How to Survive a Road Trip With Your Kids

Going on a road trip with your husband? Sounds like fun...but when you have a handful of kids at the back of the car too...well there must be about a million other things you'd rather do instead. Root canal anyone???

Friends, take comfort - it doesn't have to be so bad! With just a bit of advance planning even the longest journey's can become fun filled experiences for everyone - you included. So read on for some tips on how to survive (and even enjoy) a road trip with your kids!

1.Music - musical accompaniment is always successful. If. you kids have their own mp players they can choose their own music and go into their own world and enjoy themselves. If however, you have a communal car CD player, I recommend avoiding fights right at the beginning of the trip by choosing a method for deciding what music to play. Perhaps each person will have a turn choosing the CD (including parents), or you can use the "even handedness in randomness approach" by sticking your hand into the CD pile and pull one out without checking which CD it is. With us this is what works best and everyone seems very happy with the method.

2.Stories - you don't need to just listen to music, take a break from the sweet sounds, and download some classic stories from the internet that the family can listen to together. You will find on the web stories that you can download for a couple of dollars as well as free story resources.

3.Travel bag - Help each kid pack their own travel bag which is just for the car. You can buy or download loads of activities like coloring in, crosswords, Sudoku puzzles etc. You can get sticker books for the kids, and of course make sure that they have a pencil case in the bag. Help them choose snacks for the road and tell how long these snacks must last for.

4.Let them navigate - give you older children a map and let them navigate for you. Even if you don't want them to navigate they will really enjoy following where you are on the map, and its a great educational experience for them as well. They can mark off the towns, junctions and attractions as you pass them.

5.Keep a journal - encourage them to keep a journal of the trip, which they can write while in the car. Encourage them to keep souvenirs of the trip - napkins from the gas station, entrance tickets to the sites you have seen, brochures etc which they can stick in the journal. Either they can keep personal journals or they can each take turns in writing entries in the family journal.

6.The budding photographer - if you have a few phones and a camera, let them illustrate their journals with photos that they took themselves while in the car, or encourage them to take pictures along the way for a gallery display project that they can prepare after your trip.

7.Games - There are so many fun games you can play in the car which are appropriate for kids of all ages. Like count how many red cars you see, play the alphabet game, and many many more. Check out http://www.gameskidsplay.net/GAMES/MENTAL_GAMES/CAR_GAMES.HTM for more ideas.

8.Prepare in advance a road trip Scavenger Hunt which will be made up of about 20 missions which they will have to accomplish on the trip. This includes spotting specific signs or attractions that you expect to pass along the way, it can include counting cars, interviewing tourists, collecting information etc

8. Scavenger Hunt - Prepare in advance a road trip Scavenger Hunt which will be made up of about 20 missions which they will have to accomplish on the trip. This includes spotting specific signs or attractions that you expect to pass along the way, it can include counting cars, interviewing tourists, collecting information etc

9.Take a break! - Make sure you take regular breaks and make sure that your kids stretch their legs, eat some food, use the facilities and use up a bit of energy while you are out of the car.

10. Bribery and corruption! - Never underestimate the benefits of prizes and incentives for fantastic behavior in the car and full cooperation at all times. These can take the form of treats during your breaks, extra special activities when you have reached your destination, or a fantastic reward when you return home.

So folks, with just a bit of forethought and planning, your upcoming road trip can truly be loads of fun and a bonding experience for the whole family. Enjoy!