Family Travel Tips: On The Road Again

TIPS FOR TAKING A ROADTRIP WITH CHILDREN

Young children spend their waking hours moving about, exploring the world. Even when they are very young, they want to be held up where they can see the world being busy around them.  You want me to strap them down into a no-running, no-view seat for how long???  

We made our first car trip out of the city when Alisha had just turned two.  Amazingly, it went pretty well.  The four-hour drive took five or six hours, with no struggles to get back in the car after a rest stop (though we’ve been there too).  Since then, we have made numerous trips around Alberta and through B.C. with our two kids, now aged four and almost-two.   Although there are never any guarantees, we have found ways to increase the chances of experiencing a fabulous roadtrip.  

Heed Your intuition  

When we first started driving long distances, we would drive as long as we thought the kids could handle, look back, see that they were fine, and decide to drive a little further.  Right on cue, as soon as we were past any places where we could easily stop, someone would start fussing.  By the time we found a place to stop, it took at least twice as long to settle them down, let them run about, and generally get everyone back into a cooperative mood.  A good general rule of thumb is a short stop every 1 to 1 1/2 hours unless, of course, they are napping.  

Plan  

You don’t want to drive six hours on the highway, then spend another hour looking for a hotel, or worse, have to move on to the next town because there are no vacancies.  Plan stops and book hotel rooms ahead of time.  Planning food helps with staying within budget and avoiding fast food.  Having activity ideas at hand can also be a sanity saver.  Keep it all in an easily accessible folder or clipboard.  Plan your own roadtrip ->  

Enjoy the Journey  

Getting there is half the fun!  Plan for a few detours along the way.  Get out of the car to see wildlife.  Look at interesting geological formations.  Enjoy a playground in a different city.  If you have a napper that doesn’t nap well in the car, bring a carrier and plan to enjoy a walk or a hike in the afternoon around naptime.  A leisurely pace enjoyed by everyone more than makes up for time spent recovering once you get there.  

Bring the Essentials  

What will we DO on the road?  

Looking for ideas on things to do?  Have favourite activities you’d like to share?  Check out the Roadtrip Activities and Roadside Activities sections!  

What Is the Best Time of Day to Travel?  

For some families, waking early to travel with children that are still sleepy works.  For others, it is better to have well-rested, well-fed kids to decrease crankiness and irritability.  Some kids are content to sleep in the car while you drive at night.  Others need to arrive at the hotel early enough to explore the room for a couple of hours before going to bed.  For our family, we let everyone sleep until they naturally awaken and have a good breakfast before we start out for the day, and we never make long drives while the sky is dark.    The best time of day to travel is particular to each family and like most family routines, figured out through educated guesses and trial and error.  

Don’t Forget to Potty!  

Forgetting to potty the kids at rest stops only to have to stop half-an-hour later because the older one needs to pee and thereby prematurely waking the younger one from his nap is the worst.  Trust me.  I know.  

Avoid the Fast Food Trap  

Fast food is almost always heavy on the fats, proteins, and simple sugars; even salads are usually light on vegetables that pack a nutritional punch.  Filling your family up with this junk is a recipe for a couple of hours of increased restlessness and decreased patience as the digestive system struggles to make the most of this meal.  Instead, opt for easy-to-pack, easy-to-eat picnic foods.  Fruits, mini-muffins, mini-quiches, wraps, baked potato wedges, hard-boiled eggs, vegetable sticks, and cold chicken are all simple, loved roadtrip fare.  Have a favourite recipe to share?  Or want to spice up your repertoire? Check out the Recipes section.  

I also plan for one hot meal a day.  Although the complaint over food is rare, I find that having a hot cooked meal can mean the difference between content play and meltdown city.  If my toddler doesn’t want to sit still while everyone else is eating, I bring him outside to look at the cars or explore the area outside the restaurant.  An older child may be happy with crayons and colouring sheets handed out at family-friendly establishments.  If both kids are restless, and hard to manage outside, I put them both in the car, get in with them, and let them crawl about and play with buttons.  As a last resort, I might pack my meal “to go” and finish it on the road.  Alternatively, we check into the hotel and cook with the kitchenette or get some take-out dinner to eat in a more relaxed environment.  

Keep the Car Clean  

We have a water-only rule in our car.  That way spills are not a big deal.  If a spill does happen, a folded towel lining the seat is easily removed and lain out to dry.  They are also great for catching crumbs.  Finally, we collect all garbage in a plastic grocery bag and dispose in garbage cans as needed.  You may also consider having a separate bag for recyclables.  

Finally, Have Fun!  

After all, isn’t that what having a vacation is all about?  If you make an effort to relax and have fun, maybe the energy will be contagious.

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