User post: Tips for Car Travel with Kids

Cristie Ritz King

One consistent factor in my family, no matter how many kids we have, is that we're on the move. We spend holidays and summer weeks here, there and everywhere so we've gotten quite adept at planning for (mostly) stress free car trips. There are a few key things that lead to smooth sailing (or driving as the case may be).
Five tips for tolerable travel with kids.

  1. Plan Together: Sit with your kids a few days before departure and let them know where you're going, how long it will take and what the plans are for stopping, resting etc. If it is a long trip that will take multiple days, plot out the course of each day. You can even get online and map out the trip with the kids if they are old enough to get it and still young enough not to roll their eyes in boredom.

  2. Give the kids guided autonomy: Each of my kids has their own "car-bag" that they choose how to pack. I do suggest items that make sense for the car-making sure they know this is what will occupy their time. I also remind them of precious blankets and stuffed pet friends to make sure we have no tears if Fluffy doesn't fit after the bag is stuffed full of baseball cards or Polly Pockets. But then I leave them to their own devices. Over the years we have built a collection of travel games and office supplies that we keep just for the car. The kids often go for these when packing. There is something about a box of crayons that are kept away until we pull out of the driveway that gives them a mystical quality.

  3. Be creative and fun with food and drink: Keep in mind you're trapped in a car with these kids so limit the sugary food as much as possible but do try to keep it fun. I pack each kid their own lunch bag with food that can last all trip (or each day of the trip). They are under strict instruction that there will be nothing else when that food is gone. The five and eight year old get this. The three year old usually has his bag in the front seat and his snacks are still rationed out by an adult. The bags include a bottle of water AND a juice pouch or milk box as well as a sandwich and a few snacks like cheese sticks, and of course, goldfish. I usually include a lollipop or some other sweet treat as well which always excites them.

  4. Make Clean Up Easy: We have a mini-van so it's possible that I might not see the back for months at a time. To keep lollipop detritus from piling up in the cup holders, each kid gets their own garbage bag and must come out with it full when we reach our destination. Also, when they pack their own bags, they know they are responsible for putting everything they take out back in when we "de-van". If they know what they packed, then they know what has to return. They take that responsibility seriously. It's their stuff after all.

  5. Stay Engaged: Up to now, we have a no plug-in rule in this family. I'm sure they'll fight me on this when they're older, but for now, no headphones allowed. They can read and we do watch movies on the in-car video player but we all listen. They have hand held game systems that they have to play with low volume. We also have conversations, listen to music that we all like and play car games together. I find if we balance the trip between family time and alone time, everyone gets along better for longer. Talk to me again when they're teenagers and I'm sure my tune will have changed. For right now though, we are sticking with what works and that is all members of our family working together to make car trips better for everyone in the car.

Happy Holidays and Happy Traveling!

Cristie writes about the family adventures on the aptly named blog The Traveling Circus. She also runs the company The Right Hand Mom, which is a full service Parent Education and Baby Concierge company.