This is a guest post.
The family road trip is a rite of passage in American culture. Every generation, we put the pedal to the metal, hit the open road, pack up the camping gear, and explore places that haven’t been discovered yet. There are many considerations you need to think about before you take your little ones on an extended journey, though.
Planning your road trip can be daunting, but there are plenty of tricks you can use to make it more enjoyable. First and foremost, don’t forget to include safety in your planning process. As much as you want to let down your hair, you must plan and take into account our little ones. Your children aren’t little adults yet, so do not hesitate to have adult supervision during the trip.
Trip planning tips for your road trip
Do a pre-trip check-up. First and foremost, ensure everyone in the family is up to traveling. Let them know you will be gone for a while, and ask exactly what they need from you while you’re gone. If they can get by with some prepared meals or snacks, that’s great! If not, do them a favor and prepare the perfect care packages for the road.
Prepare your vehicle. Making an appointment with an automotive service technician to check your brakes, air conditioner, tire pressure, and windshield wiper blades ensures that your car is in the best possible condition and helps prevent breakdowns or mishaps on the road. Ensure your vehicle is clean from the inside out and has valuable accessories such as car mats for dirt and mud protection. If you have a child in an infant or convertible car seat, ensure it is installed correctly.
Make sure everyone gets enough rest. No one should be allowed to drive all day and then go to sleep at night. Kids are not adults, and they do not have the resting abilities of adults. Your little ones will need to get a good night’s sleep each night, so consider this when planning your trip.
Bring the right amount of food for all of your family members. You don’t want to overdo it and carry too much food, but you also don’t want to run out. There are plenty of ways to save money when traveling, and one of them is to pack your own meals! If you choose this route, make sure you space out the meals as much as possible. You don’t want little ones hungry on the road!
Bring extra clothing for each member of the family. It’s hard to tell what your children will need when you don’t know exactly where you’ll be going. You don’t want to go back to the store and buy more clothing if they destroy one piece of clothing while on their trip.
Have simple, age-appropriate games ready for them. You will want to make sure you have some games and activities for when the kids get bored. Bring books, coloring books, and puzzles with you. If you have a tablet and plan on letting them use it, keep it in your possession at all times. They might not understand that they shouldn’t just download a bunch of apps without permission!
Get ready for emergencies. One of the most important things you should do is ensure you have everything you need for your journey, including emergency supplies. Have an emergency medical kit, a roadside kit, and even a safety tool like Slim Jim on hand in case you get locked out of your car on your trip.
Make sure you have all of the charging cords necessary for your devices. Even if you only bring one or two devices, ensure you have plenty of chargers. You don’t want to be searching for an outlet while you’re on the road.
Be prepared with maps and directions. What’s a trip without directions? You might have a long way to go, but having the correct information is essential in making the trip as smooth as possible. Decide where you want to go, and ensure you have all the information you need before you leave!
Planning is always important when traveling with small children.
A well-planned trip can make for a fantastic family experience. If you plan, take your time, and don’t rush the planning process, you can make the experience one that your family will never forget. After all, those memories are exactly what our families are made of.