Finally free or on vacation, time to do something with the whole family. But where should it go? Many destinations are further away. The journey can be very stressful and drain your nerves. To avoid this, it is important to plan long car trips well and to keep the children happy. Below are useful tips.
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Avoid stress on long car journeys with children
Uncomfortable sitting, impatience, and boredom are the main reasons children like to whine or quarrel while driving. The question arises again and again: When are we there? This can significantly cloud the mood and shake the anticipation. But it doesn’t have to be with good preparation. The following tips will help you arrive at your destination relaxed:
Plan your route well
In addition to a restaurant, many large rest areas also have a playground where the children can let off steam and are so exhausted on the way on that they take a nap. It is therefore important to check and plan the route in advance. Exercise can work wonders for children, even if it’s only half an hour.
Deliberate stopovers
To avoid boredom and whining, it is important to plan carefully the stops that are unavoidable with children. It is advisable to find out what leisure activities and sights such as a zoo or swimming lake are on the route before starting your journey and stopping accordingly. The children will be thrilled about the nice way to compensate for the long car trips. They may even sleep afterwards, when they have let off steam.
Choose the correct departure time
With children, it is best to set off when they are tired. They can then sleep, and by the time they wake up, they have already made part of the route. Regarding the departure time, it is also advisable to avoid rush hour, as this only promotes unnecessary traffic jams and lengthens the journey.
Toys for on the go
Anyone planning a long car trip with children should make sure that they can keep themselves busy in the car to get too boring for them. CDs, coloring books, or colored pencils and paper are suitable for older children. Ideally, every child has their own headphones or an MP3 player so that no argument breaks out. Picture books and cuddly toys are good choices for toddlers.
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Summary
Driving with whining or arguing children can be very stressful and strain the parents’ nerves considerably. Proper planning is very important so that you are as stress-free as possible and everyone arrives at their destination relaxed. We recommend a stop every two hours at the latest, if possible, at a special place for the children, where they can let off steam and move around. Employment must also be provided while driving, for example, in the form of books or CDs. With these tips, long car trips can be shortened or varied for the little ones.
Max Anthony
Max is a gizmo-savvy guy, who has a tendency to get pulled into the nitty gritty details of technology and cars. He attended UT Austin, where he studied Information Science. He’s married and has three kids, one dog and a GMC truck and a Porsche 911. With a large family, he still finds time to share tips and tricks on cars, trucks and more.
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