Don't Let It End In tears....
"Are we there yet?" seems to be the cry of most children. They aren't trying to drive you crazy (although we sometimes think they are), they are just trying to determine how much longer the ride is. Give them information. Tell them how long the trip is going to take and break it up into pieces so that they can see that you are making progress. This will help them to grasp the time factor and will help your nerves too.
Plan ahead and pack a fun bag of games and entertainment for your children. A good idea is to reward them for good behavior by giving them a small gift, like a travel game or book, every hour. These budget-friendly little gifts can make your child happier and the car quieter.
Taking a break regularly is very important when you are traveling with your children. Even if things seem to be going well, you need to stop about every two hours to give your children a chance to stretch their legs, use the bathroom, and enjoy being out of the car. Even though it takes some time, it will also make your children easier to travel with. Letting them run and frolic is a great way for them to burn off some energy.
It is important to vary your child's activities to keep them from becoming bored. Every half hour you can change the activity such as talking for half an hour, playing music for the next half hour, and then taking a break. Eat a little snack and then back to the car. Then they can watch a DVD or listen to music or a book on tape.
You can find many different kinds of listening material for your children on the internet. Focus on the Family has a radio-theatre production of The Chronicles of Narnia that will keep your children and you entertained. This is a great way for your family to bond and to enjoy a good book together.
Games are a great way to pass the time. There are many different travel games available or you can play the license plate game to see how many states you can find. Electronic games like Q20 is another fun way to pass the time. Check out your local store to see what kinds of games they offer that will work in the car.
Singing is always fun. Choose a CD that your entire family will get a kick out of. There are many different CD's available that are fun to sing and will allow you to have fun and be silly.
A DVD player in your car or a portable DVD player will give your entire family a few hours of fun. You can even throw in a new DVD to help keep your family entertained while you drive in the peace and quiet.
Play some of those favorite games from when you were a kid like the magnetic game where you made a beard on the funny character's face. Other ideas are coloring books, travel-sized MagnaDoodles, or sticker books.
Potholder weaving, word search books, drawing pads, and other fun crafting activities are great for using in the car too. Just make sure that you don't choose crafts that use lots of glue or have dozens of pieces or you will be pulling your hair out!
With a little planning and creativeness, you will find that your car ride will become more enjoyeable and fun. That is a great start to any vacation!
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