Do you need ideas to make driving with kids less stressful? It’s never easy going on road trips with the kids. But when trying to make the most of lockdowns easing, now is the ideal opportunity to go a lot further afield to see the people we care about. But of course, everyone has the same idea, and we end up stuck in traffic. When we throw into the mix the children yelling and bickering in the back, we can very easily get stressed. What can we do to make sure that we keep stress at bay while we are driving?
Ensuring the Kids Are Entertained
These days, there is an abundance of vehicles with numerous in-car functions. The Vauxhall Astra has Bluetooth, CD players, and plenty of plug sockets. So if your children make a lot of noise, don’t hesitate to give them an iPad or a Nintendo Switch to keep them occupied. When the kids are entertained, this makes life a lot easier for you.
Keeping Your Car Organised
When you are going on a long trip, you need to make sure that everything is where it should be. For example, if you have a child that is thirsty, you don’t want to be rummaging around trying to find a sippy cup driving at 70 MPH on the motorway. Make sure that everything is organised and where it should be. Invest in some car organising compartments, so you can put them behind your passenger seat for easy access.
Making Sure the Vehicle Is Well-Maintained
As we are all more than likely heading on numerous road trips this year, making sure that our car is up to speed is crucial. Take it for a service if you haven’t done it for a while, but also make sure that you know what to do to keep your car up to code. Change the oil, check the tyres, but also make sure that you are schooled up on what to do if there is a breakdown.
Check Your Route
It is always something that we rely on the Sat Nav to do for us. But when our children are making a lot of noise, you’re trying to navigate three or four lanes, and the Nav is chastising you for going in the wrong direction, it can be very stressful! Review your route before you leave. While Sat Navs are fantastic, if they take you to a toll bridge, it’s going to be extra stress. As an extra precaution, look at Google Maps and check the pictures of each step of the journey. You will know exactly what lane to get into, but also what the road actually looks like at that point.
The Importance of a Good Playlist
If you have children arguing about what to listen to, you may decide to not put music on at all. The best way around this is to find a playlist that keeps you relaxed and everyone happy. Spend time before a trip working out a playlist together as a family.
I hope these tips will make driving with kids less stressful this summer and days out more fun!
This is a collaborative post.
