Cemeteries, Playlands & Parks
Jul 03 '00
I am convinced that the only way to survive on long car rides with small children is to stop frequently. My children are 6 and 3 now and starting to become semi-reasonable (at least the 6-year-old!) about behaving in the car, however we have been taking cross country car trips since the first was a baby. If it is at all possible, try doing the following to make things easier on you.
DON'T TRAVEL MORE THAN 300 MILES IN A DAY.
I know this isn't always possible but the way I see it, 2 days of peaceful travel is much better than 1 day of pure hell.
STOP EVERY HOUR AND A HALF (UNLESS THEY ARE SLEEPING).
Plan your stops at fun places--kid museums, parks with hiking trails, Chuck E. Cheese, or my personal favorite--cemeteries. If we drive for an hour or two and then stop at a playground or cemetery and let the kids out to play for a half hour to an hour, it makes all the difference in the world. Just remember that getting there is half the fun and make the "getting-there" part of the fun. For lunch, we will either eat from a cooler or drive-through a fast food place. The workers at the drive-through windows can tell you where the nearest park with a playground is. Cemeteries are easy to find, usually empty, and provide a nice place for a picnic. We are always respectful of the grave sites and enjoy the history lesson the stones provide.
GIVE THEM SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO.
This could be a swim in the hotel's pool or, our favorite, eating donuts in bed in the hotel while watching TV. This has become a real treat for the kids and threatening to take it away is usually effective.
Try these things, and you may be pleasantly surprised by how peaceful car travel can be when you don't push the kids too much. Good luck!
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
tracyjenkins
|
|
Member: Tracy Jenkins
Reviews written: 7
Trusted by: 2 members
|
|
|
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.