And they’re off!
Our neighbors have officially departed on their annual summer pilgrimage to Canada to visit their family members and friends.
They left about four hours ago in a Chevy Blazer filled to the gills with three kids, two adults, one Beagle and a ton of luggage, plus two well-stocked coolers and what looked like the kitchen sink.
Better them than me.
I’ve driven cross-country before, but never with three young kids in the backseat.
Not me; I prefer to fly 5,000 miles with my infant turned chatty toddler, thank you very much.
I don’t think anything properly prepares one for a 15-hour road trip with squirmy kids in tow. Even the most experienced travelers can find a long drive to be physically and emotionally draining.
So what can you do to preserve your sanity on a long summer road trip with kids? Here are some tips:
Stuff a backpack or a pillow case with toys, crayons, books, art projects, games, security blankets and plush animals.
If you are traveling with older kids, then play Car Tag. Each player is given a specific item to watch for while the vehicle is on the road, such as a stop sign, the Golden Arches, or a specific gas station like Chevron or Texaco. The person who is “It” looks out for the item and when he sees it, he tags another player. The next person must hunt for the sign before tagging another person in the car.
Preschoolers love to play counting games, so why not make up your own while you are on the highway. First, select an item for your child to count. Popular choices include red vehicles, stop signs, cows, barns, telephone poles, and billboards. The child who counts the most of his particular item within the allotted time wins the game.
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