Winter Holiday... on the Road

Unless we enjoy the benefit of living in a walking city or have access to quality mass transit, most of us spend a great deal of time in our cars, commuting, running errands and transporting kids. A chauffer is high on the wish list of busy parents and certainly makes caring for an infant or toddler much easier! With all the supplies we carry in the car, the meals we munch and the quick changes from school clothes to soccer cleats, our cars have become our home away from home. So what about winter vacations on the road? Can traveling in our car, hundreds of miles, visiting family, with our infants and toddlers, really be a vacation? Sure, if we’re game for adventure, there are plenty of family destinations in every community, whether for a day trip, a week vacation, or even cross-country.  

So how do we fend off boredom, restlessness and carsickness in anxious anticipation of our vacation destination? Here are a couple of tips to make the ride a little smoother. So pack up the car and strap in the kids. Even car travel can be great family fun.

Consider Travel Time, Vacation Time. As adults, we’re often so eager to reach our final stop that we maintain our midweek, commuter attitude even on vacation. We feel the need to rush, to be somewhere at a certain time and to go as far as possible without stopping. Consider time in the car as part of the family vacation not just the means to get there. The vacation starts when the car pulls out of the driveway. Slow down, relax and make plenty of stops along the way.

Expect Mishap. Traveling with children pretty much guarantees that someone will spill something, not make it to the bathroom in time or get sick in the backseat. Since it’s likely to happen, the best thing we can do is be prepared. If the thought of a spill in your car is too much to handle, make the “no food or drink” rule clear from the beginning of the ride. If you want to cruise and munch, give your toddler a cup with a lid or sports bottles and place a drink holder at every seat. 

Expect Misbehavior and Bickering. Toddlers are more likely to misbehave when they are tired, off-schedule, restless and away from home. All of which happens when they are on vacation. And we’re more apt to lose our patience spending uninterrupted time with our children twenty-four seven. But most families quickly fall into comfortable vacation mentality and the fun we have makes up for the occasional bickering.

Treasure the Simple Moments Together. In our busy lives, it’s not often we get to spend quality family time. Appreciate the unscheduled roadside stops we make to check out tacky souvenirs. Enjoy conversations with your kids. Sing together in the car. It’s silly and fun. Savior the dripping ice cream cones that you eat before lunch because it’s vacation and you can do anything you want. The mess is nothing a box of wipes and an extra shirt wouldn’t fix. 

What to Pack for the Car Ride? Determining what to pack in our suitcases depends on your vacation of choice and the length of the trip. Regardless of the destination, there are some items that we’ll all want to have handy in the car.

• First Aid Supplies: A First Aid Kit, self-activating ice pack, insect repellent, thermometer, fever-reducing and pain-reducing medication with correct dosage chart based on child’s weight and age.
• Extra Clothes: Extra clothes for every child, two sets for those kids we know will need tem. Keep these clothes in the car. It’s no fun digging through the luggage at the bottom of the trunk to find what we need. Sweater or sweatshirt.
• Comfort Stuff: Blankets, pillows, stuffed animals. Try to limit one per child or it’s hard to see out of the back window to drive.
• Food and Snacks: Whether it’s food in the car or not, pack a cooler of goodies. Freeze a few of the juices boxes or sports bottles to keep the other beverage cold and towards the end of the trip, the frozen ones will be ready to drink, too. No ice needed. Snacks of choice, crackers, fruits.
• Out-of-the-Car Toys: Pick up some bubbles, small balls, or a Frisbee to play with a rest areas or parks when a break is needed. Toddlers need to run around and parents can benefit from a stretch, too.
• In-the-Car Entertainment: Pack or have each child pack a small bag of hand held goodies: tape, calculators, pipe cleaners, protected mirrors, small flashlights, crayons and paper. Buy some new stuff like markers, coloring books, crossword, etc. that the children have never seen to pull out if nothing else seems to draw their attention. Make a list of songs to sing or games to play on the road. Check out the websites at the end of the article for ideas.

Sounds like a lot, but having these few items at our fingertips makes the ride so much more enjoyable.

Most importantly, be realistic about your itinerary. Allow for flexibility. Traveling with infants and toddlers takes much longer and much more patience. Family vacations together are worth the effort. Remember to take lots of pictures and have a great time. By taking it slow, there’ll be lots of time for relaxation and rest.