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Taking the Children on a Road Trip!

By: Dolores Jameson


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A famous humorist once said that you can only travel one of two ways. The first one is first class and the second one is with kids ! Anyone who has small children will agree that traveling with kids, especially on long road trips, can be trying for adults and tough on little ones. However, there are some things that you can do to make the miles move a little faster, and even make the drive fun. Just do your basic planning and with a little luck, you can be ahead of the game. Please review these basic guidelines to ensure your road trip with your children will be a pleasant experience .

Is your ride good enough?
Road trips mean traveling in confined quarters, no matter what kind of car you drive. Some cars will do a better job at this than others. If you feel your car is not suited, then think rental. If you rent something bigger like a minivan, the comfort level you gain might be worth it, in addition to avoiding putting too much mileage on your own vehicle. Just remember to bring your own child safety seats. An RV is the ultimate mode of transportation for most any travel, but the cost can be prohibitive unless you are also using the RV for lodging and dining, which can save on hotel stays and restaurants.

You have to keep 'em amused!.
Driving for hours can really be boring so having some in-car entertainment could really help to break the monotony. Think movies or music or crayons and drawing pads, even books!. Portable electronics are now affordable these days so consider bringing those dvd players, gaming systems and music players. If you do a lot of these road trips, it might be worth it to spend on these DVD screens you see mounted on headrests or interior roof of some vehicle models. It does not have to be all electronics, so don't forget the classic games like car bingo or even etch-a-sketch. Consider versions with magnetic or stay-in-place pieces. It might also be a good idea to bring soft travel trays or any stable surface that the kids can play or have snacks. Bring plenty of healthy snacks, preferable in single serve containers, plus water and fruit juices stored in a nice cooler. Baby wipes are must plus a change of clothes just in case of any spills. And so that your car doesn't become a wastebasket on wheels, remember to bring a litter bag. These bags can also serve as a barf bag in case someone gets car sick.

Be flexible.
A road trip should never turn into endurance training for kids. That means yo need to know when to make stops, let the kids stretch out a bit, get some fresh air and of course, do the usual bathroom breaks. Quick tip on the bathroom breaks: Toilet-seat toppers for use in public restrooms can help prevent the spread of germs, and for those times when you can not find a restroom in a hurry, pack a portable potty as a last resort. Also time your travel to avoid rush hours in metropolitan areas and construction delays. If you can follow the usual home routines, it will help the little ones adjust to life on the road. That means nap times should be on the usual times and this should influence when you take a break at hotels to get some sleep. Bringing things that are familiar to the kids, such as a favorite blanket or pillow, helps a lot. If napping inside the car, sun shades are great too. Lullaby music and a soothing portable night light can further set the mood for sleep.

If you follow these basic tips and everyone is stress-free and happy, you will find that you can forget all about first-class and remember why traveling with kids makes any trip worthwhile.

Article Source: http://depositarticles.com/

Dolores is a student who is also promoting a varied collection of web sites on the side. If you are looking for a good pool cleaner store or a place where you can get discounted weber gas grills and other brands, try visiting her sites.

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