by Sarah Landrum

Summer is here and with it comes road trips to see family, visits to amusement parks and the inevitable and sometimes seemingly endless car rides to get there. No matter how well behaved your nieces or nephews are, a long car ride almost always leads to boredom.

Then that, without fail, leads to kicked seats, poked siblings and the ever-dreaded, “She’s touching me!” or, “Are we there yet?!”

To help you keep your patience and your sanity during those long car rides, here are a few tips and tricks that are almost guaranteed to help you keep kids safe and entertained in the car.

All the Snacks

There’s something about being in the car for a while that makes you hungry, but if you’re making good time down the interstate, you don’t want to stop for food — especially since most of the food options will likely be greasy fast-food style places and other road-side fare. Instead, pack some kid-friendly snacks you can carry with you in the car, like:

Granola bars. Crunchy granola bars aren’t necessarily sticky, but they do tend to crumble. Pick up some chewy bars if you want to avoid crumbs in the seats.

Cereal. Throw some cereal in a Ziploc bag, or if you have some extra time, string o-shaped cereal (Cheerios, Fruit Loops, etc.) onto a piece of yarn to make edible jewelry.

Fruits and vegetables. Chopped up fresh fruits and vegetables can make a great, mostly non-messy snack. Just remember to bring a cooler if you’re not planning on eating them right away.

Don’t forget the drinks, too! Water or juice in re-sealable containers will be your best option. Skip pouch drinks like Capri Sun entirely — one wrong squeeze and that juice is all over your back seat. 

Safety First

Safety should be your first priority every time you get into the car, no matter how far you’re driving. This is important if you’re traveling with small children in the car, especially those who rely on car seats or booster seats to keep them safe.

Make sure all safety seats are up to date and have not expired. Then, make sure all seats are installed properly and that all riders are buckled in with the straps and clips in the proper place.

If you’re not sure how to install a car seat or how to use one properly, ASK! In the event of a car accident, that seat can mean the difference between life and death for the child in it. If you don’t have a parent or someone you can ask easily, head to your local police or fire station — most are more than willing to show you how to properly use and install a car seat.
 
Stash a First Aid Kit

No matter where you’re going, if you’ve got kids in tow, it’s likely you’re going to need a first aid kit at some point. It doesn’t have to be super elaborate or anything — just throw a box together with some essentials such as:

Assorted bandages. You can just buy a box of Band-Aids and throw it in!

Wound wash. You’ll want something like peroxide or rubbing alcohol to help clean and disinfect a cut.  

Medicines. Children’s (and adult!) pain medicine, anti-itch ointment, etc. Whatever you think you’ll need.

Instant ice packs. These are always good to have around in case you end up with a bump on the head or a twisted ankle.

Tweezers. Tweezers are essential for removing splinters, cactus spines or bee stingers.

Here’s a list of what the American Red Cross recommends for a family’s first aid kit, but you may not need all of that for your road trip.

Activities Galore

Now, the most important part of your road trip preparation — after safety, of course! — is entertainment. Keeping the kids entertained will make for a smooth and enjoyable car ride, but how can you manage that? Here are a few ideas:

1. Make a travel binder for each child. This is good for children of all ages because the activities can be adapted for any age group. Include activities as well as a sealed pencil pouch with writing utensils and art supplies.

2. Create some busy bags. Ziploc bags or pencil bags are ideal for these, as long as they can be closed. Put together some small, easily stored activities each in its own bag.

3. Use lunchboxes as LEGO storage. A metal lunchbox, a couple of pieces of Lego building plate and some glue mean your little builder can take their LEGOs along for the ride — without them ending up all over the car!

These are just a few of the dozens of ideas we found for keeping those little ones entertained — check out Pinterest for some more.

Don’t Forget the Chargers

When all else fails, a tablet or other electronic device can keep kids entertained for hours, but be prepared for the screaming if the batteries die. Keep a power inverter in your car, so you don’t have to worry about buying car chargers for all of your electronic devices. There are also power inverter options that offer USB charging ports, so you won’t need to fight for space to charge your phone.

Overall, the goal is to create the best, safest and most fun car trip experience possible. Don’t over think it too much, though. Just worry about keeping your kids safe and entertained, and everything else will fall into place. 

Enjoy your road trips this summer and drive safely!

Photo: monkeybusinessimages
Published: June 28, 2016

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Sarah Landrum is an aunt of two, a freelance blogger and the founder of Punched Clocks, a blog to help you balance your life and career and find happiness along the way. Follow Sarah on social media for more great tips. You can tweet her @SarahLandrum