5 Ways to Make a Cross-Country Drive with Young Kids Better
by Amy Rowland - May 11th, 2022
Traveling with kids can be a challenge, no matter their ages. Younger kids often bring extra challenges because they haven’t quite learned how to entertain themselves on long trips. So, whether you’re moving or are hitting the road for vacation, here are a few tips that will make the trip easier.
Have a special snack bag
It doesn’t have to be a fancy bag: One option is to start with a paper lunch bag and put their names on it. Consider filling it with healthy snacks, and a fun treat – maybe something they pick out themselves. but I fill it with healthy snacks as well as a few treats. I tell them that these are their snacks for the trip. So, it’s up to them to decide if they want to eat all the junk food first or save some for later in the day. This eliminates them constantly asking you for food, and needing to throw food to the back seat.
Introduce them to audiobooks
Audiobooks are a great option for longer car trips. Depending on the age of your kids, you may find short stories keep their attention. Upper elementary school kids may enjoy the How to Train Your Dragon series. You can also look at kid-friendly podcasts. Our family loves Adventures in Odyssey, and when we’re on the road, the kids will frequently listen to these stories for hours straight.
Read more trips for PCSing with kids in our article here.
Load up on books
I’m not sure why I sometimes think that my children need all the portable electronic devices to keep them entertained on a road trip, especially toddlers. The truth is that my kids love to look at books, whether it’s a regular book or using the Tag Reader/LeapFrog Reader. The funny part is that only one of them can even read yet!
You can get special books for them, or squirrel a few away when packing so they feel new and exciting. Sticker books, puzzle books, and coloring books are also great options, especially for early readers who may get frustrated when you can’t read to them the whole time.
Have a dance party
When the kids start to get restless, which is inevitable, I turn on KIDZ BOP and they all start singing and dancing along (mommy does, too). It’s like listening to very clean versions of popular songs on the radio, all sung by kids, and way less annoying than Baby Shark. With all the streaming music options, you can find a Disney soundtrack channel or anything you can think of. Maybe try some calming music and cross your fingers they nap.
Electronics aren’t always bad
My last option is movies and video games. I really try to hold off on these as long as I possibly can for a variety of reasons. Mostly it’s to prevent additional meltdowns, either from the battery dying, or them needing help playing a game. Sometimes a movie marathon is the only way you’re going to make it to your destination, and that’s ok.
Amy Rowland is a military spouse, lifelong Army brat, and mother of four.
