I was just reading an amusing post about the Dreaded Family Car Trip. The 7-9 hour trip with 3 kids that this dad writes about has nothing on our December 18 hour car ride to Florida. With 5 kids and no empty seats, to boot. Five children makes traveling by plane to see grandparents cost-prohibitive. After taking a few cross-country trips to the West Coast and several over-nighter drives to Florida to visit the kids’ nearest grandparents, car trips are still our favorite way to travel. And we’ve got the system down to a science. At least for our family.
Here’s how we survive long car rides with lots of kids:
• We always start our trip at night, so that the kids have an hour or two of excitement upon leaving and then fall asleep for several hours. When they wake up in the morning, we have breakfast out, and then get on our way. This method doesn’t work for everybody, but it’s ideal for us. My husband and I can sleep while the other is driving, we trade off when the driver starts feeling sleepy, the roads are clear, and the kids are quiet. By the time the kids wake up on day #2, we’re a good bit of the way there, so it feels shorter for them.
• Everybody packs a pillow, a blanket, and a small bag of treats, books, and games. Individualizing the trip bags is a must for us. This includes Mom and Dad. My trip bag includes a couple of books, my iPod (especially handy for when I’m driving at night and the rest of the family is asleep), my camera, and a portable DVD player–although that is rarely used.)
• Between the front seat, I pack a moderately stocked bag of treats (crackers, grapes, fruit snacks, popcorn, etc), along with empty ziploc bags and paper cups so that I can pass individual servings to the kids in the back.
• I also pack plenty of water bottles. Everybody has their own water bottle next to their seat, and we fill up on the occasional pit stop.
• Our van has a DVD player, so we do bring a selection of kids movies to watch. We don’t go over-board with the movies, though. On our 18 hour drive, the kids watched 2 movies.
• We’re generous on the potty breaks (we stop whenever necessary) but don’t stop for very long. Everyone gets out of the car and stretches whenever we stop. When we drive cross-country, we look for the rest stops with play grounds or grassy areas and let the kids have a few minutes of fun.
• Sing together–turn up the music and belt it out!
• Play car games, such as State license plates or ABC signs.
• Read a book out loud together.
What are some of your tips for surviving long car trips with kids?
© 2010, Lolli. All rights reserved.
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I throw suckers at my kids in the car. Sometimes for a treat…other times just to try to hit them.
It’s a great strategy.
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Lolli Reply:
February 1st, 2010 at 8:50 am
That is the best traveling suggestion yet! Actually, you made me remember a little trick we tried once when the kids were not so cooperative in the car. We kept a water bottle (as in the squirting kind) by the front seat and reached back to spray any kids that decided they didn’t want to cooperate. That was fun.
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Ughhh, just hearing those words brings back horrible memories from 2 summers ago.
.-= Nicole´s last blog ..Cooking 101 – homemade fish and chips =-.
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We love road trips! Well, I do. J doesn’t. I hope to raise my kids to enjoy long car rides.
.-= Safire´s last blog ..Question of the Week =-.
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Lolli Reply:
January 31st, 2010 at 9:27 pm
Hopefully Daddy’s attitude won’t spoil it for the kids.
I know that’s what happens in our house many times.
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We’re a road tripping family too and I second all your suggestions!
.-= Lara´s last blog ..In One Ear, Out the Other… =-.
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Great post with lot’s of useful tips. Me? I survive with booze and pills…kidding!
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I think that everything that you have listed is essential for long car trips!! It is our favorite vacation also:-)
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Personally, I don’t mind long car trips with my four kiddos!! In fact, we did a week-long, 3100-miler last February and it was a blast! (okay, for the most part. There were a few meltdowns, but overall it was a success)
There own water bottles are a must, drawing pads, portable video games, MP3 players… Stop at parks/rest areas on the way to let them run around and blow off extra energy!
.-= Lissa @ Whooo’sThatGirl´s last blog ..Dear Self… =-.
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Lolli Reply:
January 31st, 2010 at 10:37 am
I’m glad to hear I’m not the only one who likes car trips! The kids continually ask me when we can take another cross country trip to see my parents on the West Coast!
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