Traveling With Kids on Long Road Trips

I would have hated to travel on car rides with me as a kid. I was loud, ornery, cantankerous, and had the bladder the size of a plastic Easter egg. Though I eventually grew out of it, I think that my bad behavior rubbed off on my younger siblings. Suddenly seeing a whole car of cranky children on their hands, my parents took a hard line approach to curbing the situation.

By creating a set of rules for the car, as well as by adding some fun, my parents were able to keep the family in check even on the most grueling of rides. Here are just a few pieces of their method.

Be in Charge of the Cuisine

You are what you eat, and this especially true for children. Surgery foods and drinks with caffeine will quickly make for an unruly vehicle. Caffeine in particular will make kids want to stop more for bathroom breaks. My parents outlawed soda and candy, as well as anything crumbly or greasy. Water was the only drink allowed with the exception of coffee for the driver.

While they would rather us eat outside when we would pull over to stop at a wayside, my parents would typically pack a grab bag of vegetables for us to eat. It was not only healthy, but there is something rather placating about chewing on a cool stick of celery.

Rather than buying food along the way, which can get rather pricey, my parents always packed the cooler with supplies to make sandwiches. A variety of meats, cheeses, mustards, and pickles made a seemingly infinite amount of choices. Fresh fruit was also available too.

Zoning Rules

While not ideal, sometimes some kids just don’t sit well near others on long car rides. Rather than force cooperativeness, stack the seating arrangement so it is most pleasant. Sometimes this isn’t always possible, though. Putting a parent in the back seats can help to calm the situation, as well as allow for some conversation. Conversely, inviting a child up to sit in the passenger’s seat (if they are big enough) is good too.

Car Games

A good way to bring everyone together is to play a round of car games. Good candidates include riddles, I-spy, and Twenty Questions. Round robin stories are always a good time too.