Road trips are the most preferred way to take a family vacation. In most cases, it’s cheaper to drive than fly and likely less stressful and chaotic, especially with kids. Roadtripping does have some obstacles, though. Kids tend to get bored and cranky. Here are a few things to pack when traveling with kids.
Remember when you were younger, and you didn’t have phones, iPads, even DVD players. Bring the old school games back for your kids. I spy is always a favourite – someone finds something – then gives clues to the others by saying, “I spy my little eye on something…” and then the others have to guess. The state license plate game is another favourite. If you plan ahead, have a list of all 50 states on paper and cross off each state as you see the license plate – if you didn’t pre-plan, just write down each state as you see it.
Pack plenty of snacks, fresh vegetables, fruits, sandwiches, peanut butter packets, pretzels, and granola bars. Kids seem to want to eat while traveling in the car. If you can plan a time to stop for a picnic – do it! Not only does this give you the opportunity to reset/rest/eat – it allows the kids to run around as well.
If you don’t mind your kids on electronics, bring the electronics along. The kids can watch movies or videos or play games. Download a few movies from Netflix and let the kids watch one they haven’t seen. Download some new games for them to play and keep them entertained for a bit. Don’t forget the headphones – this will give you some quiet time while the kids watch and play!
Want to make house hunting a bit more tolerable for the kids? Turn it into a family road trip. Plan a day exploring the town or neighbourhood where you are visiting an open house. Try a new restaurant, library, or park. This will help ease the kids into the potential new home. Check out Albany houses for sale and a quick google search of what is around to do. Sign the kids up for sports teams or activities in your new neighbourhood so they can participate right away. This way, they’ll have a built-in circle of friends once you all move in. Set up a tour of their new school, so they’ll know what to expect on the first day of classes. Easing your kids into the idea of moving and then getting them as familiar as possible with the new neighbourhood will make the whole process easier for everybody.
This is a collaborative post.
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