| Taking a long car trip with your children can be a | | | | come in various shapes and sizes that can fit easily in |
| trying experience. Parents have all heard the question | | | | your backseat. |
| "Are we there yet?" or the words "I have to go to | | | | There are also traveling games designed especially |
| the bathroom" five minutes after they have just | | | | for long car trips available for you to purchase. These |
| past the last bathroom for miles. For parents with | | | | can be as simple and inexpensive as check lists that |
| more than one child, it can sound like professional | | | | involve pads of paper that lists different items that |
| wrestling in the backseat. As boredom is the main | | | | your child can check off as they spot them along the |
| cause of the whining and complaining that the children | | | | road. These lists can include vehicles that you pass, a |
| are doing, the secret to surviving a long car trip with | | | | restaurant along the way, and animals that you might |
| the kids is to come prepared with numerous activities | | | | expect to find in the area that you are traveling |
| and toys to help keep the little ones busy. | | | | through. |
| First you can pack a small lunch basket with healthy | | | | A more expensive alternative to these checklists are |
| snacks so the kids will not complain about being | | | | electronic handheld video games. Any parent who has |
| hungry. It might be a good idea to avoid salty snacks | | | | these games in the home can tell you that a child can |
| as this will cause your children to drink more which | | | | spend hours sitting in one place playing these kinds of |
| can lead to you having to make more bathroom | | | | games. The handheld versions have become quite |
| stops. You also might want to avoid snacks and | | | | elaborate and have many of the same features that |
| drinks that have caffeine or sugar in them. These will | | | | the home versions do. Again, some of these |
| give the kids more energy than they need if they | | | | electronic games can be expensive, but depending on |
| are just sitting in a car for several hours. | | | | how much your family travels, it may be a |
| Next you can pack toys for your younger children. | | | | worthwhile investment. |
| You should ask the child which toys he wants to | | | | There are also free activities that you can share with |
| take as well as picking a few on your own so that | | | | your child on long car trips. A good old-fashioned |
| you can choose ones that will take up the most of | | | | game of "I spy" or a sing-along of your child's |
| his time. There are portable toy chests available | | | | favorite songs can pass the time. |
| which may be an option for parents who travel a lot | | | | Whatever activities that you plan to use to keep |
| with their children. If you only travel occasionally, an | | | | your children occupied on a long car trip, make sure |
| inexpensive alternative would be a plastic storage | | | | that you choose ones that are easy to do in the |
| tub, preferably one that comes with a lid. Both the | | | | backseat. Just make sure that you plan something to |
| portable toy chests and the storage containers can | | | | keep the kids occupied. . It makes for an easier and |
| be easily carried back and forth from the car and | | | | happier journey. |