| Going on a long car trip with your children | | | | on a regular basis, you might want to |
| can be challenging no matter what their age. | | | | consider purchasing a DVD player for your |
| Young children and older children have | | | | car. You can also buy a new DVD for the |
| trouble sitting still for long periods of | | | | road, but come prepared with others that they |
| time and can become bored, cranky, irritated | | | | like just in case they aren't thrilled with |
| among other things. The trick to help | | | | the new DVD.If it is a trip that will take |
| prevent this from happening is to prepare | | | | over 12 hours, consider dividing the trip |
| well in advance and be a step ahead of | | | | into two days. Perhaps you can leave in the |
| them.The first thing you need to do is throw | | | | afternoon, stop for dinner and get a few more |
| away the tight schedule of how long you think | | | | hours of driving time in while they sleep. |
| the trip should take. For instance, a seven | | | | You can wake up the next morning, refreshed |
| hour trip to the beach is no longer going to | | | | and ready to take on the hours of travel that |
| take seven hours. You can expect it to take | | | | you have left. If you can get up in the |
| nine to ten hours depending on your child's | | | | morning, jump out of bed and walk out the |
| age. Babies need to eat on a certain | | | | door, you can get a couple of hours of |
| schedule, toddlers need to stretch their legs | | | | driving in before you stop for |
| and children who are just learning to go to | | | | breakfast.Bring along books, magazines, toys |
| the bathroom on the potty need more trips to | | | | and car games to occupy time. Older children |
| the potty. Be prepared to stop and just add | | | | can play games such as the license plate game |
| that into the time. Look for malls, Target | | | | where they try to find a license plate from |
| stores or other places that you can stop | | | | all 50 states. Make the toys accessible so |
| along the way where children can run and use | | | | you can easily swap them out.The best way to |
| the rest room.Pack plenty of snacks and | | | | make it through a car trip with children is |
| drinks. If you know that your toddler likes | | | | to be prepared, be patient and be flexible. |
| a mid-morning juice or an afternoon snack, | | | | Turn the trip into an adventure and part of |
| you can potentially avoid having to stop for | | | | the vacation itself. Stop at attractions |
| these things if you keep them at hand. If | | | | along the way. Take time to let everyone |
| you are just 30 minutes from your destination | | | | stretch their legs. Bring along plenty of |
| and they are getting hungry for dinner, a | | | | things to occupy their time. If you can |
| small snack can hold them off until you check | | | | follow all of these tips it is sure to be a |
| into your hotel or park the camper.If you | | | | more pleasant trip for everyone.I enjoy |
| have a DVD player in your car, take along | | | | writing for my websites please visit my |
| their favorite movies, the ones that you know | | | | binoculors for birdwatching, mosquito |
| will hold their attention. If you take trips | | | | repelent, freesheetmusic pages. |