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Tips for a Safe Road Trip with Kids
Vacation travel with you children is an experience that the whole family will remember for a lifetime. Children will grow into adults who have been given the gift a global perspective on life. Travel is rewarding for so many reasons. Travel gets you outside of the everyday routine and boosts educational learning at the same time. Family vacations take some extra planning to ensure that everyone has fun and stays safe while traveling. While traveling with kids is fun and rewarding, it can also be stressful. Kids have short attention spans and need to be entertained, may be noisy and disruptive in the car, can wander away and get lost during rest stops and need to be watched constantly.
The important key to a successful road trip vacation is your vehicle. The car or van should be well maintained to avoid breakdowns on the road. Cars need to have good tires, fluids should all be at the right levels and the operating systems should be checked out before the trip. Many people find that renting a vehicle is a great way to get a reliable newer model car or van for travel. Rental cars have low miles, are maintained by the rental company and are ideal for taking a worry free road trip. If renting a vehicle, consider getting one with a GPS System so you can safely navigate around in unfamiliar territory. Many rental companies now offer vehicles with GPS systems.
When riding in the car the children should be properly restrained in travel car seats or safety seats. Bigger children should be properly restrained with seat belts.
Have a travel route planned out in advance. If your children are old enough, they may enjoy a chance to see the maps and be involved in the planning process. If you give them an extra set of maps, they can follow along as you travel and learn to anticipate the next stop, while learning how to read a map.
Plan to make frequent stops for bathroom breaks while traveling. Make the time to get out and stretch your legs and get circulation going. Break stops may slow down travel time, but they are important for the health of adults and children. Research shows that sitting in the same position for too long can cause blood clots, so getting out to walk around every couple of hours is very important. A break every hour would be even better. The breaks are also a chance for children to get rid of pent up energy and keep them calmer while riding, making the trip easier for everybody. Driving too long without bathroom breaks can cause bladder problems and affect heath, so make sure to plan stops.
Children must not be left unattended at any time. Children need to be watched constantly. Spend this time with the children and enjoy it. Children can wander away and disappear within seconds. Unfortunately, there are predators that can whisk children away. Do not let children wander on their own. Stay with them, even if they have to go to the rest room. Accompany children to the restroom. This can be a challenge if the children are of a different gender. At the very minimum, walk the children to the restroom door and stand right outside the door and wait for them. If you let your child play in a playground area with other kids, be sure to stay in the immediate vicinity and watching at all times.
Children get bored easily and have short attention spans. Children that are being noisy and disruptive are not only irritating; they are dangerous as they can distract the driver and cause an accident. Have some games planned to entertain the kids with. Many parents have a number of favorite games, such as looking for different state license plates while on the highway. There are a number of games designed to entertain children in automobiles, such as Learn 4 Good. A supply of books and magazines can provide entertainment for kids and adults when taking breaks from driving. Some people get headaches when they try to read while riding, so if children don't want to read, don't try to force the issue. Card games can provide amusement for children while riding. There are a number of game-playing options, Plan ahead and have the games ready for the road.
Traveling with children can be a challenge. The driver should be able to concentrate on the road while driving. If possible, it is an excellent idea to have an additional adult riding along to monitor the children and make sure they are safe and entertained.
Unexpected emergencies can come up anywhere and are especially hard to handle when in unfamiliar towns and cities. Take along a basic first aid kit and supplies such and insect repellent and sun screen. First aid kits can be purchased at most pharmacies and department stores.
A thorough checklist of supplies to take on the road includes:
- - Insect Repellent
- Sun Screen
- Liquid Soap
- Moist Towelettes
- Antibiotic cream or ointment
- Bandages in a variety of sizes
- Gauze pads
- Tweezers
- Scissors
- Alcohol Pads
- Anti-itch cream
- Calamine lotion
- Sewing Kit
- Umbrella
- Flashlight
- Camera
- Plastic bags for storage and for wet items
Take along snacks and bottled water so that they available when you need it. Buying snacks in advance can be a big savings over purchasing at the highway convenience stores. Crackers are a good snack while traveling. Bottled water is especially important. Drinking unfamiliar water while on the road can cause upset stomachs and ruin a vacation. It is important to drink enough fluids and avoid dehydration. Water is considered the best choice for replenishing fluids. Sweet soda pops can be messy and sticky if they spill. Beware of hard candies that can get caught in the throat and cause choking.
Just as unfamiliar tap water can cause upset stomachs, a diet of strange and fast food meals can make children sick. Children have sensitive stomachs and cannot tolerate a lot of change in the diet. Food found along the road may be more spicy, salty, fatty and oily than children are used to. Try to pack snacks of fresh fruits and healthy snacks such as raisins and nuts, to eat along the way. You can also stop at a supermarket along the way and purchase supplies for a picnic lunch. It is easy to pick up a loaf of bread or buns, lunch meat, peanut butter, carrot sticks and pieces of fruit for a refreshing picnic meal.
Bring along the proper clothing for the trip. Pack for the expected weather and for unexpected changes. Even if the weather is expected to be warm, bring along warm sweaters, rain slickers and dry socks. You will probably be getting out of the car and walking or hiking, so children should have secure shoes with shoelaces that tie. Floppy shoes can be dangerous, as children can trip and fall easily, injuring themselves. Sandals can be a disaster in wooded areas, as exposed skin on the feet can be cut and scratched by rocks and cut glass in the path.
In the excitement of travel, it is easy to forget that children are smaller and do not have as much endurance as adults. Be careful not to overdo activities and watch for signs that your child is getting tired. Wrap up the day of sightseeing early enough to get to the hotel or motel for rest, relaxation and a good night's sleep.
Enjoy traveling with your children. They grow up so fast and the time you spend with them is precious. Careful planning and attentive monitoring of your children should create a vacation that gives the whole family a lifetime of happy memories.