Traveling with Kids: 5 Top Tips for a Great Road Trip
By Emily Kitchin
There’s nothing like summertime!
It’s the perfect time to pack up the car and take a road trip with the kids. For many of you, this is the one season when the stars seem to align. The kids don’t have school, the days are longer, and the weather is beautiful. Why not take a road trip and make long-lasting memories?
Besides, if you’re like many families, you’re on a budget. Plane trips can be expensive and perhaps you haven’t even decided exactly where you’d like to go.
Road trip to the rescue! On this type of vacation, you get to spend quality time with your kids. You can also play games together, see the sights and even practice yoga! Here are 5 tips for taking a road trip with your kids. Bon Voyage!
1. Play games
A road trip is the perfect time to take a break from staring at phones and screens. Encourage your children to put down their devices and instead play classic car games such as “I Spy” and “Punch buggy”. Not sure how to play these games? Check out these instructions for “I Spy” and other fun road trip games.
If you get tired of these games, you can pack other non-electronic toys to entertain your children such as coloring books and card games.
2. Smell the roses
Every once in a while, it’s a good idea to stop and smell the roses – figuratively and literally. A road trip with the kids provides an excellent opportunity to explore the sights along your route. Stopping along the way allows your children to discover the world around them. And, you’ll all create lifelong memories. You can even take a detour to visit a historical site, national monument, or museum. Perhaps you can even be spontaneous and find a small town to stop and explore.
3. Pack snacks
Road trips with the kids can be long and tiring, which is why it’s important to stock up on energy-filled treats. This is a great opportunity to provide your kids with healthy snacks and not junk food. When deciding which snacks to bring along, be sure to exercise caution and aim for those that your kids can fill up on without a lot of additives, fats and sugars.
4. Music
Who doesn’t enjoy a good ol’ family sing-along? Before embarking on your road trip with the kids, create a playlist on your phone or other device with songs that both you and your kids enjoy listening to and singing along with. Music is also a fantastic way to pass the time and have a blast. Want some ideas on songs for your family road trip? Check out this family road trip playlist on Spotify!
5. Take stretch breaks (& do yoga!)
Whether you’re the driver or a passenger, sitting in a car for a long time is bound to make your legs feel stiff. Therefore, it is a smart idea to stop every once in a while for a stretch break. One enjoyable tip for stretch breaks is to practice some family yoga! Yoga is a superb way to relax and exercise at the same time. If you can find a park or even a rest stop along the way, you can all get out and practice some Pretzel Kids yoga poses!
Are You Ready to Hit the Road?
While the idea of traveling with toddlers may seem stressful, think of it this way: a family road trip is a great way to take a break from the hustle and bustle of daily life. The school year is so busy for everybody, so it is important to spend family time together in the summer. There’s no better way to create everlasting memories than bonding on the open road.
And here’s another perk to taking a road trip with your kids: it’s an affordable and adventurous way to travel. A road trip with children can also be tailored to your family’s needs and budget. Are you ready to hop in the car and take a road trip with kids this summer?
Emily Kitchin is a content writer at Pretzel Kids
