Whether it's a week-long summer vacation or just a weekend getaway, time at Sandbridge beach is always looked forward to. The drive however can sometimes be trying. With the right preparation, a road trip with kids can be rather less miserable than expected, maybe even fun! From preparing the car to prepping activities, this post has you covered!
- Don't be in a hurry. With kids you are going to run late, especially with all the emergency potty stops. Allow plenty of time so your stress levels remain low.
- Pack an emergency car kit. You want to make sure you have everything you need in case of an emergency. These items can be organized in a plastic storage container or a small tote. You will want to include baby wipes, Tylenol, a flashlight, Kleenex, Benadryl, throat lozenges, hand sanitizer, and band aids.
- Pack some snacks. Packing your own snacks instead of buying them at gas stations can save you money, is healthier, and can help save a little time since you're not making additional stops. When traveling with my niece and nephew, who are 5-year-old twins, we make treat necklaces. They are super easy to make and the kids love them! All you do is take some string and loop cheerios, fruit loops, mini pretzels, lifesavers, Cheeze-Its, mini fudge stripe cookies, and anything else you choose.
- Give them a camera. Buy a disposable camera and let them document the trip. Make a travel scavenger hut. Keep it short and simple so they still have room to take more pictures once they arrive at the beach. You can include items such as a train, a detour sign, the signs of the states you travel through, a police car, etc.
- Make a map for the kids to follow. This is a great way to cut back on the constant "are we there yet?" question and a way for kids to learn about maps. Laminate a map of your route and use a dry erase marker to keep track of how far you've already gone and how much longer you have.
- Games! This is a great way to keep their minds off the time and interact with them too. You can go to Google or Pinterest and find tons of printable games to play such as bingo, ispy, connect-the-dots, tic tac toe, hangman, and of course the license plate game.
- Sing Songs. An easy way to pass time and every in the car can sing along. Some of our favorites that we tend to sing are She'll be coming 'round the mountain, B.I.N.G.O, and Kum Ba Yan. You can also sing interactive songs like If you're happy and you know it or Head and Shoulders and the kids can point to their body parts while you sing.
- Have a spelling bee. My niece and nephew love doing this! You simply say a word and the kids spell it out.
- Books, books, and more books. Puzzle books, children books, coloring books, and sticker books are a great quiet way to entertain kids.
- Download age-appropriate apps. Almost all kids have access to a smart phone or tablet. Before heading out visit the App Store and search for children games. You will find everything from puzzles to coloring pages and dressing Barbie to racing monster trucks.
Taking the stress out of road trips with kids is easy when you use these 10 tips. You and the kids will enjoy the trip to Sandbridge as much as the destination.
