Road trips are an American rite of summer, but keeping everyone smiling and happy when 
orange construction cones slow your progress to a crawl requires a special bag of tricks. Use these tips to ensure peace in the back seat and a pleasant trip for the whole family:
- Pack plenty of nutritious, easy-to-eat snacks. Choose snacks that will survive in a cooler, and skip treats like chocolate that will melt in a hot car. For a refreshing snack, freeze grapes and yogurt tubes before leaving home. Other good car snacks include: GORP, trail mix, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, granola bars, fruit juice gummies, apples, precut veggies, pretzel sticks and juice boxes or refillable water bottles. Don’t forget wipes for sticky fingers and garbage bags.
- Only bring electronics that can be used with headphones and make sure each family member has their own headphones. Pack plenty of batteries and don’t forget chargers for electronics.
- Give each child a clipboard and box of crayons or makers and bring plenty of paper. Clipboards make great portable writing/drawing surfaces; and the clip holds drawings steady while young artists are creating.
- Stop “he’s touching me” whining before it starts by using a cooler or small suitcase as a barrier to define each child’s personal space.
- Give your children’s energy an outlet by stopping every 2 hours to check out a roadside attraction or kick a soccer ball around a rest stop.
When you return home from summer travels, it’s time to start thinking about child care for the coming year. Horizon Education Centers offers a full range of quality programs for children from 18 months to 12 years. Visit our website to find out more.
Photo Credit: laffy4k
