How to Survive a Car Trip With Many Kids
Bring a bag of family entertainment items then have each kid bring a bag of their own entertainment items., Before the trip, tell the kids about where you are going and get them all excited about it. , Tell the kids about certain lakes, or other...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Bring a bag of family entertainment items then have each kid bring a bag of their own entertainment items.
In your bag you might have CD's, DVDs and portable DVD players,yarn/needles snacks and drinks, new toys, and anything else that is for the whole family.
In a kid bag, they might have their iPod, their books or magazines, their blanket or stuffed animal, any toys they want to bring. -
Step 2: Before the trip
, This will give the kids stuff to look forward in the car. , You could draw your house, where you leave the town, lakes, rivers, other landmarks, some famous places, towns that they might have heard of, the destination, and where you will stop and anything else.
The younger they are, the more basic you want to make the map.
Make the map colorful.
Make bodies of water blue, etc.
Make a separate map for each kid (if you have a lot of kids, then just copy the map in a copy machine but you can write each kids name on the map to make them feel special.
Go over it with them before the trip, and then have them look at it during the trip, and they can mark off where you've been. , But make sure they are not messy, crumbly snacks.
Also, if your kids have too much sugar, they could get grumpy so for every junk food snack you have, have a healthy snack.
Snacks will keep the kids busy. , Usually our trips are not any longer than 6 hours and we make 1-2 stops.
Do the buddy system for stopping and try to make the girls with girls and the boys with boys for bathroom reasons.
Allow time for the kids to run around and get some energy out. ,,,, Make some serious rules like getting along, when you're allowed to eat, and stuff like that, but also make some funny rules.
One rule I use is if you start arguing or bickering or whatever, you have to make an animal sound and that usually makes people start laughing and forget about fighting.
Make your own silly rules like that. ,,,,,, -
Step 3: tell the kids about where you are going and get them all excited about it.
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Step 4: Tell the kids about certain lakes
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Step 5: or other landmarks that you will be going by on the way.
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Step 6: Make your kids a map
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Step 7: or get a kid friendly map from your town to your destination.
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Step 8: Bring lots of snacks.
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Step 9: Depending on how long your trip is
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Step 10: make some stops.
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Step 11: If you are planning on eating a meal during the car trip
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Step 12: make it a stop if your kids are little so you all won't make a mess in the car.
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Step 13: Keep a cooler for drinks and snacks by you or another adult or an older kid who can give out snacks and drinks to the younger ones.
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Step 14: If your car is big enough
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Step 15: separate the ones who are going to have a problem together.
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Step 16: Make rules for your car trip.
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Step 17: Here's some things that the kids can do in the car: Listen to iPods
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Step 18: books on tape
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Step 19: etc Read a book or magazine Watch DVDs in a portable DVD player Color in a coloring book or do stuff in one of those game books Sleep Talk Older ones can use their phones Look at the maps I suggested you make Sing Write Make list of things you need when you get to your destination Play games like I Spy and other car games Tell stories
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Step 20: Dress the kids in the same color so its easier to keep track of them when you stop places
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Step 21: Every time you stop somewhere
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Step 22: before you get going again do a count to make sure you have everybody.
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Step 23: As you're driving
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Step 24: have the kids look for certain landmarks.
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Step 25: Play some games that involve talking and no game pieces.
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Step 26: Listen to the radio.
Detailed Guide
In your bag you might have CD's, DVDs and portable DVD players,yarn/needles snacks and drinks, new toys, and anything else that is for the whole family.
In a kid bag, they might have their iPod, their books or magazines, their blanket or stuffed animal, any toys they want to bring.
, This will give the kids stuff to look forward in the car. , You could draw your house, where you leave the town, lakes, rivers, other landmarks, some famous places, towns that they might have heard of, the destination, and where you will stop and anything else.
The younger they are, the more basic you want to make the map.
Make the map colorful.
Make bodies of water blue, etc.
Make a separate map for each kid (if you have a lot of kids, then just copy the map in a copy machine but you can write each kids name on the map to make them feel special.
Go over it with them before the trip, and then have them look at it during the trip, and they can mark off where you've been. , But make sure they are not messy, crumbly snacks.
Also, if your kids have too much sugar, they could get grumpy so for every junk food snack you have, have a healthy snack.
Snacks will keep the kids busy. , Usually our trips are not any longer than 6 hours and we make 1-2 stops.
Do the buddy system for stopping and try to make the girls with girls and the boys with boys for bathroom reasons.
Allow time for the kids to run around and get some energy out. ,,,, Make some serious rules like getting along, when you're allowed to eat, and stuff like that, but also make some funny rules.
One rule I use is if you start arguing or bickering or whatever, you have to make an animal sound and that usually makes people start laughing and forget about fighting.
Make your own silly rules like that. ,,,,,,
About the Author
Emma Peterson
Experienced content creator specializing in DIY projects guides and tutorials.
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