop for at least a little bit. They are:

The wiggles - While kids will be kids and they will squirm in their car seats on long trips, when the wiggles get out of control, it’s time to stop. Try to pick places where they can run off a little energy if at all possible. Parks, playgrounds and even fast-food restaurants that have children’s areas are all great for letting little ones burn off some steam.

The whines - If the kids have had it up to their ears with sitting and being good, the whining might start. While this could signal they are about to conk out for a nap, a change of scenery might be in order. If they do not start snoozing a few minutes after the whining starts and other distraction methods are not working, consider making a stop soon to let them stretch a bit.

Your own barometer - If you have had enough of being in the car, chances are you children hit that point quite a few miles ago.

Getting to your destination is a priority on family vacations, of course. Just remember the journey should be half the fun. Build in time for stops and so take advantage of them to ensure a smoother ride for everyone.