|
As any parent knows, traveling with kids is not a carefree vacation. An hour into any long trip and we bet you'll hear something like this from the bored in the backseat: "Are we there yet?" "I'm hungry." "I have to go to the bathroom." "She's hitting me."
For young children, an hour traveling can feel like an eternity. If you're driving or flying with them, you may feel the same way. Long trips are especially hard on little ones who have trouble sitting still for long. Also, because they aren't in charge of the itinerary and can't project how much farther they have to go, they may feel like helpless passengers. To young children, it can feel like a vast abyss of time to fill. When they get older and become teenagers, they can do some navigating or help with driving.
Parents can set the tone and do some things to make that long haul to Grandma's house this holiday season a smoother ride.
That is to say, if you're bracing yourself for a long, hard trip, it just very well may be. Instead, try doing a "self talk" and think of ways you can make the trip a pleasant one for all. Then explain to your child that it is going to be a long time in the car (or train or plane), but that it's going to be fun.
Talk about trip plans
Dr. Stevanne Auerbach, director of the Institute for Childhood Resources in San Francisco, says it's important to talk to your children beforehand about the trip plans. "Show them a map and tell them this is where you're going," she says. "The older they are, they can follow along, even making points on the map."
From there, Auerbach says, the most important thing you can do to make those road trips more pleasant is to follow that old Boy Scout rule and be prepared.
Keeping kids busy
"Pack a trip bag," says Auerbach, who is the author of several books on children's play, including Dr. Toy's Smart Play. The bag might contain reading books, age-appropriate activity books and games and toys.
The list below contains other suggestions that Auerbach has for helping kids of different age groups stay amused or occupied while traveling:
Ages 2 to 5
- Bring favorite toys, whether a doll or stuffed animal or stroller clip-on toys that can be manipulated. Make sure they are made of soft material with no hard edges. You might rotate the toys as you would do at home, so they don't get bored with the whole toy bag.
- Sing songs or have them sing along with you.
- Be sure to bring enough toys for everyone.
- Play songs and stories on audiocassettes.
Ages 6 to 12
- Play audiocassette tapes with books they can read or follow along with.
- Bring storybooks.
- Pack a bag of toys they select themselves. (If you're flying on a plane, Auerbach says, make sure the entertainment doesn't weigh too much, is easy to carry and doesn't have too many pieces. Also, be sure it is a quiet toy that won't disturb the other passengers.)
- Pack fresh fruit and a cold drink.
- Bring travel books of puzzles, mazes and connect-the-dots.
- Pack handy travel-sized versions of popular board games and card games.
- Pack their hand-held video games.
"The best investment you can make is a headphone and tape recorder," says Auerbach, especially if you have children at different ages. That way, your passengers can listen to stories or music appropriate for them, and you can listen to your own music.
An alternative is to let everyone get a 10-minute turn listening to his or her choice of music.
What about a VCR/DVD player in the van? It can be very helpful, though long trips can be a great chance for family conversation. TV and headphones can take away from that. If you buy headphones for the VCR/DVD, some people can talk while others listen to the show.
"If I have to pull over...."
Apply rules in the car or plane as you do at home. Children should know it's important to have a sense of decorum if you're on an airplane or train. They should understand that they can't run around (for safety and sanity), and they need to have a sense of how loud they are talking.
While many of us have heard the parental threat "If I have to pull this car over...," it usually has the opposite effect intended. It may be taken as a dare. It would be better to say, 'When you do X, we can do Y (such as get ice cream).
Also, remember that pit stops are important. "Everyone needs frequent breaks," Auerbach says. "It's very hard to keep a child between 1 and 3 easily satisfied in the car after awhile. They get squirmy."
Finally, don't forget a first aid kit so you don't have to search for an open drug store if your child gets sick.
|
Related Articles
|
|
External Source
 |
Stevanne Auerbach, Ph.D.
|
|
This article was reviewed and updated June 2007.
Return to the previous page
|
