We might be approaching the end of summer, but that doesn’t mean it’s over just yet. Road trips have always been super fun, especially in the warmer months, so why not enjoy the experience with your kids too! With every vacation comes the dream of a family road trip, and while it can get a little stressful, it can also be extremely enjoyable.
Here are a few tips if you’re looking to plan the ultimate family roadtrip!
1) Involve the kids
You know how it normally goes – you tell the kids where you’re going, what they’re doing, what to wear and what they will expect. But how about involving them and asking what they really want to do? Give them options for destinations and activities. By involving them, they will care more about the trip as they’ll have a vested interest. This means they’ll be less likely to act up, because they’ll be excited about the trip that the helped to plan. Even if they don’t actually do any of the real planning – make them think that they are!
2) Play it by ear
When you’re planning a trip, it’s easy to over do it and plan every single little detail. Of course, you’ll probably want to book your overnight stop-offs if you’re going to be on the road for a couple of days, but leave things like food stops & town stops open for discussion. Your kids might decide they want mexican food over anything else, so let them have some influence with what you’re doing and be spontaneous! You’re more likely to get stressed if things aren’t going to plan, so by playing it by ear, you’ll be much more relaxed.
3) Bring snacks & activities
If there’s one thing that you need for a family road trip, it’s snacks and activities! Your kids will only be entertained by scenic views and eye spy for so long. Make sure you bring plenty of snacks to pang their hunger cravings, and activities such as board games, in-car movies or an iPad to keep them occupied.
4) Don’t expect perfection
By expecting perfection, you set yourself up for failure from the beginning. No family vacation ever runs exactly how you planned, but that’s all part of the fun! As they say, the bad experiences often make the best stories, so if things don’t go to plan or how you expected, just go with it, find a solution and enjoy the valuable time with your family!
Source: Parents Canada
