I was recounting the first leg of our road trip with my best friend and explained how we stopped about every 2 hours to run around (a quick walk, jumping jacks, game of tag, and the essential bathroom break). She responded, “That’s so good to pre-empt the meltdowns. I’m usually so happy everyone is doing fine that I just keep driving and inevitably they fall apart.”

I can relate to that. It can be so tempting to continue on and push through when all seems to be going well. Yet, it is harder to pick up the pieces after the fact.

What makes a road trip unbearable and what makes one pleasant?

Fortunately, we, the parents, have significant control over the success of anything, including long car trips. It’s all in the preparation and presentation.

In fact, my kids’ roughest car rides happen when we are driving short distances around town. This is when I am so grateful to drive a mama mobile where they each have their own row and cannot touch or grab one another. Regardless, there is something positive to be said for the results of all of the preparation that goes into a long car trip versus the spontaneous jaunts around town.

I have fond memories of road trips as a youngster and hope to recreate similar memories for my kids.  I have ignored strong advice to “break down” and get a portable DVD player. With a little effort, thought, and creativity we can have the same fun family time that I remember as a kid!

10 tips for the road-trip weary:

1. Tap into your child’s perspective (sound familiar?). Traveling can be anxiety and stress producing for kids and adults. Consider ways to keep your child feeling calm and secure.
2. Talk about the drive beforehand in a positive and exciting way. Do not introduce any feelings of drudgery. Attitude is everything!
3. Pack some surprises for the road (different markers, books, lollipops).
4. Bring good finger food and lots of water. Kids’ moods stay elevated when they have had enough hydration, which is easy to forget or ignore in a car.
5. Consider your child’s age, ability, and favorite activities. Anticipate ways to accommodate these on the trip. For instance, a portable table top was perfect for my 5-year-old to use for drawing and writing. This would have been uncomfortable and cumbersome for my 2-year-old who instead preferred playing with small animals in her lap.
6. Driving with kids demands interaction. Don’t expect otherwise. Work hard to keep it positive. I find good music very helpful.
7. Sing along, play I Spy, listen to audio books, tell stories, encourage games, such as finding all of the letters from your child’s name on road signs or spotting the numbers 1-10.
8. Bring a ball or frisbee to toss or kick at rest stops. Chasing bubbles works well for the youngest walkers/runners. Just 5 minutes of movement really helps everything and everyone!
9. Stop often and BEFORE the meltdown!
10. Help your child feel successful with this big adventure. It not only sets a good precedent for future trips, but also adds to your child’s sense of “I can do it”.

These are just some among many potential strategies for navigating road trips with nary a tantrum or outburst.

If you consider your child’s perspective, the trip is guaranteed to be more successful. It will be more fun. The kids will stay relatively happy and comfortable and arrive to the destination in better shape.

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