My nephews are 4 and 3.
The original thought was for Mom and Lex to split up the drive over two days. Lexi wants to do it in a day. The original plan was to leave early Saturday morning; Mom was talking the other day about leaving Friday night. Impatience runs in our family.
So, both to help them and because the trip is all I can think about until they get here, I ask: What's your best advice for surviving a road trip with kids?
The last I heard, the plan was to leave at a time when the boys could sleep for the first part of the trip. They also will have a portable DVD player in the car for entertainment. Lex was planning snack packs when I talked to her last. But what else can you suggest to help them get down here with everyone's sanity intact?
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Pipe cleaners, mini magna-doodles, lots of cheap new toys (wrapped is even better)...
Whoa. We made the drive down and back to look at apartments before we moved. And then down again in August when I moved and down AGAIN after the hurricane (I ended up going home and driving back down with Chris when he moved down.)
I couldn't handle that awful drive, I've got nothin' for the kiddos. ;)
That being said, growing up we drove everywhere b/c my mom has a horrible fear of flying. Or not really flying but crashing. We had tapes and our walkmen (hah!), books and napped a lot. Nothing as good as what kids have today.
We drive to IA and back twice a year from TX.
Because these kiddos cannot read yet, you have to get creative. Videos are good, but don't start them right away or the kids will get bored with them - you will know when the time comes - as my hubby says, "Don't give away your carrots!".
Get some silly-kid-song CDs, those are great and kill a good hour or two. Sing along with them and get silly!
We stop every 3 hours or so and NEVER eat in the van. It is something to look forward to and then they actually eat when they are suppsed to eat.
Don't give them too much water or you will be stopping way too often or they will be sitting in puddles. (Put towels under the car seats just in case....)
Gather little toys they have forgotten about and wrap them up. When they get bored, let them unwrap something.
Make up stories - bring a journal to record them - sometimes they are hilarious!
Encourage them to sleep during their normal nap time if they still nap. Offer a wrapped present if they nap.
Seriously, don't start the movies right away. Keep that little gem up your sleeve. :)
Get new movies from netflix and bring some favorites too. They might still be in the watching the same movie over and over stage?
Believe it or not, driving is not that bad. Just be sure the drivers are well rested. If you drive it in one day, be sure at least one of you sleeps when the kids fall asleep.
Good luck
ear plugs. hehe
Just kidding! (kind of!)
We drive about 1000 miles to visit the inlaws in TX once or twice every year. We haven't done it with 4 kids yet, but we've done it with 3.
We have a DVD player, movies are of vital importance.
Snacks.
Kid's songs.
Car games. Color wonder markers and paper.
We like to get food at a drive through, or pack a picnic lunch in a cooler, and find a park on the GPS and let the kids run wild and eat lunch. It helps get their energy out for sure!
Oh, and we have a car potty. It's fold-able and perfect for those times when you've just passed the last rest stop for 100 miles.
oh my, how brave! i have nothing to offer, we barely make it on a 3 hour trip with our two girls.
i think the wrapped presents idea sounds good as well as stopping at a park to eat & play. & leaving at night (if the adults can make it?!).
once they get there--all fun times, right?!
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